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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: TAC on January 13, 2020, 03:01:32 PM
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Alex Cora outta walk into John Henry's office and resign right now.
Oh, and congrats Nats! It was so nice to see Bryce Harper finally.....oh wait..nevermind.
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I don't get why the Astros were not stripped of the 2017 championship. If they cheated to the extent that the GM and manager were both suspended for a year, with talk that one of the assistants (the current BoSox manager) will get similar treatment, how do you not strip them of the championship?
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That's a good question. I've been saying all along that Hinch should get a year. I think MLB is well within their right to vacate those championships.
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Sounds like they got fired:
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-suspends-astros-gm-jeff-luhnow-manager-aj-hinch-for-a-year-in-sign-stealing-scandal-190918702.html
The Dodgers should be repeat champs.
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Good job by Astros ownership.
Seems the Sox will be looking for a new manager shortly. :lol
No wonder Steven Pearce looked like Babe fucking Ruth in that World Series.
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Remember Applegate Tim? Definitely getting fired.
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Remember Applegate Tim?
(https://www.bundynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/maxresdefault-1200x800-c-default.jpg)
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Wrong brain Tim. :lol
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Kelly Bundy is never the wrong answer. :hat
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I didn't say that. Lol
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I think MLB is well within their right to vacate those championships.
I have not followed MLB in years, and have no investment or knowledge about this story. I will just say that for reasons I cannot articulate well, I generally do not like leagues vacating wins/championships.
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I think MLB is well within their right to vacate those championships.
I have not followed MLB in years, and have no investment or knowledge about this story. I will just say that for reasons I cannot articulate well, I generally do not like leagues vacating wins/championships.
It is a pretty extreme measure, for sure.
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One argument I saw for vacating the championship is that what owner wouldn't pay a $5 million fine and give up some high round draft picks in exchange for a World Series championship? Essentially that's the price you placed on pervasive, systematic, season-long cheating.
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One argument I saw for vacating the championship is that what owner wouldn't pay a $5 million fine and give up some high round draft picks in exchange for a World Series championship? Essentially that's the price you placed on pervasive, systematic, season-long cheating.
Exactly. As a Dodger fan, I'm biased, but I think vacating the titles is the only legitimate deterrent.
I certainly hope that, when the Astros play their first road game on March 30, the fans in Oakland make the rest of the baseball world proud. Same with Blue Jays fans when they open against the Sox on March 26, although I suspect they won't really hear it until they get to Baltimore on March 30.
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I don't believe you should ever give a championship to a team that didn't win it, so stripping Houston of it doesn't mean I believe it should be given to the Dodgers. Vacate the championship so there is no 2017 champion. It would suck, but leaving a team that blatantly cheated to win the World Series in the record books as the champs would be a joke.
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I don't believe you should ever give a championship to a team that didn't win it, so stripping Houston of it doesn't mean I believe it should be given to the Dodgers. Vacate the championship so there is no 2017 champion. It would suck, but leaving a team that blatantly cheated to win the World Series in the record books as the champs would be a joke.
Agree. If they were to vacate the Astros title, it absolutely should be regarded as a blank year. I've seen a lot ranting by a lot of fellow Dodgers fans over the past few days, but I don't think I've seen anyone suggest that the title should be given to the Dodgers. Of course, there are always a few loons in every bunch, so I have seen folks suggesting silly things like that the Astro players' WS bonuses should be given to the Dodger players.
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Cora, Red Sox split ways. Not shocking at all.
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Cora, Red Sox split ways. Not shocking at all.
Carlos Beltran.....come on down......your the next Manager up on “IT NEVER PAYS TO CHEAT”
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Well it did. Both won World Series.
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For what it’s worth....IMO this is FAR worse than what Pete Rose was banned from baseball for and has been held out of the HOF for.
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Cora, Red Sox split ways. Not shocking at all.
I was wondering how this was going to all come down.
Cora, Red Sox split ways. Not shocking at all.
Carlos Beltran.....come on down......your the next Manager up on “IT NEVER PAYS TO CHEAT”
The local radio station was playing Cora's comments about the Yankee series in London last year, and it was crystal clear he was accusing Beltran of cheating for the Yanks.
Well it did. Both won World Series.
The Astros Championship should be vacated. they were cheating IN THE WORLD SERIES. The home/road splits for the hitters were laughable.
I wouldn't care what they did to the Sox.
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They won't but like the NFL they allow stealing signs and the league offices have always been behind the times.
Just don't allow it.
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In case anyone wants to read Rob Manfred's full report: https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/cglrhmlrwwbkacty27l7.pdf
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WTF??
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-aren-t-only-john-henry-owned-team-with-a-cheating-scandal-liverpool-drawing-new-heat-for-hacking-manchester-city/ar-BBYZRur?ocid=hplocalnews
:lol
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now its rumored players on the Astros has wired buzzers on their shoulders to tip them off what pitches were coming.
starting to put the Black Sox scandal to shame.
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Beltran's now gone as Mets manager.
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And now Mike Trout has been accused of finding a loophole to take HGH.
Just shut down MLB now. :lol
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now its rumored players on the Astros has wired buzzers on their shoulders to tip them off what pitches were coming.
starting to put the Black Sox scandal to shame.
And now Mike Trout has been accused of finding a loophole to take HGH.
Just shut down MLB now. :lol
:facepalm:
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And now Mike Trout has been accused of finding a loophole to take HGH.
Just shut down MLB now. :lol
Accused by the son of a former MLB player who has absolutely no basis in reality for what he claimed. Sounds like someone wants his 15 minutes of fame.
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https://twitter.com/sweet_baby_j_21/status/1218199414797410305?s=19
:lol
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(https://media.makeameme.org/created/houston-astros-new.jpg)
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HOF inductees announced today.
I believe voters can vote for up to 10 candidates, so I marked those I'd vote for if I had a vote.
Returning Candidates
Curt Schilling
Roger Clemens
Barry Bonds
Larry Walker
Omar Vizquel
Manny Ramirez
Jeff Kent
Scott Rolen
Billy Wagner
Todd Helton
Gary Sheffield
Andy Pettitte
Sammy Sosa
Andruw Jones
First-Timers
Derek Jeter
Bobby Abreu
Jason Giambi
Cliff Lee
Rafael Furcal
Eric Chavez
Josh Beckett
Brian Roberts
Alfonso Soriano
Carlos Pena
Paul Konerko
Chone Figgins
Raul Ibanez
Brad Penny
Adam Dunn
J.J. Putz
Jose Valverde
Heath Bell
Helton and Walker are right on the cusp. I heard some well thought out arguments for Rolen yesterday, but I just can't do it. I also can't let Vizquel in based solely on defense. Jeter is the only first-timer who even comes close to moving the needle for me.
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Rolen is arguably the greatest defensive third baseman ever (or 2nd behind Mike Schmidt). He should be a lock.
Baseball HoF voters are dopes.
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Brooks Robinson called and would like a word with you about defense at 3rd.
I used to follow MLB HoF closely and with interest. No longer.
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Forgot about Brooks Robinson, but Rolen is certainly in the conversation for best defensive third baseman ever. But voters have shown that they don't care about defense. Keith Hernandez won 11 Gold Gloves and was an MVP once (and once kissed Elaine Benes), and he can't get in either.
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Rolen is arguably the greatest defensive third baseman ever (or 2nd behind Mike Schmidt). He should be a lock.
Baseball HoF voters are dopes.
Rolen was a great player, but had a "good at everything" style that the voters overlook in favor of gaudy HR or AVG numbers. And yes awesome D. I think he'll get in eventually as modern analytics continues to make advancement and highlight how good he was.
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Jim Edmonds won 8 Gold Gloves and lasted one year on the ballot. What an utter joke.
Meanwhile, Mike Piazza was mediocre at best defensively and got in right away, because offense matters and defense doesn't (99% of the time).
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What metric are you using?
In terms of fielding percentage, Rolen is tied for 18th with such luminaries as Hank Majeski and Don Wert. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_3b_career.shtml
If you're into new age stats, Rolen's dWAR is sixth all time, but it's worth noting that only one of the four guys above him who are eligible are in the HOF. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_3B.shtml
In terms of straight up WAR, Rolen ranks 10th all time (and this was sort of the basis of the stuff I heard yesterday), and the only player ahead of him not in the HOF is Adrian Beltre, who isn't eligible yet.
The third baseman below Rolen in the WAR rankings who are in the HOF are all from the early 20th Century (except for Edgar Martinez, who is on the list despite having played less than 30% of his career games at 3B).
I wouldn't be bothered if Rolen got in, but, at the end of the day, he didn't do enough to get in on numbers alone, and I don't have that snese of "I don't want him coming up with the game on the line."
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I would've voted for :
Jeter
Clemons
Bonds
Schilling
Manny
Larry Walker getting in is a fucking joke.
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What metric are you using?
In terms of fielding percentage, Rolen is tied for 18th with such luminaries as Hank Majeski and Don Wert. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_3b_career.shtml
If you're into new age stats, Rolen's dWAR is sixth all time, but it's worth noting that only one of the four guys above him who are eligible are in the HOF. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_3B.shtml
In terms of straight up WAR, Rolen ranks 10th all time (and this was sort of the basis of the stuff I heard yesterday), and the only player ahead of him not in the HOF is Adrian Beltre, who isn't eligible yet.
The third baseman below Rolen in the WAR rankings who are in the HOF are all from the early 20th Century (except for Edgar Martinez, who is on the list despite having played less than 30% of his career games at 3B).
I wouldn't be bothered if Rolen got in, but, at the end of the day, he didn't do enough to get in on numbers alone, and I don't have that snese of "I don't want him coming up with the game on the line."
I am not into new age stats, aka made up stats, like WAR.
As for the "I don't want him coming up with the game on the line" factor, all that does is reinforce that most people only care about offense and discard defense. Should Ozzie Smith not have made the Hall because you didn't get that sense about him either?
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What metric are you using?
In terms of fielding percentage, Rolen is tied for 18th with such luminaries as Hank Majeski and Don Wert. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_3b_career.shtml
If you're into new age stats, Rolen's dWAR is sixth all time, but it's worth noting that only one of the four guys above him who are eligible are in the HOF. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_3B.shtml
In terms of straight up WAR, Rolen ranks 10th all time (and this was sort of the basis of the stuff I heard yesterday), and the only player ahead of him not in the HOF is Adrian Beltre, who isn't eligible yet.
The third baseman below Rolen in the WAR rankings who are in the HOF are all from the early 20th Century (except for Edgar Martinez, who is on the list despite having played less than 30% of his career games at 3B).
I wouldn't be bothered if Rolen got in, but, at the end of the day, he didn't do enough to get in on numbers alone, and I don't have that snese of "I don't want him coming up with the game on the line."
I am not into new age stats, aka made up stats, like WAR.
As for the "I don't want him coming up with the game on the line" factor, all that does is reinforce that most people only care about offense and discard defense. Should Ozzie Smith not have made the Hall because you didn't get that sense about him either?
As a Dodger fan, I have a bit of experience with Ozzie coming up with the game on the line....
Ozzie was flashy and almost universally regarded as the best defensive shortstop of all time (and his numbers bear that out). His offensive production gave folks an argument that he shouldn't get in. Rolen isn't Ozzie and, like I said, he's right on the cusp. There's just nothing that, for me, moves him from the "hall of really good" into the Hall of Fame.
The announcement should be happening as I'm typing this, so let's see what the voters think.
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Only Jeter and Walker got in.
Jeter wasn't unanimous (missed by one vote). I think whoever didn't vote for him needs to be forced to publicly explain why Derek Jeter isn't HOF-worthy and, if that answer isn't something better than, "voting in Rivera unanimously was a mistake that shouldn't happen again; if Hank Aaron wasn't unanimous, then no one should be unanimous," that person needs to lose his vote.
Schilling got 70%; Clemens got 61%; Bonds got 60.7%; Vizquel got 52.6%. Everyone else was well below 50%.
Looking ahead to next year, none of the first time candidates are worthy (Tim Hudson, Mark Buehrle and Torrii Hunter are the most notable candidates), so Schilling probably makes it in (maybe by himself).
2022 will be interesting because, if they don't make it in 2021, it will be the last year for Bonds, Clemens, Schilling and Sosa.
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Right. The guy that didn't vote for Jeter should flat out lose his vote.
Larry Walker?? That's gross.
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Letting Walker in is analogous to letting Def Leppard into the R&RHOF.
Here's what I don't get:
Paul Konerko played in parts of 18 seasons (playing over 120 games in 15 consecutive seasons and more than 135 games in 13 of those 15 seasons). He played the overwhelming majority of his time at first base. He finished with a .279 BA, 410 HR and 1412 RBI (.486 SLG and .841 OPS).
Bobby Abreu played in parts of 18 seasons (playing over 150 games in 13 seasons. He played the overwhelming majority of is time in the outfield. He finished with a .291 BA, 288 HR and 1363 HR.
Both were first-time candidates on this year's ballot. One got 22 votes (meaning he'll be on next year's ballot), and the other got ZERO votes and will drop off the ballot.
This is something I don't get. I don't think either is HOF material, but how does someone (22 someones) give Abreu a vote but doesn't also vote for Konerko?
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Right. The guy that didn't vote for Jeter should flat out lose his vote.
While I agree, there has been only one unanimous vote in the history of the baseball Hall of Fame, so this is consistent with what nimrods most voters are. Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, etc. were all not unanimously voted in either, so this is not new. Despite the ultimate man-crush many have on Jeter, he was not so great that he should have been the 2nd guy to make it unanimously.
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Man crush or not, which I don't have one. Is he a HOFer or not. If he is..vote yes. If he's not..vote no.
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I agree, but there is always a voter or two who thinks nobody should get in on their first try.
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These would be my picks, based on my growing up watching all these players play. Sammy Sosa is a close call for me. Sure he hit 600 homers, but I think overall he was just a good player. He struck out way too much and just didn't get on base nearly as much as you would like a middle of the order guy to. Curt Schilling is another close one, but I just don't think he was quite good enough. I'm not really sure why so many people around here are so anti-Larry Walker.... :huh:
Returning Candidates
Curt Schilling
Roger Clemens
Barry Bonds
Larry Walker
Omar Vizquel
Manny Ramirez
Jeff Kent
Scott Rolen
Billy Wagner
Todd Helton
Gary Sheffield
Andy Pettitte
Sammy Sosa
Andruw Jones
First-Timers
Derek Jeter
Bobby Abreu
Jason Giambi
Cliff Lee
Rafael Furcal
Eric Chavez
Josh Beckett
Brian Roberts
Alfonso Soriano
Carlos Pena
Paul Konerko
Chone Figgins
Raul Ibanez
Brad Penny
Adam Dunn
J.J. Putz
Jose Valverde
Heath Bell
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Curt Schilling is another close one, but I just don't think he was quite good enough. I'm not really sure why so many people around here are so anti-Larry Walker.... :huh:
Letting Walker in confirms this as the Hall Of Very Good. I'm sorry, in my eyes he is simply not a HOFer. I like him. I have nothing against him, but him getting in, over Bonds and Ramirez is a joke. Sorry.
How is Jeff Bagwell in, but not Manny? That makes zero sense.
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Curt Schilling is another close one, but I just don't think he was quite good enough. I'm not really sure why so many people around here are so anti-Larry Walker.... :huh:
Letting Walker in confirms this as the Hall Of Very Good. I'm sorry, in my eyes he is simply not a HOFer. I like him. I have nothing against him, but him getting in, over Bonds and Ramirez is a joke. Sorry.
How is Jeff Bagwell in, but not Manny? That makes zero sense.
Oh, I'm not saying he was better than or deserved to be in before Bonds or Ramirez (cause he wasn't better), I'm just saying based on watching him play and his ability to play both sides of the ball well and was able to run the bases well (at least in the first half of his career), he should be in.
As far as Bagwell is concerned he also deserves to be in. He was a very similar player to Walker, other than he batted righty.
On the subject of Bonds, he is the greatest player of all time and I will argue him against any other player, Steroids or not. And on the subject of steroids.....in baseball you still have to hit the ball and have good plate discipline (both of which Bonds either did very well or better than anyone else). Steroids doesn't do that for you.
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See, I'm out on Bagwell. He was made with steroids, as was Sosa.
Manny and Bonds would've been HOF hitters even without roids. To me, there's no way Bagwell has nearly the career he had without them.
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Due to press coverage at the time, one day I stopped by on my way home from work to see a kid from Kalamazoo Central named Jeter get a couple of hits against Comstock H.S. A single and triple while I was there. A shame the Tigers didn't draft him.
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Due to press coverage at the time, one day I stopped by on my way home from work to see a kid from Kalamazoo Central named Jeter get a couple of hits against Comstock H.S. A single and triple while I was there. A shame the Tigers didn't draft him.
That's pretty cool.
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I am with Tim that the Hall of FAME has become the Hall of Very Good. And it has become this for one reason, and one reason only - MONEY. The Hall brings in crowds, generates revenue, and MLB gets more exposure. They will never go a year without putting SOMEONE in. It's ridiculous, even if I get the financial reasons why.
For me personally, only players where it is a complete no-brainer without any thought needing be put into it should be in the Hall. Griffey Jr., Jeter, Rivera, Ripken Jr., Maddux, Thome, etc. If you even have to pause more than a couple seconds to recall the names, they shouldn't be in. But that changed, and for me, that's wrong.
I don't want to stir things up for a big debate, because the Hall of Fame is a celebration. But Harold Baines? Edgar Martinez (who never played the field)? Come on. These guys were really good players. REALLY good. And they deserve to have their numbers retired (as they are) and the accolades they get from the teams they played for. But in my mind, if you put Harold Baines up against say...Dave Winfield. Winny will eat the guy for breakfast.
I am happy for Larry Walker. Great ballplayer. Not a HOFer in my eyes. Good stats, even adjusted for Coors. But he's not a Hall of Famer to me.
In this day and age, with baseball's stats sort of changing (nowadays advanced pitching stats are more important than wins, for example), things are in a very gray area. But where you can make arguments for dominance over certain lengths of time, etc., for me, it now comes down to the No-Brainer test. If you have to pause more than a couple seconds, the player isn't HOF worthy.
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I am with Tim that the Hall of FAME has become the Hall of Very Good. And it has become this for one reason, and one reason only - MONEY. The Hall brings in crowds, generates revenue, and MLB gets more exposure. They will never go a year without putting SOMEONE in. It's ridiculous, even if I get the financial reasons why.
For me personally, only players where it is a complete no-brainer without any thought needing be put into it should be in the Hall. Griffey Jr., Jeter, Rivera, Ripken Jr., Maddux, Thome, etc. If you even have to pause more than a couple seconds to recall the names, they shouldn't be in. But that changed, and for me, that's wrong.
I don't want to stir things up for a big debate, because the Hall of Fame is a celebration. But Harold Baines? Edgar Martinez (who never played the field)? Come on. These guys were really good players. REALLY good. And they deserve to have their numbers retired (as they are) and the accolades they get from the teams they played for. But in my mind, if you put Harold Baines up against say...Dave Winfield. Winny will eat the guy for breakfast.
I am happy for Larry Walker. Great ballplayer. Not a HOFer in my eyes. Good stats, even adjusted for Coors. But he's not a Hall of Famer to me.
In this day and age, with baseball's stats sort of changing (nowadays advanced pitching stats are more important than wins, for example), things are in a very gray area. But where you can make arguments for dominance over certain lengths of time, etc., for me, it now comes down to the No-Brainer test. If you have to pause more than a couple seconds, the player isn't HOF worthy.
I'm with you on all of this, EXCEPT for Edgar Martinez. First, Martinez played 2055 games in his career and played well over a quarter of those games as a 1B or 3B (primarily the latter), so it's not correct to say ne "never played the field"). Second, while I don't like the DH, it's a part of the game and has been for over 45 years. It's not going anywhere; we're more likely to get it in the NL than we are to get rid of it altogether. That being the case, a DH is just as much a part of the game as any other player, so the best of the best should be recognized, and Martinez was THE best of the best (although since surpassed by David Ortiz). Now, if you want to make an argument based on his career numbers, I might listen to that, but I don't think the "he was just a DH" argument doesn't really fly (it's basically the same argument that was made about closers).
I particularly agree about Walker (although all of the new age stats rank him above Jeter, so....). Last year was even worse with guys like Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina and Tim Raines two years before that.
The funny thing is that, in 2013, the only year that no one got elected, there were NINE players on the ballot who subsequently got elected (Biggio, Morris, Bagwell, Piazza, Raines, Lee Smith, Martinez, Trammell and Walker).
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PG - even with the DH argument aside, Edgar's stats don't warrant HOF inclusion, IMO. He's one you have to think about. So under my own process, he falls short. I'm not an anti-DH guy. Reggie Jackson played the last several years of his career as a DH. The great Eddie Murray did too. I just think Edgar's numbers don't add up to a HOF.
Thank you for pointing out Halladay, Mussina, and Raines. None of them should be in. I'm a Yankees diehard and have been one since 1979. I love Moose. Love Raines. Neither of them is a HOFer in my eyes. Not even close. People are pining for Petitte to be in the HOF - No. Not even close. Love Paul O'Neil and Bernie Williams too--- not HOFs. Neither is Posada.
I think 2013 is the last year you'll see no one elected. I think the loss of revenue turned into a spike that following year. I don't think Morris is a HOF either. Or Trammell. That is crazy. Great players. But not legendary ones.
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I still say Pete Rose should be in, but he made his own bed. MLB will probably induct him once he passes, simply to get him and to not let him have the enjoyment of having made it.
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I still say Pete Rose should be in, but he made his own bed. MLB will probably induct him once he passes, simply to get him and to not let him have the enjoyment of having made it.
I think Pete should be in, as what he did (betting on his teams to win) didn't (unless I am forgetting circumstances) affect the outcome of games. But he broke a rule, agreed to the harsh penalty, and like you said, he made his own bed. I think it's different than say an admitted steroid user who tried to cheat the game, or something of that ilk. But again, a lot of time has passed since the years of Pete Rose, and I can't claim to remember all the accusations and such, and what is true and what isn't. And that's sort of the danger -- you forget the nuances that make a difference over time.
Unfortunately, I think that's going to happen to a degree with Bonds and Clemens. Two guys who knowingly cheated, but never admitted it, and nothing ever was definitively proved by law (but proved by research from neutral parties). Time will eventually get to a point where the argument of "era" will win out, and those guys will get in. And while they arguably were HOFers prior to steroid use, that "character" clause that is in the voting guidelines, at least to me, really signals that they shouldn't be put in because of their choices.
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PG - even with the DH argument aside, Edgar's stats don't warrant HOF inclusion, IMO. He's one you have to think about. So under my own process, he falls short. I'm not an anti-DH guy. Reggie Jackson played the last several years of his career as a DH. The great Eddie Murray did too. I just think Edgar's numbers don't add up to a HOF.
Thank you for pointing out Halladay, Mussina, and Raines. None of them should be in. I'm a Yankees diehard and have been one since 1979. I love Moose. Love Raines. Neither of them is a HOFer in my eyes. Not even close. People are pining for Petitte to be in the HOF - No. Not even close. Love Paul O'Neil and Bernie Williams too--- not HOFs. Neither is Posada.
I think 2013 is the last year you'll see no one elected. I think the loss of revenue turned into a spike that following year. I don't think Morris is a HOF either. Or Trammell. That is crazy. Great players. But not legendary ones.
Fair enough about Martinez, and I agree about all the others you mentioned.
I'm curious what you (and anyone else) thinks about Steve Garvey. He's a Dodger legend and was my favorite player as a kid. She shows up semi-regularly on local talk radio, and the subject inevitably turns to whether he should be in the HOF (he's not exactly a humble guy and is more than willing to engage on that topic). I'm obviously biased, and it's hard not to get a little caught up in the Dodger pride thing, but I feel like he's not even close to the no-brainer that some of our local radio guys make him out to be.
I still say Pete Rose should be in, but he made his own bed. MLB will probably induct him once he passes, simply to get him and to not let him have the enjoyment of having made it.
That would be consistent with the lifetime ban thing.
I recall something from many years ago that Pete said that part of his deal with Bart Giamatti was (verbally) that, although they'd call it a lifetime ban, it wouldn't really be that. He was fairly convincing, but in retrospect, it seems like an awfully convenient story given that, if it had happened, it died with Giamatti.
That said, I agree that Rose should be in for the reasons mentioned by Samsara.
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Garvey is a tough one. I DID have to think about him, but not as a part of my personal thoughts on how to do the HOF. It's just that his career was so long ago, and while I remember it, the memories are fuzzy. Going back to the stats, he was one of the dominant players in the game -- for seven years. 1974-1980. He's hurt by his first several seasons where he didn't play a ton. Great player, but I don't think he rises to HOF candidacy. As much as it pains me, he's a better case than my favorite growing up - Don Mattingly (Jackson was my first favorite, followed by Donnie). But neither of them (Mattingly/Garvey) were great for long enough, IMO.
Both were very good players who made huge impacts on their team. But they weren't legendary in terms of the greats of the game.
p.s. PG - we're old my man. :lol
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Garvey is a tough one. I DID have to think about him, but not as a part of my personal thoughts on how to do the HOF. It's just that his career was so long ago, and while I remember it, the memories are fuzzy. Going back to the stats, he was one of the dominant players in the game -- for seven years. 1974-1980. He's hurt by his first several seasons where he didn't play a ton. Great player, but I don't think he rises to HOF candidacy. As much as it pains me, he's a better case than my favorite growing up - Don Mattingly (Jackson was my first favorite, followed by Donnie). But neither of them (Mattingly/Garvey) were great for long enough, IMO.
Both were very good players who made huge impacts on their team. But they weren't legendary in terms of the greats of the game.
p.s. PG - we're old my man. :lol
Don't remind me....
And yeah, Garvey and Mattingly seem very similar (although Garvey gets a bit of a boost because of multiple postseason appearances).
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(although Garvey gets a bit of a boost because of multiple postseason appearances).
Well, I don't think postseason appearances should be weighted that highly -- not everyone gets into the postseason, and if they don't, it's not necessarily through fault of their own. Mattingly was great, but played on crap teams. Ernie Banks was great, he played on unsuccessful teams, etc. So I don't put a lot of stock into postseason stuff. I mean, yeah, if a player has some big moments, sure, they get thought of. But for the most part, postseason play never really should be a criteria.
I think Mattingly and Garvey are fully even. Garvey played longer, and was better for longer (Mattingly had that bad back injury that took away his power and ability to pull the ball). But Mattingly was a far superior defender. And has the GG hardware to back it up. So given all that, I consider them fairly equal, honestly.
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(although Garvey gets a bit of a boost because of multiple postseason appearances).
Well, I don't think postseason appearances should be weighted that highly -- not everyone gets into the postseason, and if they don't, it's not necessarily through fault of their own. Mattingly was great, but played on crap teams. Ernie Banks was great, he played on unsuccessful teams, etc. So I don't put a lot of stock into postseason stuff. I mean, yeah, if a player has some big moments, sure, they get thought of. But for the most part, postseason play never really should be a criteria.
I was imprecise in my prior comment. It's not that Garvey's teams made the postseason as much as how he performed when they did. He had a career postseason line (55 games over 11 series) of .338/.361/.550/.910, 11 HR, 31 RBI (1978 and 1984 NLCS MVP). The only series in which he didn't perform particularly well were the 1978 and 1984 World Series (and pretty much NO ONE from the Padres played well in that '84 series). I certainly can't hold it against Mattingly that he was the best player on a bunch of mediocre teams (just as it would be unreasonable to hold it against Garvey that his teams only won 1 WS in 5 tries -- ouch!), but Garvey has to get a bump for being a generally clutch performer in several series.
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I have always considered Garvey an icon of his era, no?
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I was imprecise in my prior comment. It's not that Garvey's teams made the postseason as much as how he performed when they did. He had a career postseason line (55 games over 11 series) of .338/.361/.550/.910, 11 HR, 31 RBI (1978 and 1984 NLCS MVP). The only series in which he didn't perform particularly well were the 1978 and 1984 World Series (and pretty much NO ONE from the Padres played well in that '84 series). I certainly can't hold it against Mattingly that he was the best player on a bunch of mediocre teams (just as it would be unreasonable to hold it against Garvey that his teams only won 1 WS in 5 tries -- ouch!), but Garvey has to get a bump for being a generally clutch performer in several series.
By that logic then, Mattingly's lone appearance (his last year, 1995) was one for the ages. He batted .417, with 1 hr, and 5 rbi (going by memory) and tried to will the team to a win against the Mariners. I'm not discounting Garvey's performance, but here is where the rub is - Garvey played 55 games. Mattingly played in five. That's why postseason play is such a wildcard (pun intended). While I think performance in the playoffs should be a very minor factor, it's almost unfair to some other players who haven't had the chance to perform on that stage. Garvey was clutch, but so was Mattingly. And there is no way to know if Mattingly would be MORE clutch or not. So I tend not to really consider postseason play when I can avoid it.
I have always considered Garvey an icon of his era, no?
I consider him a Dodgers icon, and a star from his era. But an icon of the game from his era? I'm not sure. I don't think so. An all star for sure, but "icon" conjures up thoughts of iconic players in history, and I can't say I think Garvey belongs in the same space as guys like Reggie Jackson, Carew, Schmidt, etc., from the late 70s/early 80s. Those guys are another level.
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I have always considered Garvey an icon of his era, no?
I consider him a Dodgers icon, and a star from his era. But an icon of the game from his era? I'm not sure. I don't think so. An all star for sure, but "icon" conjures up thoughts of iconic players in history, and I can't say I think Garvey belongs in the same space as guys like Reggie Jackson, Carew, Schmidt, etc., from the late 70s/early 80s. Those guys are another level.
Well...I guess it depends on what you mean by "an icon of his era." He was one of the top first basemen of the 1970s, but there were a lot of really good first basemen at that time: Tony Perez, Keith Hernandez, Eddie Murray, Willie Stargell, Cecil Cooper, Chris Chambliss, etc. Perez and Stargell were the best, and Murray didn't start until 1977. They're all in the HOF. The others are not. Garvey wasn't Perez, Stargell or Hernandez. He probably is the next guy in line, but I don't think that gets him to baseball icon (as opposed to Dodgers icon) or the HOF.
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True, in that list, I would probably put Garvey up there, if we're just eyeing say the late 1970s, which was Garvey's prime. 1977-1980 were the best years of his career. Stargell was in decline. Murray debuted in 77 and had great years, arguably better than Garvey. Certainly more consistent, I think. Perez was declining, just like Stargell. But in this, I'm just focusing on a narrow window, which happens to be the absolute best years of Garvey's career.
It's so difficult to just pinpoint, so that's why the total body of work, and length of high performance is so critical to me in evaluating if a player is a HOFer or not. Sadly for us, our two guys, Mattingly and Garvey, simply didn't reach those iconic heights.
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As a 10 year old kid in 1978, way the hell out here on the East Coast, Garvey was one of the most popular players going. He transcended the game with his celebrity. And the Dodgers were pretty damned good during his time.
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As a 10 year old kid in 1978, way the hell out here on the East Coast, Garvey was one of the most popular players going. He transcended the game with his celebrity. And the Dodgers were pretty damned good during his time.
Although I was quite a bit younger, I do get that. And for that short window, he was one of, if not the best at his position. But that dominance didn't last long, which I think was what we were trying to identify (Iconic vs. star, vs. very good, etc.) Trust me, I am a big sports and music history guy. Garvey was freakin' legit, Tim. No taking that away. Had he sustained his dominant level for 10 years, I think we'd be having a different story. Same with Mattingly. But fans of the Dodgers and Yankees, respectively, know those two guys were huge.
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Dusty Baker new Astros manager. 70 years old. Wow.
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I'm so sick of the Astros and some of their fans. I keep seeing how Astros fans are trying to put up this united front of "us and our team against the world." ::)
Look, the Astros didn't just "steal signs." They had an elaborate system in place in order to always know what was coming. This isn't Joe Player on second seeing what is coming by spotting the sign and relaying it quickly to the batter. This is an all out program designed to cheat every opponent. It's a black mark on the sport, very akin to the Black Sox scandal. It challenges the very integrity of the game itself.
And as much as he blusters, Rob Manfred didn't really do anything. He slapped the wrists of the Astros (and soon to do the same to the Sox). The teams then fired the suspended people to try and save some face. But because they talked and admitted their cheating to MLB, Manfred gives them what amounts to a free pass. Total bullshit. What Manfred (if he really cared about the game) should have done, was legitimately punish the franchises by instituting five-year playoff bans for the Astros (and soon to be Red Sox). This punishes the franchises (don't tell me the owners didn't know, of course they did), by costing them postseason revenue, and punishes the players by not giving them anything to play for except their stats and a paycheck. Yes, it would have disastrous financial impact (assuming fans didn't come to the ballpark much) on the Astros (and soon to be Red Sox), but that's the point, isn't it -- consequences for one of the most hideous black eyes to the integrity of baseball.
Dusty Baker joining the Astros - great. Nice PR move getting an old school, non-analytics coach, to coach a bunch of cheaters.
If this was the Yankees, instead of the Astros, as a fan, while I still would love my team, I wouldn't support them until the entire front office, coaching staff and players were cleared out. I wouldn't be making excuses and sob stories and rallying around the team. It just pisses me off. Yes, EVERY team tries to gain an advantage. But not in the way the Astros and Red Sox did (the latter, I assume). They cheated not only their opponents, but the game itself, and Manfred and MLB should be ashamed of itself for the minor slap on the wrist punishments they have metered out.
/rant
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Betts, Price to the Dodgers
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/report-red-sox-trade-mookie-betts-david-price-three-team-blockbuster-deal-involving-dodgers
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Mooooooooookieeeeee
Damn
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Mookie is fucking electrifying. You guys will enjoy the hell out of him. Price is a douche, but he was not made for Boston. He should thrive out there. No way the Dodgers don't win the World Series this year.
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Ugly, ugly, ugly.
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So the Equipment Truck left yesterday for Spring Training, Mookie is traded, and the Sox still don't have a manager for this year!!! WT f'n F??
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Mookie is fucking electrifying. You guys will enjoy the hell out of him. Price is a douche, but he was not made for Boston. He should thrive out there. No way the Dodgers don't win the World Series this year.
Do they have their own trash cans?
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Mookie is fucking electrifying. You guys will enjoy the hell out of him. Price is a douche, but he was not made for Boston. He should thrive out there. No way the Dodgers don't win the World Series this year.
Oh I'm sure something will go wrong. It always does. ::)
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Mookie is fucking electrifying. You guys will enjoy the hell out of him. Price is a douche, but he was not made for Boston. He should thrive out there. No way the Dodgers don't win the World Series this year.
Unless they play the Astros*.
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Yesterday was wild!
The Sox give up a guy one season removed from an MVP, a former Cy Young award winner (who, if healthy, is a #2 caliber starter) AND enough cash to cover half of Price's salary in exchange for a couple of prospects! That's nuts. I liked Alex Verdugo, but he's completely unproven, and I've never heard of Chauncey Gatorade.*
I don't like losing Kenta Maeda to the Twins because it thins out an already thin bullpen, but I'm otherwise completely on board with this.**
I don't entirely understand sending Joc Pederson to the Angels for some scrub infielder, but there's no room for him anymore.
* - It's possible that I may not have correctly spelled the name of the pitcher that the Sox got from the Twins.
** - AND, as an added bonus, the Dodgers should also now be able to kick every other team's ass at bowling.
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I like that trade for the Twins. They get a decent pitcher who can help them now in exchange for a fireballing prospect that they intended to use out of the bullpen next season, but may have eventually been able to be a starter. 50/50 shot at best of him becoming an impact player. I would rather they had gone out and gotten a starter closer to ace level, but that was always really only a pipe dream for the Twins. I like the moves they've made and expect them to win the division again in 2020. Whether they'll be able to contend against other playoff team remains to be seen.
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I like that trade for the Twins. They get a decent pitcher who can help them now in exchange for a fireballing prospect that they intended to use out of the bullpen next season, but may have eventually been able to be a starter. 50/50 shot at best of him becoming an impact player. I would rather they had gone out and gotten a starter closer to ace level, but that was always really only a pipe dream for the Twins. I like the moves they've made and expect them to win the division again in 2020. Whether they'll be able to contend against other playoff team remains to be seen.
I think if they use Maeda as anything but a spot starter, they'll be unhappy. He was at his best out of the bullpen.
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I like that trade for the Twins. They get a decent pitcher who can help them now in exchange for a fireballing prospect that they intended to use out of the bullpen next season, but may have eventually been able to be a starter. 50/50 shot at best of him becoming an impact player. I would rather they had gone out and gotten a starter closer to ace level, but that was always really only a pipe dream for the Twins. I like the moves they've made and expect them to win the division again in 2020. Whether they'll be able to contend against other playoff team remains to be seen.
I think if they use Maeda as anything but a spot starter, they'll be unhappy. He was at his best out of the bullpen.
I admittedly know very little about Maeda. What I'm reading this morning is that as a starter he did pretty well the first two times through the order, but fell apart the third time through. Which isn't unusual really. The Twins certainly intend to use him as a starter. They must see something there that the Dodgers didn't. We'll see how it turns out.
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I like that trade for the Twins. They get a decent pitcher who can help them now in exchange for a fireballing prospect that they intended to use out of the bullpen next season, but may have eventually been able to be a starter. 50/50 shot at best of him becoming an impact player. I would rather they had gone out and gotten a starter closer to ace level, but that was always really only a pipe dream for the Twins. I like the moves they've made and expect them to win the division again in 2020. Whether they'll be able to contend against other playoff team remains to be seen.
I think if they use Maeda as anything but a spot starter, they'll be unhappy. He was at his best out of the bullpen.
I admittedly know very little about Maeda. What I'm reading this morning is that as a starter he did pretty well the first two times through the order, but fell apart the third time through. Which isn't unusual really. The Twins certainly intend to use him as a starter. They must see something there that the Dodgers didn't. We'll see how it turns out.
That was, indeed, the narrative on him, but I don't think it was completely borne out by the numbers. Either way, over the course of 2017-19, he performed much better out of the bullpen than he ever did as a starter. Regardless, at $3.125M/yr. for the next four seasons (his age 32-35 seasons), he's a freakin' bargain.
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An honest take which mirrors mine:
https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2020/2/5/21123730/mookie-betts-red-sox-trade-los-angeles-dodgers
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Looks like the deal may be stalled because the Sox aren't sold on the Twins pitcher they were set to get. He's profiling as more of a reliever than a starter, which Twins coaches have been leaning towards this off season. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
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So...the trade apparently changed slightly because the Bosox decided they didn't like Chauncey Gatorade.
The Dodgers still get Betts and Price (with the Sox picking up half of Price's salary), but they are giving up Kenta Maeda and two prospects. They also get Chauncey and a draft pick from the Twins.
The Twins still get Maeda, along with a prospect and some cash from the Dodgers.
The Sox still get Alex Verdugo, along with a couple prospects from the Dodgers.
So...basically, it's the same trade, except now the Dodgers get Chauncey and had to give up a few prospects.
Also, for whatever reason, the Joc Pederson/Ross Stripling trade to the Angels for a dude and a couple lesser dudes has apparently been nixed.
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Three batter minimum is here. Frankly, I am all for this right now. I hate the whole 'let's use 5 pitchers this inning'. I may go back on it, but for now I am for this.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mlb-makes-it-official-the-threebatter-minimum-rule-is-here-212819166.html
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What a fucking clown show the Astros press conference is. This owner is a tool. At no point does he even say he's the disappointed with the players. Really??
It's bad when Alex Bregman is the one to look sane. He actually took PERSONAL responsibility in his short prepared statement. I appreciate that. Altuve did not BTW. We'll see what that other players say when the clubhouse opens.
And I love Matt Vaskergian. He's been calling BS all morning.
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Honestly, with all this Astros/cheating bullshit, and Manfred doing some asinine things regarding playoff format, I'm almost done with MLB. I love baseball, but there comes a point where too much crap and too many changes just alienate people. I don't want to be the old guy in the room who doesn't embrace evolution of a sport, but at this point, I'm really fed up with MLB. I'll support baseball as a sport, youth leagues, high school, college, etc. But MLB needs a new commissioner. Pronto.
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Three batter minimum is here. Frankly, I am all for this right now. I hate the whole 'let's use 5 pitchers this inning'. I may go back on it, but for now I am for this.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mlb-makes-it-official-the-threebatter-minimum-rule-is-here-212819166.html
I'm reserving judgment. I can't stand when we get multiple 3-minute delays in an inning to allow for pitching changes. I don't know if this is the answer, though, and I wonder how often we'll see a pitcher claiming to be injured so that he can be removed after facing only a one or two batters. I think I'd prefer a 0-2 on-field warmup pitches rule (and ditto for warmups at the start of an inning). As far as I know, baseball is the only sport that allows a person coming into the game to have on-field warmup (after having off-field warmup!). When I first started watching hockey about 30 years ago, if a new goalie came in during the game, his team had some amount of time to pepper him with shots. They got rid of that after some teams used it as a way to rest their players. No good reason why pitchers coming into the game and starting an inning need 8 warmup pitches.
What a fucking clown show the Astros press conference is. This owner is a tool. At no point does he even say he's the disappointed with the players. Really??
It's bad when Alex Bregman is the one to look sane. He actually took PERSONAL responsibility in his short prepared statement. I appreciate that. Altuve did not BTW. We'll see what that other players say when the clubhouse opens.
And I love Matt Vaskergian. He's been calling BS all morning.
I'm quite looking forward to the March 30 Astros at A's game (Astros first road game). I hope the fans in Oakland really let the Astros have it all game long. The Angels home opening series against the Astros on April 3-5 should be even better. I might even look at going to one of those games.
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The Houston players should be ashamed of themselves. In the end, whether they (or any pro athlete for that matter) like it or not, they are role models to kids. What does this say to the 11 year old who idolizes Altuve and the rest of them? That they cheated, and while bad, its ok if you get away with it, because it might not really even impact the outcome? (Or some such bullshit?)
SMH.
Shit's wrong man.
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I'm quite looking forward to the March 30 Astros at A's game (Astros first road game). I hope the fans in Oakland really let the Astros have it all game long. The Angels home opening series against the Astros on April 3-5 should be even better. I might even look at going to one of those games.
What would be perfect is another sewage backup at the park. Those love to happen at the A's park.
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I'm quite looking forward to the March 30 Astros at A's game (Astros first road game). I hope the fans in Oakland really let the Astros have it all game long. The Angels home opening series against the Astros on April 3-5 should be even better. I might even look at going to one of those games.
What would be perfect is another sewage backup at the park. Those love to happen at the A's park.
They had a sewage leak during a game at Dodger Stadium last year (or maybe it was the year before). Unfortunately, the Astros and Dodgers won't play each other this season.
The Houston players should be ashamed of themselves. In the end, whether they (or any pro athlete for that matter) like it or not, they are role models to kids. What does this say to the 11 year old who idolizes Altuve and the rest of them? That they cheated, and while bad, its ok if you get away with it, because it might not really even impact the outcome? (Or some such bullshit?)
Well...this is where a good parent steps in and tells his/her kid, "It's great to have Jose Altuve as a role model as far as how to play second base and hit a baseball, but idolizing athletes beyond what they do on the field is ill-advised. Also, human beings sometimes make mistakes and do dumb things."
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I hope the Astros see a lot of inside fastballs this year.
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Well...this is where a good parent steps in and tells his/her kid, "It's great to have Jose Altuve as a role model as far as how to play second base and hit a baseball, but idolizing athletes beyond what they do on the field is ill-advised. Also, human beings sometimes make mistakes and do dumb things."
I agree. But you know as well as I do that good parents are a rarity. That's the reality, and these athletes are role models regardless.
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Etiquette prevents me from putting an image of a douche bag on this forum in regards to the Asstros' owner.
For real? I mean, WTW!?!!?
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This could get interesting on the games start. I might actually have to watch a couple Astros games.
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Do the Astros play the Yankees and/or Dodgers this year? Those are the two teams that got screwed over the most from the cheating. I would love to see Houston get booed out of Yankee and Dodger Stadium.
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Do the Astros play the Yankees and/or Dodgers this year? Those are the two teams that got screwed over the most from the cheating. I would love to see Houston get booed out of Yankee and Dodger Stadium.
Pretty sure the Yankees are just as dirty as the Astros and Red Sox. Cora pretty much called them out in London last year.
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Do the Astros play the Yankees and/or Dodgers this year? Those are the two teams that got screwed over the most from the cheating. I would love to see Houston get booed out of Yankee and Dodger Stadium.
Yankees yes; Dodgers no.
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/rob-manfred-astros-continued-sign-stealing-scheme-during-2017-postseason/ar-BB108q9k?li=BBnba9I
The Home Road splits are ridiculous.
https://www.12up.com/posts/astros-home-vs-road-splits-from-2017-playoffs-suggest-evidence-of-sign-stealing-01dsjze4xax2
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Just saw this article posted and found it .... interesting. I am not much of a baseball person, but I find the league's response to the Astros intriguing.
"MLB's Rob Manfred is latest villain in Astros' cheating scandal"
https://www.axios.com/rob-manfred-mlb-commissioner-astros-sign-stealing-df5cb5e0-023f-41be-be6e-7aa9988c1e35.html
Thoughts and opinions on this piece?
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He has taken heat for granting immunity to the players, but as the MLBPA pointed out last night in their statement, the players cannot be held accountable in any way per the CBA.
The MLBPA is upset that they seem to feel that by giving them immunity (that they already had), the players thought they were catching a break. Not sure why the players or their reps wouldn't know that.
The "piece of metal" comment to me was not a big deal, as it was really only blown up by a Dodger (Justin Turner) as the Dodgers are mad about everything right now, and rightly so.
Teams have been complaining about the Astros for a couple of years now. Not sure why Manfred has never felt like it deserved any investigation previously. It wasn't until a player (Mike Fiers) and a highly reputable reporter (Ken Rosenthal) put their names to it, that Manfred could simply not ignore it anymore.
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Just agreeing with all the anti Manfred and A**tros comments.
I did hear a good one from a correctional officer on the radio over the weekend. He suggested that all home plate umpires swipe the batters with a metal detecting wand before they step up to home plate :D
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He has taken heat for granting immunity to the players, but as the MLBPA pointed out last night in their statement, the players cannot be held accountable in any way per the CBA.
The MLBPA is upset that they seem to feel that by giving them immunity (that they already had), the players thought they were catching a break. Not sure why the players or their reps wouldn't know that.
Hold on a second? The CBA does not allow the commissioner to punish players for violating rules?? This is the first I've heard of that.
Also, I wouldn't expect your rank and file player to have the slightest idea what the CBA says. The damn thing is nearly 400 pages long (the "basic agreement" including attachments).
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A Dodgers fan group is selling these:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2095/1637/products/Cheaters_1400x.jpg?v=1581890854)
and is apparently planning a trip to Anaheim for the Astros' series against the Angels. https://pantone294.com/products/houston-astros-cheaters-1?variant=31470564409378
This should be awesome!
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While MLB history is loaded with championship teams that had cheaters, I am getting a kick of out of those calling them the Asterisks.
And I saw that the Vegas Over/Under is 83.5 as to how many an Asterisk gets hit by a pitch this season. :lol :lol
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(https://teeress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/redirect-1805.jpg)(https://teestoro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/can-do-attitude-shirt-houston-asterisks-t-shirt-houston-astros-7.jpg)
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(https://i.imgflip.com/3g8k63.jpg)
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Those shirts are awesome.
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love the Houston Asterisks shirt, might consider getting one.
.
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So I haven't really been following this, not much of a baseball guy, but I'm a little hazy on something. Is the problem that the Astros were just better at cheating than everybody else? I mean, isn't it a foregone conclusion that everybody is trying to steal signs? Either it's against the rules or it's not. If it is and people just pretend it doesn't happen, coming down on the people who excelled at it doesn't really make much sense.
Setting that strangeness aside, it seems to me that if you're going to allow the pitcher/catcher to communicate with each other, then it should be on them to keep the other team from figuring it out. I just read from a player today who said they all knew what was going on. They changed their signals every pitch. Good for them. Why weren't other teams? And why hasn't everybody been doing that all along if stealing signals is such a big deal?
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So I haven't really been following this, not much of a baseball guy, but I'm a little hazy on something. Is the problem that the Astros were just better at cheating than everybody else? I mean, isn't it a foregone conclusion that everybody is trying to steal signs?
Yes, it's a foregone conclusion that everyone tries to steal signs. The distinction is that the Astros used technology to do it. If you've got a runner on second who figures out what pitch is coming and relays that to the batter, that's legal and accepted. If the manager figures out that the pitcher is tipping his pitches and bangs on something to relay that to the batter, that's legal and accepted. What's not legal is using technology, and that point was made clear by the commissioner prior to the Astros doing it in 2017. The Astros were taking the feed from the centerfield camera and put a TV/monitor right outside the dugout in the passage to the clubhouse. They would station someone at that monitor, who would relay what was coming (eventually via banging on a trash can) to the batter. You can read the full report here (it's not terribly long): https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/cglrhmlrwwbkacty27l7.pdf
Setting that strangeness aside, it seems to me that if you're going to allow the pitcher/catcher to communicate with each other, then it should be on them to keep the other team from figuring it out. I just read from a player today who said they all knew what was going on. They changed their signals every pitch. Good for them. Why weren't other teams? And why hasn't everybody been doing that all along if stealing signals is such a big deal?
Every team takes steps to hide signs, but when there's no one on base, that's not necessary, UNLESS the other team is illegally using technology to steal the signs.
When my kid was still playing baseball (and he played catcher for several years), we taught the catchers to hide their signs to the pitcher way up in their crotches and to use their gloves to prevent the third-base coach from seeing the sign. However, with kids being involved, they weren't always careful, and some catchers were extremely careless. Likewise, the signs weren't terribly complex, so it often pretty easy for one of the base coaches simply to call out when something other than a fastball was coming. When I did it and the opposing manager would get pissy, my retort was always, "teach your kids to hide their signs better." But having someone in centerfield with binoculars and a walkie-talkie to the dugout would not have been allowed.
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So could a manager just hire 5 goons to stake out strategic positions and give them each binoculars, one red and one green flag, and have them semaphore the signs back to the batter and/or dugout? "Using technology" just seems like a silly distinction to me. I just can't shake the notion that they were doing what everybody else was, but in a significantly more elaborate manner.
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I see the logic in the technology distinction, but I suspect if someone employed the system you described it would be made illegal pretty quickly.
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David Ortiz is a fucking douche, calling Mike Fiers a snitch. You gotta love Canseco's response.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/jose-canseco-defends-mike-fiers-for-whistleblowing-calls-out-david-ortiz/ar-BB10dzom?li=BBnba9I
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2020 Free MLB.TV Subscription For T-Mobile Customers On 3/24/2020
Mark your calendars - early heads up for preparations. T-Mobile will again offer free MLB.TV for customers on Tuesday, 3/24/2020.
Source
https://twitter.com/tmobilehelp/s...52613?s=21
Last year's thread:
https://slickdeals.net/f/12878884-it-s-back-free-mlb-tv-subscription-for-t-mobile-customers-on-3-26?v=1
Note that reddit users are reporting that Black Wireless and Mango Wireless customers can install the T-Mobile Tuesday's app and take advantage of deals such as this one since they are TMobile Business Accounts. Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/f6zwju/blackwireless_100_for_6_months_plan_tmobile/
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My son reported to me earlier today that (approximately) 6 Astros batters have been hit through 3 preseason games.
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for those on twitter, this may be a good follow for the season...
https://twitter.com/AsteriskTour
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My son reported to me earlier today that (approximately) 6 Astros batters have been hit through 3 preseason games.
One of my new managers was just telling me about this. He's a pretty huge dodger fan... (wearing a Dodgers shirt today). I've been here 2 weeks and he and I already rib each other for our teams. :lol
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Well, Asstros hitters will be safe for a while
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28892315/sources-mlb-expected-suspend-spring-training
EDIT: adding to a downer day, Trey Mancini underwent surgery for colon cancer. One of the few bright spots in recent years, and just an all around good kid.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28893535/orioles-trey-mancini-malignant-tumor-removed-colon
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Godspeed to that kid. He's already proved to be a thorn in the Red Sox' side.
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David Ortiz is a fucking douche, calling Mike Fiers a snitch. You gotta love Canseco's response.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/jose-canseco-defends-mike-fiers-for-whistleblowing-calls-out-david-ortiz/ar-BB10dzom?li=BBnba9I
Papi never thinks deeply before opening his mouth unfortunately.
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Was to be Opening Day today.
:-[
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Was to be Opening Day today.
:-[
Sad times :'(
I have OOTP Baseball to hold me over if/when the baseball season ever gets going.
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I got an email from MLB yesterday talking about "Opening Day at Home." It was basically all of the programming that's being aired in the absence of actual games. Yesterday, my 17yo son was watching (on his phone) game 7 of the 2001 World Series. He started doing play-by-play starting with Womack's game tying hit. It was pretty cool.
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Al Kaline passes away at the age of 85.
https://amp.freep.com/amp/505371001?fbclid=IwAR2_vgT6BMmMgQRgGQ6rHRCClcQdENTG7xgIq8tD2ygYFhsn7qKBHcmazMQ
Just a class act all around. HOFer, member of the '68 World Series champs that helped unite a city ravaged by riots the year before, great announcer, etc. (Yaztremski became the first American Leaguer with 3000 hits and 400 HRs, Kaline had 3007 hits and 399 HRs). At 20, he became the youngest player to win a batting title.
We went to Cooperstown the year that Trammell and Morris were inducted. Al was the first person in the parade that Saturday night, Alan the last. Thought he'd be there when Lou Whitaker gets his #1 jersey retired in August (or whenever). An icon in both Detroit and Baltimore, where he grew up, and later got his 3000th hit.
To #6, thank you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Kaline
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Al Kaline passes away at the age of 85.
https://amp.freep.com/amp/505371001?fbclid=IwAR2_vgT6BMmMgQRgGQ6rHRCClcQdENTG7xgIq8tD2ygYFhsn7qKBHcmazMQ
Just a class act all around. HOFer, member of the '68 World Series champs that helped unite a city ravaged by riots the year before, great announcer, etc. (Yaztremski became the first American Leaguer with 3000 hits and 400 HRs, Kaline had 3007 hits and 399 HRs). At 20, he became the youngest player to win a batting title.
We went to Cooperstown the year that Trammell and Morris were inducted. Al was the first person in the parade that Saturday night, Alan the last. Thought he'd be there when Lou Whitaker gets his #1 jersey retired in August (or whenever). An icon in both Detroit and Baltimore, where he grew up, and later got his 3000th hit.
To #6, thank you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Kaline
His last season was the year before I started following baseball as a kid. I started collecting baseball cards in the 1975 season, and I'm almost positive there was a card commemorating his 3,000th hit in 1974. He had 146 hits in his final season -- not bad for an age-39 season!
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I remember recording this from the radio, and playing it more than a few times on my bus ride to school. The Tigers would lose to Oakland in the ALCS, and then without Reggie Jackson, the A's would win the first of three consecutive WS.
Announcer: HOFer Ernie Harwell, the final out ....well,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p013pTPUXY
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I remember recording this from the radio, and playing it more than a few times on my bus ride to school. The Tigers would lose to Oakland in the ALCS, and then without Reggie Jackson, the A's would win the first of three consecutive WS.
Announcer: HOFer Ernie Harwell, the final out ....well,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p013pTPUXY
That confused the heck out of me at first. I knew Ogilvie as a Tiger and Brewer and didn't know he started his career with Boston, so I was wondering why the Tigers would be batting in the 9th inning of a home game if they had the lead. :)
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Looks like that POS Josh Hamilton might be going to prison for awhile. Excellent, as Mr Burns would say.
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Because the topic came up with a friend today regarding the Arizona and Florida 'leagues' (all of it 99% 'ain't happenin''), I thought of a few concerns.
Say the players are isolated, no fans, they play seven innings and double headers, break ties with HR derbys, and pigs fly.......players temperatures can be checked, but they can't be tested every day. So, envision a pitcher or catcher having C19. Four or five players could possibly be infected during one at bat.
Social distancing: they can't all sit in the dug out, so many would sit in the stands. Well, that's not a problem.
The big problem: for those off the field and wearing masks, how are they going to spit? ;)
(way too much time on my hands tonight......)
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South Korea begins the preseason
https://www.geo.tv/latest/284125-professional-sport-baseball-returns-in-south-korea
Their country was ahead of the curve. Half the population tested, sooner lockdowns, much less resistance and sooner use of masks after the SARS1.
Not so sure of them going ahead with this, but it is what it is.
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So the commissioner's report is out. Thread title says it all.
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Soft slap on the wrist.
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Some funny responses.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-world-reacts-to-red-soxs-laughable-sign-stealing-punishment/ar-BB133aBM?li=BBnbfcL
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I flipped on the MLB Network last night, and apparently they've set up an MLB 20: The Show (video game) league. According to my 17 year old, each team has one player in the league. Last night was Fernando Tatis against I'm not sure. They showed the game with inset boxes of the two players and a third box for what I assume was an announcer/commentator. I got bored after about 3 minutes. Just don't get the appeal of watching others play video games.
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It seemed a hell of a lot clunkier than what the NBA guys did a few weeks ago.
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So NESN (the Red Sox network) is showing the playoff games in the run up to the 2004 WS. In the first round, they played the Angels, and they're showing the ESPN broadcast with Chris Berman, Rick Sutcliffe, and Tony Gwynn.
My point is that it is so great to hear Tony Gwynn do a game. That guy was a joy.
(https://i.imgur.com/b4sHjkz.jpg)
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Game 4 of the ALCS that year was one of the best ball games I’ve ever watched.
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Tell me about it!
One thing I distinctly remember is that right after Dave Roberts was traded to the Sox, I was out cleaning my pool, and he was doing a radio interview. I remember thinking that I thought the guy just sounded so cool.
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So NESN (the Red Sox network) is showing the playoff games in the run up to the 2004 WS. In the first round, they played the Angels, and they're showing the ESPN broadcast with Chris Berman, Rick Sutcliffe, and Tony Gwynn.
My point is that it is so great to hear Tony Gwynn do a game. That guy was a joy.
Great player, and he was really good when he went into the booth (and, by all accounts, a really good guy). Too bad he allowed his drug habit to take over his life to the point that it killed him (and yes, it was a drug habit).
Game 4 of the ALCS that year was one of the best ball games I’ve ever watched.
As the son of a Brooklyn native, I was programmed from birth to hate the Yankees. By 2004, every baseball fan who wasn't a Yankee fan was SICK of the Yankees (4 wins and 6 appearances in the prior 8 World Series), so watching the Sox knock off the Yankees -- and coming back from being down 0-3 -- was an absolute pleasure! The only downside is that the 2004 Series was anticlimactic and one of the most boring in recent memory.
One thing I distinctly remember is that right after Dave Roberts was traded to the Sox, I was out cleaning my pool, and he was doing a radio interview. I remember thinking that I thought the guy just sounded so cool.
The Dodgers station plays old games during the offseason, and occasionally one from 2004 will show up. It was weird to see such a game and hear Roberts' name mentioned.
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Watching Game 6 of the '04 ALCS tonight.
(https://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1877331/817153781.gif)
:rollin
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Watching Game 6 of the '04 ALCS tonight.
(https://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1877331/817153781.gif)
:rollin
Bitch move by the biggest bitch in the game.
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Watching Game 6 of the '04 ALCS tonight.
(https://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1877331/817153781.gif)
:rollin
Bitch move by the biggest bitch in the game.
I still remember watching that game and Rodriguez arguing that he didn't slap at it.
And all of this was followed by the classless Yankee fans littering the field with junk.
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Not sure if anyone is following, I am not really, but read some stuff today about how some owners are willing to shut down the whole season. This is looking really bad, and not just for this year, but for years to come.
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I haven't really been paying attention to the details. Last thing I heard was Bob Nightingale saying he'd be shocked if baseball didn't start back up by July 4.
If this doesn't happen because of greed (on either side), then fuck 'em all.
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Gotta ask: Is there an uglier ballpark in the US?
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/106417485_10157543828727634_3827634608025000845_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=uXcegQDO9MEAX9EW7kl&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=5d9382af7b4e86c6d19388c9e5f5bcaa&oe=5F1A53EE)
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Gotta ask: Is there an uglier ballpark in the US?
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/106417485_10157543828727634_3827634608025000845_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=uXcegQDO9MEAX9EW7kl&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=5d9382af7b4e86c6d19388c9e5f5bcaa&oe=5F1A53EE)
Yes:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Le_Yankee_Stadium.jpg)
And I'm not being entirely facetious. I went to a game there a couple years ago and wasn't impressed in the slightest. Also, that picture is a fucking lie. The neighborhood where Yankee Stadium is located is a shithole.
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At least it's a neighborhood. Arlington exists solely for for two stadia and a Six Flags. I'd guess there's good eating in the Bronx, too. Unless you're into Fudruckers or Chili's you're driving back to Dallas or Ft Worth to eat. And aesthetically it's not even close. Yankee Stadium looks like a modern retro ballpark. The Ranger's play in a barn. Or maybe it's a corrugated aluminum baseball cap. I'm honestly not sure what it's supposed to look like.
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Unless you're into Fudruckers or Chili's you're driving back to Dallas or Ft Worth to eat.
Fuddruckers...MMMMMM! I remember when I first went there back in the 80s and they had sides of beef hanging in the windows as you walked in.
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The Ranger's play in a barn. Or maybe it's a corrugated aluminum baseball cap.
:lol Or maybe a Lowes and a megaplex movie theater had a baby. At least it doesn't have the dumbest name in sports stadiums. Jeff Bezos just took care of that.
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The Ranger's play in a barn. Or maybe it's a corrugated aluminum baseball cap.
:lol Or maybe a Lowes and a megaplex movie theater had a baby. At least it doesn't have the dumbest name in sports stadiums. Jeff Bezos just took care of that.
??
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The Ranger's play in a barn. Or maybe it's a corrugated aluminum baseball cap.
:lol Or maybe a Lowes and a megaplex movie theater had a baby. At least it doesn't have the dumbest name in sports stadiums. Jeff Bezos just took care of that.
??
Seattle's stadium is now called "Climate Pledge Arena."
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The Ranger's play in a barn. Or maybe it's a corrugated aluminum baseball cap.
:lol Or maybe a Lowes and a megaplex movie theater had a baby. At least it doesn't have the dumbest name in sports stadiums. Jeff Bezos just took care of that.
The KFC Yum! Center would like to have a word with you.
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The Ranger's play in a barn. Or maybe it's a corrugated aluminum baseball cap.
:lol Or maybe a Lowes and a megaplex movie theater had a baby. At least it doesn't have the dumbest name in sports stadiums. Jeff Bezos just took care of that.
The KFC Yum! Center would like to have a word with you.
To say nothing of Smoothie King Center and Sleep Train Arena.
And, if you want to go beyond major professional stadiums, you've got Whataburger Field, Talking Stick Resort Arena, Dignity Health Sports Park and Bojangles Coliseum.
But yeah, "Climate Pledge Arena" is pretty damn dumb.
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^
And to think this Midwesterner hated 'The Kingdome' !!!!
Anyone seen the schedules?
btw....I knew we wouldn't get to attend, but my wife bought us 3rd row tix behind the Tigers' dugout for Lou Whitaker's jersey retirement at the end of August. We were going to drive to Pittsburgh, spend the night, and then on up to the Renaissance Center. Then Mt. Pleasant. Then Mackinac Island. Then to Marquette. Then down to Chicago. Then Kalamazoo. Then Lansing. All points visiting friends and family. Then back down to Pittsburgh for a night before going home.
When the obvious announcements of trying to resume play with no fans was made, it still stung.
Tonight we would have been at a meet and greet with Alice Cooper. Next week was a PGA tournament, and then a trip to NYC to visit my half brother and see a Broadway show or two.
frick, frick, frick
(btw....I have a pretty good wife :tup)
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Yeah, we missed out on Alice too. And our trip to Italy..
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Anyone seen the schedules?
Doesn't look like they've been published. The Dodgers website still has the original schedule.
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Yeah, we missed out on Alice too. And our trip to Italy..
Our return trip was scheduled for May, with a first time visit to Venice, which has been my wife's lifelong dream.
Can we just skip to 2021?
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Gotta ask: Is there an uglier ballpark in the US?
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/106417485_10157543828727634_3827634608025000845_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=uXcegQDO9MEAX9EW7kl&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=5d9382af7b4e86c6d19388c9e5f5bcaa&oe=5F1A53EE)
Saw this story that roasts the ballpark. Pretty funny.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/look-twitter-roasts-texas-rangers-for-new-stadium-compares-it-to-abandoned-warehouse/
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Gotta ask: Is there an uglier ballpark in the US?
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/106417485_10157543828727634_3827634608025000845_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=uXcegQDO9MEAX9EW7kl&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=5d9382af7b4e86c6d19388c9e5f5bcaa&oe=5F1A53EE)
Saw this story that roasts the ballpark. Pretty funny.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/look-twitter-roasts-texas-rangers-for-new-stadium-compares-it-to-abandoned-warehouse/
I gotta say that I'm a little confused about the criticism that it "just seems to be in the middle of nowhere." It's basically in the same place as the last stadium as well as the JerryJonesDome, and it's not like the location was a secret. And a stadium with a retractable roof in the middle of Satan's butthole isn't going to look like Wrigley Field no matter what you do. Ever seen Chase Field in Phoenix?
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HAPPY BOBBY BONILLA DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! :metal
Every July 1st since 2011 the New York Mets pay Bobby Bonilla, now 57 years old, $1,193,248.20
Wouldn't that be awesome, knowing you get a cool $1.2 Million every July 1st?
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HAPPY BOBBY BONILLA DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! :metal
Every July 1st since 2011 the New York Mets pay Bobby Bonilla, now 57 years old, $1,193,248.20
Wouldn't that be awesome, knowing you get a cool $1.2 Million every July 1st?
It would indeed. And despite the overt hilarity of this deal, it was actually a good deal for the Mets ( https://www.businessinsider.com/mets-bobby-bonilla-deal-smart-2015-7 ).
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HAPPY BOBBY BONILLA DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! :metal
Every July 1st since 2011 the New York Mets pay Bobby Bonilla, now 57 years old, $1,193,248.20
Wouldn't that be awesome, knowing you get a cool $1.2 Million every July 1st?
It would indeed. And despite the overt hilarity of this deal, it was actually a good deal for the Mets ( https://www.businessinsider.com/mets-bobby-bonilla-deal-smart-2015-7 ).
Interesting article but like they say.....that's a lot of 'assuming' with what they 'could' have done with the money.
Maybe Bonilla didn't trust himself and just took the safe route knowing that every year he's getting the guaranteed lump sum of $1.2 million? In any case.....it's a nice summer bonus :lol
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Jokes on Bonilla, after taxes no way is that over a million dollars. :rollin
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Gotta ask: Is there an uglier ballpark in the US?
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/106417485_10157543828727634_3827634608025000845_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=uXcegQDO9MEAX9EW7kl&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=5d9382af7b4e86c6d19388c9e5f5bcaa&oe=5F1A53EE)
Saw this story that roasts the ballpark. Pretty funny.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/look-twitter-roasts-texas-rangers-for-new-stadium-compares-it-to-abandoned-warehouse/
I gotta say that I'm a little confused about the criticism that it "just seems to be in the middle of nowhere." It's basically in the same place as the last stadium as well as the JerryJonesDome, and it's not like the location was a secret. And a stadium with a retractable roof in the middle of Satan's butthole isn't going to look like Wrigley Field no matter what you do. Ever seen Chase Field in Phoenix?
It's in Arlington, and Arlington is the middle of nowhere. It's the midway point between Dallas and Ft Worth, and it's basically the dumping ground for giant things nobody would want in their backyard. Stadia, amusement parks, and the international bowling hall of fame. Nice stuff goes in Dallas or Ft Worth. It's also not connected to either by rail. The TRE skirts North through Irving, so you have no choice but drive.
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Jokes on Bonilla, after taxes no way is that over a million dollars. :rollin
Right? LOL. ONLY $820,000 after taxes.....WAY below a million.....every year while retired. Jokes totally on him. LOL what a sucker Bonilla is LOL. Pssshhh, what is $820k gonna but you these days, amirite?
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]It's in Arlington, and Arlington is the middle of nowhere. It's the midway point between Dallas and Ft Worth, and it's basically the dumping ground for giant things nobody would want in their backyard. Stadia, amusement parks, and the international bowling hall of fame. Nice stuff goes in Dallas or Ft Worth. It's also not connected to either by rail. The TRE skirts North through Irving, so you have no choice but drive.
Commute/public transit aside, isn't that the ideal place for something like a massive stadium? To your point, why would anyone want that in their back yard, or anywhere within 20 miles of their back yard?
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]It's in Arlington, and Arlington is the middle of nowhere. It's the midway point between Dallas and Ft Worth, and it's basically the dumping ground for giant things nobody would want in their backyard. Stadia, amusement parks, and the international bowling hall of fame. Nice stuff goes in Dallas or Ft Worth. It's also not connected to either by rail. The TRE skirts North through Irving, so you have no choice but drive.
Commute/public transit aside, isn't that the ideal place for something like a massive stadium? To your point, why would anyone want that in their back yard, or anywhere within 20 miles of their back yard?
Absolutely. He was puzzled about it being in "the middle of nowhere" and I explained. I like it being out in the Styx, and I'm happy for them to shoulder the tax burden. If it weren't for them we would have gotten saddled with Jerry World.
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A neat look behind the scenes at Fenway.
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/fenway-park-looks-different-red-sox-begin-workouts-amid-covid-19#slide-1
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Watching the 2016 All Star Game on MLB Network from San Diego (we went there last summer).
Weird seeing Jose Fernandez pitch. So sad.
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MLBN played a July 4, 1985 game between the Mets and Braves (sometimes known as "the Rick Camp game"). It lasted 19 innings and 6 hours/10 minutes. According to the box score, it started at 9:04 p.m. local time (because of a rain delay). There was a second delay during the game, and the outfield was soaked. A good chunk of the fans stuck around for the postgame fireworks, which actually got shot off around 4:00 in the morning! The Mets took a 7-4 lead in the top of the 8th, only to give up 4 runs to the Braves in the bottom of the 8th. The Mets tied the game in the top of the 9th and held the Braves in the bottom to force extra innings. Each team scored 2 runs in the 13th inning. The Mets scored in the 18th inning. The Braves had no remaining pinch hitters, so they had to let relief pitcher Rick Camp bat with two outs in the bottom of the inning. With an 0-2 count, he lined a ball over the leftfield wall to tie the game. Camp then proceeded to allow 5 runs in the top of the 19th inning. The Braves scored 2 in the bottom of the inning before finally losing.
The game featured a player who had made his major league debut in 1963 (Rusty Staub) and at least one player who played into the 21st Century (Dwight Gooden). Gooden had started the game but pitched poorly and was removed in the third inning. According to Bob Costas and Tom Verducci, who provided commentary between innings, Gooden had apparently gone back to the team hotel and fallen asleep. He woke up at some point with the TV still on the game. At that point, he thought it was highlights and went back to sleep.
It was more enjoyable to watch than I expected because they edited out most of the time between pitches and also skipped the scoreless extra innings.
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I watched that game this weekend too. It was great.
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I watched that game this weekend too. It was great.
It was interesting to see how BAD the drainage was at that stadium (and I'm surprised to see that it was natural grass). Things have come a long way in that regard.
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Ok...since we have a bunch of Boston and St. Louis folks here, what do you think of the following?
Which was the more overemphasized blunder of the mid-80s:
1. Don Denkinger's missed call in game 6 of the 1985 World Series
OR
2. Bill Buckner's error in game 6 of the 1986 World Series?
Denkiner:[/b] There's no question that Denkinger egregiously missed the call, but other things were far more important. On the very next pitch, Steve Balboni hit a pop foul in front of the first base dugout. Converted outfielder Jack Clark, who was playing first base, allowed catcher Darrell Porter to call him off. At the last second, Porter said he lost the ball, and Clark couldn't locate it. That ball was Clark's ALL THE WAY. He should have called off Porter and caught the ball (as the guy whom the Cardinals trade away a couple years earlier would have done in his sleep). Balboni then singled to leftfield, so there were runners on first and second with no one out. If Denkinger makes the correct call, you have a guy on first with one out. The next batter, Jim Sundberg, tried to sacrifice, but the Cards threw out Jorge Orta at third. That left runners on first and second with one out. Had Denkinger made the correct call, and assuming Sundberg still tries to sacrifice, he probably successfully moves Onix Concepcion (the pinch runner for Balboni) to second, which would leave a runner on second with two outs. If that's the case, then the Cards probably walk Hal McRae immediately (which means the Porter pass ball never happens), which means we now have runners on first and second with two outs. Dane Iorg's single to right would easily have scored Concepcion from second, and McRae would have moved to third and Iorg probably ends up on second. The game is then tied with runners on second and third and two outs. No way to predict what happens after that.
Buckner: What a lot of people forget about the Buckner game is that it was game 6 (I thoroughly expect the folks who read this will not be among that group). People also forget that the Red Sox were winning by one run after the 7th inning. After the 7th, Red Sox manager John McNamara removed starter Roger Clemens for a pinch hitter.** Although Clemens had given up only a single earned run and had shut down the Mets in order in the bottom of the 7th, his pitch count was nearing 140, so it was hardly unreasonable for McNamara to remove him. In the bottom of the 8th, McNamara inserted former Met, Calvin Schiraldi. Although multi-inning saves were not a new thing for Schiraldi, he had blown a save in game 2 of the ALCS and hadn't pitched since game 1 of the Series, a week earlier. In the bottom of the 8th, Schiraldi allowed the Mets to load the bases and score the tying run on a sacrifice fly (all while throwing 18 pitches). Schiraldi threw another 21 pitches to shut down the Mets in the bottom of the 9th and send the game to extra innings. The Sox scored two runs in the top of the 10th, and Schiraldi quickly got two outs in the bottom of the inning. At that point, he had thrown 46 pitches to 13 batters, so most of the Mets hitters were seeing Shiraldi for a second time. Gary Carter and Kevin Mitchell then hit back-to-back singles, leaving the Mets with runners on first and second with two outs and the tying run at the plate. Schiraldi's pitch count was now at 52. Only after Ray Knight got the Mets' third consecutive single did McNamara yank Schiraldi and bring in the Sox leader in saves, Bob Stanley. Stanley then proceeded to allow Mitchell to score the tying run on a wild pitch, after which the infamous Buckner play happened.
I think the Buckner game is the bigger overreaction because, not only did it happen in game 6 (which is also true of the Denkinger game), the Sox had also already blown a two run lead with some monumentally bad pitching and pitcher management. If Buckner makes the play, the game simply goes to the eleventh inning. With the Denkinger game, you have to make some assumptions. Of course, in both cases, the Sox and Cards crapped the bed in game 7 gave up a three run lead after five and the Cards got Andujared (which I can still remember watching and finding absolutely hilarious). Interestingly (for me), both game 7's happened on my birthday.
** - 1986 was the first year where the teams used a DH in the AL park and no DH in the NL park. Prior to that, they alternated, using the DH in even years and not using it in odd years.
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In the mid 80's I was paying way more attention to the Royals than the Sox.
Mac was the issue. He had been subbing in Dave Stapleton in the late innings for defensive replacement. Mac simply wanted Buck on the field when the Sox won.
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Mac was the issue. He had been subbing in Dave Stapleton in the late innings for defensive replacement. Mac simply wanted Buck on the field when the Sox won.
True. In something I saw recently on MLB Network (but which I think was produced about ten years ago), McNamara deflected the whole Stapleton thing, going so far as to say that Stapleton's nickname was "Shaky." Bob Costas and someone else did in-studio commentary, and they were joined by Mookie Wilson and Bruce Hurst (and make one other Met?). Upon seeing the clip where McNamara called Stapleton "Shaky," Hurst said that was absurd.
That said, even if Buckner makes the play, the Sox had still blown the lead, and the game goes on with Schiraldi out of the game and Stanley into his second inning with a pitch count already in the mid-30s. You also have the argument that, even if Buckner makes the play, Wilson might have beaten him to the bag.
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I am biased, but the Denkinger call was far more egregious. If that is called correctly, it is very likely that the Cardinals win the game, and thus the World Series.
Like you pointed out, when the Buckner play happened, the Mets had already tied the game, so it's not like that blunder blew the lead.
In both cases, the victimized team had a chance to win Game 7, but neither team was able to bounce back from the crushing Game 6 defeat. And the Cardinals completely unraveled in theirs.
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The blunder in regards to Buckner.....was that he was still in the game. He was wearing ankle top shoes at the time, not because he was ahead of the times, but because he had bad ankles. His mobility was very limited. Even if he catches the ball, I don't think they throw out Wilson at first.
Man...how many times the Mets were down to their final strike in that inning.
Denkinger's whiff was amazing. Like the Jim Joyce brainfart that cost the Tigers' Armando Galarraga a perfect game (but what wonderful stories revolved around that afterwards).
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Like the Jim Joyce brainfart that cost the Tigers' Armando Galarraga a perfect game (but what wonderful stories revolved around that afterwards).
That was some true class the way those two men handled that situation.
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Yup.
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I am biased, but the Denkinger call was far more egregious. If that is called correctly, it is very likely that the Cardinals win the game, and thus the World Series.
Like you pointed out, when the Buckner play happened, the Mets had already tied the game, so it's not like that blunder blew the lead.
Yeah...that's the big difference in my eyes. At the time of the Buckner play, the best case scenario was that the game goes to another extra inning. The bigger damage had already been done.
On the other hand, once the Buckner play was over, it was over. They could go back to the hotel and regroup and come out fresh for game 7. The Sox even got an extra day because of the rain. On the other hand, things snowballed for the Cards: the uncaught foul ball and the pass ball and then Andujar melting down in game 7.
It's interesting that these two events happened in consecutive years in the same game of the series, only a day apart.
And ditto all the prior comments about the Joyce/Galarraga situation.
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Actually saw some live baseball over the weekend...Mets v. Yankees and Brewers v. I don't remember. Three days until opening day!!!
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Regarding Buckner, I remember in a recent interview he said he was breaking in a new glove and it didn’t give the way a broken-in one would when it touched the ground. Regarding KC-STL, one thing to remember is that KC thoroughly outscored STL in that series even not counting Game 7.
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Regarding Buckner, I remember in a recent interview he said he was breaking in a new glove and it didn’t give the way a broken-in one would when it touched the ground.
Even if that's true, I'm not sure it matters. He either didn't get his glove on the ball at all or barely did, and the primary reason for that was his bad back. Also, if you walk onto the field in a World Series game with equipment that hasn't been properly prepared, that's a worse sin that just making an error. Also, in googling to try and find some reference to the glove not being broken in, the only thing I found was a reference to the glove being overly broken in.
Regarding KC-STL, one thing to remember is that KC thoroughly outscored STL in that series even not counting Game 7.
That's not at all accurate. The average game score over the first five games of the series was 3-2.4 in favor of the Royals, and the average over the first six games was 2.83-2.17 in favor of the Royals. While the Royals' first two wins in games 3 and 5 were by scores of 6-1, all of the other games were close.
In any event, the composite scores don't matter. Just ask the 1960 Pirates and Yankees. That seven-game Series is known for Bill Mazeroski's walk-off homer in game 7 to give the Pirates the Series win, but the Yankees more than doubled the Pirates' run total over the seven games, outscoring the Pirates 55-27 and outhitting them 91-60.
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Go Cubs Go
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I am so freaking happy there is live baseball on.
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Royals :rollin
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/watch-royals-pitchers-bean-three-houston-astros-in-one-game/ar-BB171trD?li=BB15ms5q
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Royals :rollin
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/watch-royals-pitchers-bean-three-houston-astros-in-one-game/ar-BB171trD?li=BB15ms5q
This might be the only reason I tune in to baseball this year. :corn
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Royals :rollin
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/watch-royals-pitchers-bean-three-houston-astros-in-one-game/ar-BB171trD?li=BB15ms5q
This might be the only reason I tune in to baseball this year. :corn
Honestly, I think the Astros will be the biggest beneficiary of all this COVID crap. That thing with the Royals notwithstanding, I think everything that's happened will temper how other teams react, and they won't be subject to abuse from crowds at road games. The Astros were originally supposed to play in Anaheim during the first weekend of the season, and my son and I were going to get tickets just to go and boo the crap out of them. Also, there's a Dodgers fan group that was organizing something similar for that Astros @ Angels series. Now, they won't have to deal with any of that stuff.
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Seems the Blue Jays can’t find a place to play. Toronto said no, tried Pittsburgh then Pennsylvania said no.
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Asstros already have a target on their back.
Dodgers' Mookie Betts looks like he'll get a 12 year $360M deal!
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I miss Mookie already. He was amazing to watch on a daily basis. An incredible outfielder.
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Go Brewers!
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Kiké Hernandez went 4 for 5 with 5 RBI in the Dodgers' blowout win over the minor league team wearing giants' jerseys.
Now lets see if the Dodgers and Yankees can go the entire season with the best records in each league.
Also, the Yankees' win means I won't be winning a million dollars in the MLB's opening day pick all the games correctly challenge. :sad:
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I miss Mookie already. He was amazing to watch on a daily basis. An incredible outfielder.
Yup, the Sox having to let Mookie go because they got into some incredibly stupid contracts with a few assclowns is a travesty for Boston fans.
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The Marlins have 14 or more players and coaches positive for Covid. Baseball may get shut down. Good luck NFL.
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The Marlins have 14 or more players and coaches positive for Covid. Baseball may get shut down. Good luck NFL.
Sports that aren’t attempting a ‘bubble’ approach simply are not going to work. The ‘bubble’ at least gives that sport a chance.....galavanting around the country and expecting to remain unaffected by corona is just pie in the sky thinking.
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The Marlins have 14 or more players and coaches positive for Covid. Baseball may get shut down. Good luck NFL.
Sports that aren’t attempting a ‘bubble’ approach simply are not going to work. The ‘bubble’ at least gives that sport a chance.....galavanting around the country and expecting to remain unaffected by corona is just pie in the sky thinking.
Agreed and I'm not even convinced the NBA Bubble is going to work. All it takes is one person to infect everyone and it's game over.
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The Marlins have 14 or more players and coaches positive for Covid. Baseball may get shut down. Good luck NFL.
Sports that aren’t attempting a ‘bubble’ approach simply are not going to work. The ‘bubble’ at least gives that sport a chance.....galavanting around the country and expecting to remain unaffected by corona is just pie in the sky thinking.
Agreed and I'm not even convinced the NBA Bubble is going to work. All it takes is one person to infect everyone and it's game over.
The NBA has the best chance with their model. They would do well to either bring family into the bubble and/or hookers because there is a lot that can go wrong with young players with a wad of cash.
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Astros/Dodgers got a bit testy last night....
https://youtu.be/yPhqWfFKcxE
Get used to it Houston.
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Astros/Dodgers got a bit testy last night....
https://youtu.be/yPhqWfFKcxE
Get used to it Houston.
I turned the game on at the start of the next inning and they were showing a replay of Kelly walking off the mound and mouthing to Correa. They didn't say what had happened, but that was great.
As I said earlier in the thread, I tend to think the Astros will get off easy because of Covid. Outside of this Dodgers series, I don't think they're going to see much, if any retribution from the other teams in the NL or AL West.
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Kelly suspended 8 games.
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Kelly suspended 8 games.
Nuts!
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A guy last year charged a bench, started a brawl and got an 8 game suspension in a 162 game season.
The suspension in a 60 game season is asinine.
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Kelly suspended 8 games.
Ridiculous
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The suspension in a 60 game season is asinine.
Pretty much.
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That Kelly guy does not look like a pro athlete at all. He is aesthetically a total throwback to a ballplayer from the 80s like Kent Tekulve.
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Kelly is a repeat offender, and the Commish made it clear before the season began that this type of behavior would not be tolerated. You can't throw 96 at someone's head guys.
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The commish is not doing this for the sake of a repeat defender. He is doing so because every team wants a piece of the Astros.
Last year a picture challenged a whole bench to a fight walking to the opposing team's bench and a fight erupted. He only got 8 games in a 162 season.
No warning was ever issued to Kelly. Manfred is treading on Goodell's turf on unbalanced justice right now.
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Kelly is a repeat offender, and the Commish made it clear before the season began that this type of behavior would not be tolerated. You can't throw 96 at someone's head guys.
(https://media3.giphy.com/media/iDUArUZD3XhRJwHjNG/giphy.gif?cid=4d1e4f296noe7hh4a4ntcci3qd9ul7vadpvbi16xk6nc17vc&rid=giphy.gif)
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How old is he? 12?
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How old are the other team to come out of the dugout for that and his chirping?
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2 Cardinal players test positive so no Brewers home opener today.
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Shane Bieber has 27K's in his first two starts, which is an MLB record. Indians starting pitching is looking legit so far. Now for their bullpen to step up.
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2 Cardinal players test positive so no Brewers home opener today.
I will be surprised if the season doesn't end up canceled in two weeks. Cardinals, Phillies, and Marlins have already had players test positive. More are coming, I'm sure, especially since the Cardinals played in Minnesota on Wed night and the Indians and Twins are playing a series there right now.
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I'm honestly surprised they aren't mandating masks on the bases and in the dugouts. I could see that change coming.
I'm really happy to see baseball again though. Not that I have the ability to watch live very often, but even just checking out the highlights the next day has been really nice.
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reports now 4 more Cardinal players have tested positive.
ETA: rumor going around is some Cards went to a casino prior to their outbreak. These guys just don’t get it.
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I'm honestly surprised they aren't mandating masks on the bases and in the dugouts people think the league can carry on. I could see that change coming.
Fix'd for me. Total train-wreck. Why umpires, catchers and 1B aren't mandated to wear them is mind-boggling. The measures the league planned for to contain this are a joke. 31 games postponed already, at least 25 players testing positive, not to mention the extended team personnel, and the league isn't even 10 days into the season. "Rob Manfred's grim warning: MLB season in jeopardy". No fucking shit pal, and you've got no one to blame but yourself - you're the captain of this doomed season.
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Whatever numbers do take place should be put in a different category, much like minor league stats.
After all, someone became the first player to ever have a lead off two run HR this week. Well, 'duh'
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I love Joe Kelly :lol
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I love Joe Kelly :lol
That guy is a character, man. We had him here.
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Reds play by play guy Thom Brennaman pretty much committed career suicide tonight.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29699199/reds-broadcaster-thom-brennaman-uses-anti-gay-slur-air
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Reds play by play guy Thom Brennaman pretty much committed career suicide tonight.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29699199/reds-broadcaster-thom-brennaman-uses-anti-gay-slur-air
What did he say?
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Reds play by play guy Thom Brennaman pretty much committed career suicide tonight.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29699199/reds-broadcaster-thom-brennaman-uses-anti-gay-slur-air
What did he say?
“One of the f-g capitals of the world,” Thom Brennaman could be heard saying before introducing the Fox Sports Ohio TV broadcast between the Reds and Royals in Kansas City.
https://nypost.com/2020/08/19/reds-announcer-thom-brennaman-appears-to-use-homophobic-slur/
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WOW! :omg:
It's amazing that a guy that's been around that long (and I think he's an excellent broadcaster) would be so fucking stupid to say something like that. Hot mic or not, he's wearing one, so it's best to assume all is being recorded.
Wow, that's fucking dumb.
The thing is, if that what he says in "private", then doesn't this really ring false?
"That is not who I am. It never has been."
If he thinks the fact that he's a homophobe is debatable, then fine, but there's no debate that he's a dumb fuck.
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Meanwhile, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball and a run differential that is nearly double that of any other team.
GO BLUE!
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Best take I've seen yet on this whole Fernando Tatis "unwritten rule" insanity:
Ok now we have reached absurdity. Let's say Tatis doesn't miss the take sign and takes the 3-0 pitch. If it's a ball, he walks, forcing in a run, which means he's trying to run up the score, the heathen! If it's a strike, the count goes to 3-1, at which point a batter will frequently be given a green light anyways, even with a big lead. What if he homers then? Is that bad? What if the count was 3-2? Is that still wrong? Here's a strange thought: maybe a team down by 7 runs in the 8th inning shouldnt have already conceded the game, EVER. Shame on the Texas Rangers for quitting on their fans.
And 99% of the time it's white guys complaining about Latinos.
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Best take I've seen yet on this whole Fernando Tatis "unwritten rule" insanity:
Ok now we have reached absurdity. Let's say Tatis doesn't miss the take sign and takes the 3-0 pitch. If it's a ball, he walks, forcing in a run, which means he's trying to run up the score, the heathen! If it's a strike, the count goes to 3-1, at which point a batter will frequently be given a green light anyways, even with a big lead. What if he homers then? Is that bad? What if the count was 3-2? Is that still wrong? Here's a strange thought: maybe a team down by 7 runs in the 8th inning shouldnt have already conceded the game, EVER. Shame on the Texas Rangers for quitting on their fans.
And 99% of the time it's white guys complaining about Latinos.
I'm almost 53 years old, and I generally HATE the "unwritten rule" stuff (and, by the way, this is the first I'm hearing about this Tatis incident). However, in this case, not swinging at a 3-0 pitch late in a blowout game is something kids are taught from a very young age. The problem is that, with players coming from different cultures, you can't assume that everyone was raised the same way. It's up to the manager to make sure guys understand expectations in this regard. This is no different than not throwing a deep pass when up by 21 points with five minutes left in a football game.
To answer the person who said that blurb: Yes, if he homers on a 3-1 or 3-2 pitch, that's ok. And no, walking to force in a run is not "trying to run up the score." That's just silly.
What I DO have a problem with is a pitcher who grooves one and gives up a homer and then takes his frustrations out on ANOTHER batter. If you have a problem with what Tatis did, you wait until he comes up next or the next game. You don't take it out on another player.
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^
This, that, and the other things. Couldn't agree more.
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Please explain why it’s ok to homer on 3-1 or 3-2 but not 3-0. That’s patently ridiculous, and especially so because the game was NOT out of hand at that point. 7 run leads are blown many times a season. I’m also 53 by the way.
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It should be noted that players' contract are negotiated based in very large parts on their statistics. So, this is basically asking a player to pass up an opportunity at an HR and 4 RBI worth of negotiating power based on an "unwritten rule". Little league can follow the "unwritten rules", they aren't negotiating with billionaires for their salary. Professionals? If you don't like it, pitch better...your opponent isn't under any obligation to stop playing hard (and acting in their own best interest) just because you didn't feel like showing up to the ballpark that day.
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Please explain why it’s ok to homer on 3-1 or 3-2 but not 3-0. That’s patently ridiculous, and especially so because the game was NOT out of hand at that point. 7 run leads are blown many times a season. I’m also 53 by the way.
It's not patently ridiculous to 99% of people who have ever played baseball in the U.S. at pretty much any level. Heck, in 80% of situations, you don't swing at a 3-0 pitch, regardless of the game situation. I can't offer you a logical explanation. You either get it or you don't.
As for the frequency with which a 7-run lead gets blown in the 8th or 9th inning, since you offered no statistics to back up your claim of commonality, I'll simply say that I disagree.
It should be noted that players' contract are negotiated based in very large parts on their statistics. So, this is basically asking a player to pass up an opportunity at an HR and 4 RBI worth of negotiating power based on an "unwritten rule". Little league can follow the "unwritten rules", they aren't negotiating with billionaires for their salary. Professionals? If you don't like it, pitch better...your opponent isn't under any obligation to stop playing hard (and acting in their own best interest) just because you didn't feel like showing up to the ballpark that day.
They why do football teams stop throwing passes longer than a few yards when they're up by 21 points with five minutes left in the fourth quarter? And why don't hockey teams that are up by three goals with two minutes left pull their goalies?
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Because as evidenced by the Houston Astros, MLB players have no morals or ethics.
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Thankfully Ron Darling was the voice of reason and brought up a great point. What if run differential is used to decide tie-breakers this year? So score as many runs as you can and stuff the stupid unwritten rules.
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They why do football teams stop throwing passes longer than a few yards when they're up by 21 points with five minutes left in the fourth quarter? And why don't hockey teams that are up by three goals with two minutes left pull their goalies?
Because football and hockey are sports with a time limit. It's extremely unlikely for a football team to come back from a deficit like that in 5 minutes or a hockey team to score 3 goals in 2 minutes.
Baseball on the other hand is not timed. A lot can happen in a single half inning. I've seen teams put up double digit numbers in a single inning on many occasions. As has been stated by multiple other people, why should a team back off the throttle just because their opponent didn't show up by that point in the game. Maybe they come out and score 10 runs in the next inning and now your comfortable lead is gone and you are trailing now, because you were adhering to a (stupid) unwritten rule. Play hard the whole game or go home, no matter what the score is at any given point.
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They why do football teams stop throwing passes longer than a few yards when they're up by 21 points with five minutes left in the fourth quarter? And why don't hockey teams that are up by three goals with two minutes left pull their goalies?
Because football and hockey are sports with a time limit. It's extremely unlikely for a football team to come back from a deficit like that in 5 minutes or a hockey team to score 3 goals in 2 minutes.
Baseball on the other hand is not timed. A lot can happen in a single half inning. I've seen teams put up double digit numbers in a single inning on many occasions. As has been stated by multiple other people, why should a team back off the throttle just because their opponent didn't show up by that point in the game. Maybe they come out and score 10 runs in the next inning and now your comfortable lead is gone and you are trailing now, because you were adhering to a (stupid) unwritten rule. Play hard the whole game or go home, no matter what the score is at any given point.
Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver said it best... "You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
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They why do football teams stop throwing passes longer than a few yards when they're up by 21 points with five minutes left in the fourth quarter? And why don't hockey teams that are up by three goals with two minutes left pull their goalies?
Because football and hockey are sports with a time limit. It's extremely unlikely for a football team to come back from a deficit like that in 5 minutes or a hockey team to score 3 goals in 2 minutes.
Baseball on the other hand is not timed. A lot can happen in a single half inning. I've seen teams put up double digit numbers in a single inning on many occasions. As has been stated by multiple other people, why should a team back off the throttle just because their opponent didn't show up by that point in the game. Maybe they come out and score 10 runs in the next inning and now your comfortable lead is gone and you are trailing now, because you were adhering to a (stupid) unwritten rule. Play hard the whole game or go home, no matter what the score is at any given point.
Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver said it best... "You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
Beautiful!
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They why do football teams stop throwing passes longer than a few yards when they're up by 21 points with five minutes left in the fourth quarter? And why don't hockey teams that are up by three goals with two minutes left pull their goalies?
Because football and hockey are sports with a time limit. It's extremely unlikely for a football team to come back from a deficit like that in 5 minutes or a hockey team to score 3 goals in 2 minutes.
Baseball on the other hand is not timed. A lot can happen in a single half inning. I've seen teams put up double digit numbers in a single inning on many occasions. As has been stated by multiple other people, why should a team back off the throttle just because their opponent didn't show up by that point in the game. Maybe they come out and score 10 runs in the next inning and now your comfortable lead is gone and you are trailing now, because you were adhering to a (stupid) unwritten rule. Play hard the whole game or go home, no matter what the score is at any given point.
But I could just as easily -- and accurately -- write the following: "It's extremely unlikely for a baseball team to come back from a seven run deficit in the eighth inning" and "A lot can happen in five minutes of a football game or two minutes of a hockey game." None of this stuff is likely or common, and I don't think it's any more likely in baseball than in the other sports I mentioned.
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Meanwhile, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball and a run differential that is nearly double that of any other team.
GO BLUE!
Damn right man!!!! :metal
And those Joe Kelly faces are hilarious. If only his pitching was consistent.
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IMPORTANT: the Padres just scored 7 runs in their last inning to come from behind to win, proving my point that it is PERFECTLY OK for Tatís to swing 3-0 when up 7 runs. The defense rests.
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IMPORTANT: the Padres just scored 7 runs in their last inning to come from behind to win, proving my point that it is PERFECTLY OK for Tatís to swing 3-0 when up 7 runs. The defense rests.
Indeed!
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Hey you know what would be fun? Talking about unwritten rules again! Yay! So last night SF beat COL 23-5. Shouldn’t they all have striking out on purpose after they got up by 10 runs?
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After that game last night, the first thing I thought of was this thread and the conversation about unwritten rules. :lol
Yeah they should have been striking out on purpose and throwing meatballs to the Rockies. :rollin
Maybe the umpires should have put a tee on home plate and set the ball on it for the Rockies. :biggrin:
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Anyone else happen to catch any of the Padres @ A's game on Fox yesterday? I'd have sworn they had pockets of fans in the stands. Anyone know if they're starting to let folks into the games?
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I saw this on Twitter and had a good laugh...
https://twitter.com/JillRTeamXRP/status/1303166317038645249?s=19
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I saw this on Twitter and had a good laugh...
https://twitter.com/JillRTeamXRP/status/1303166317038645249?s=19
:lol :lol :lol
All sports commentaries should be like that!
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The Braves beat the Marlins yesterday by a score of 29-9. Apparently, it was the first time in MLB history (going back to 1871, and I don't know the significance of that year) that a game ended in that score.
I also learned a new term: "scorigami," which apparently refers to any time a game in any sport ends in a score that has never happened before. Supposedly, the last time a scorigami occurred in the MLB was May 19, 1999 when the Reds beat the Rockies 24-12. Interestingly, there were apparently hundreds of ties in the early days of the MLB, including a 20-20 tie. Also, there was a 49-33 game on June 28, 1871.
Sources: https://twitter.com/MLBRandomStats/status/1303897302806016001 and https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/just-because-box-score-with-82-runs-74-hits-20-errors/ and https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/?date=1871-06-28
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Also, today is the first day ever that all of the MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, MLS and WNBA have had games on the same day.
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Also, today is the first day ever that all of the MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, MLS and WNBA have had games on the same day.
MLB last place in the ratings. :lol
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LOL at the Brewers making the playoffs because everyone else wasn’t good enough.
Definitely winning it all now.
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LOL at the Brewers making the playoffs because everyone else wasn’t good enough.
Definitely winning it all now.
Well...I'll tell you that the sports talk radio honks and general population in the greater Los Angeles are is terror over the concept of playing a three game series (albeit coupled with a measure of relief that the Dodgers don't have to do it against the Reds' starting pitching. There's also a vocal minority of Dodger fans expecting some sort of meltdown.
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The Dodgers seem to always find a way to blow it in the playoffs.
And I laugh every time it happens :biggrin:
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The Dodgers seem to always find a way to blow it in the playoffs.
And I laugh every time it happens :biggrin:
Yeah and with 3 game series, upsets are even more possible. Tougher road than ever to win the World Series.
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The Dodgers seem to always find a way to blow it in the playoffs.
And I laugh every time it happens :biggrin:
::) They're the San Jose Sharks of MLB. Crash and burn every postseason.
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Brewers best starter this season got hurt in his last start and now their best reliever is out with a bad shoulder.
Thankfully Yelich is hitting .205
Go Brewers!
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Brewers best starter this season got hurt in his last start and now their best reliever is out with a bad shoulder.
Thankfully Yelich is hitting .205
Go Brewers!
(https://media.tenor.com/images/1bab425278a7cef74ac543e7afeb6f4b/tenor.gif)
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As bad as it started I’m glad they still had a chance.
For anyone who doesn’t follow the Brewers, that was their season in a nutshell, give up first inning runs, hold the rest of the way, unable to score throughout.
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As bad as it started I’m glad they still had a chance.
For anyone who doesn’t follow the Brewers, that was their season in a nutshell, give up first inning runs, hold the rest of the way, unable to score throughout.
That was way more never-wracking than it should have been!
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Bye Bye Cleveland. It's been 72 years, you can wait another year, your fans will understand.
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Bye Bye Cleveland. It's been 72 years, you can wait another year, your fans will understand.
Friggin' Minnesota.
The Twins' last playoff win was in game 1 of the 2004 ALDS against the Yankees. The Yankees won the next three games before going on to the most glorious ALCS ever. The Twins were then swept in the 2006 ALDS (A's) and the 2009 and 2010 ALDS (Yankees both times), lost the 2017 AL Wild Card Game (Yankees again), were swept in the 2019 ALDS (Astros), and now have been swept again by the Yankees for 18 straight postseason losses. Worst streak in American major professional sports history.
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Brewers had no business being in the playoffs so I’m not disappointed they didn’t win. They have a pretty good young pitching staff so if they stay healthy they should contend again for years to come.
Don’t be surprised if Hader is dealt in the off season, it’ll be the best way to ramp up their offense, which will be sorely needed.
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Brewers had no business being in the playoffs so I’m not disappointed they didn’t win. They have a pretty good young pitching staff so if they stay healthy they should contend again for years to come.
Don’t be surprised if Hader is dealt in the off season, it’ll be the best way to ramp up their offense, which will be sorely needed.
Man...that was a helluva pitchers' duel for half the game -- and really the whole game. Dodgers finally showed some ability to hit with 2 strikes. Bellinger's and Barnes's hits were nothing special, but they got the job done. Also, as a former first baseman, I have to say that the inning should've been over on Pollack's ground ball. That should've been dug out. Kershaw was in vintage form, and I hope to hell he keeps that up for another 11-21 games.
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Brewers had no business being in the playoffs so I’m not disappointed they didn’t win. They have a pretty good young pitching staff so if they stay healthy they should contend again for years to come.
Don’t be surprised if Hader is dealt in the off season, it’ll be the best way to ramp up their offense, which will be sorely needed.
Man...that was a helluva pitchers' duel for half the game -- and really the whole game. Dodgers finally showed some ability to hit with 2 strikes. Bellinger's and Barnes's hits were nothing special, but they got the job done. Also, as a former first baseman, I have to say that the inning should've been over on Pollack's ground ball. That should've been dug out. Kershaw was in vintage form, and I hope to hell he keeps that up for another 11-21 games.
I’m not sure any team was beating Kershaw last night, he was on. As far as the double play, I’m not sure how much first base Gyorko has played before this season, but he became the Brewers first baseman by default as every other first baseman the Brewers had were either hurt or had been released, I don’t blame him for not being able to pick that throw.
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As far as the double play, I’m not sure how much first base Gyorko has played before this season, but he became the Brewers first baseman by default as every other first baseman the Brewers had were either hurt or had been released, I don’t blame him for not being able to pick that throw.
The ESPN announcers commented that most of Gyorko's time in the field has been at 2B & 3B. Baseball Reference has him with 390 games at 2B, 289 games at 3B and 65 games at 1B (with 30 of those 65 games coming in 2020). It's a bummer for the Brewers, but even an average first baseman makes that pick.
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So I noticed the Yankees and Rays are playing in....San Diego??
Apparently I missed something. Does MLB have playoff bubbles?
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So I noticed the Yankees and Rays are playing in....San Diego??
Apparently I missed something. Does MLB have playoff bubbles?
Yes
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So I noticed the Yankees and Rays are playing in....San Diego??
Apparently I missed something. Does MLB have playoff bubbles?
Started the last week of the regular season. Playoff bound teams were regulated to only go from hotel rooms to ball park and back. First round was at home stadiums, the rest of the rounds will be at neutral sites. ALCS will also be in San Diego. World Series will be played in Texas at the Rangers stadium.
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So I noticed the Yankees and Rays are playing in....San Diego??
Apparently I missed something. Does MLB have playoff bubbles?
Yankees v. Rays in San Diego
A's v. Astros in Los Angeles (which is just weird!)
Marlins v. Braves in Houston
Dodgers v. Padres in Arlington, TX
ALCS in San Diego
NLCS and World Series (with about 11,500 fans in the stands) in Arlington.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/09/30/mlb-allowing-fans-in-stadium-world-series-nlcs-games#:~:text=The%20league%20announced%20Wednesday%20that,on%20sale%20on%20Oct.%206.
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Anyone else ever look at the Gamecast feature at ESPN.com?
On the left side of the screen, it has a "win probability" feature, which is a graph, the mid-point of which is 50, and which has 100 on either end. At the start of the currently ongoing Marlins v. Braves game, it had a win probability of 70.2% for the Braves. The number then fluctuated between the mid-60s and mid-70s until Swanson hit a homer to make it 1-0, which increased the number to 76.8%. Although the score hasn't changed since then, the number got as high as 83.0% - in the bottom of the 3rd of a 1-0 game.
Yesterday, the graph in the Houston v. Oakland game actually had the number on the Astros' side of 50% even though the A's were leading.
WTF? Is someone at ESPN just rolling 20-sided dice for this?
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It wounds me deeply that the Astros will get to celebrate a series win on the field of Dodger Stadium. Even worse...if the teams are switching clubhouses based on who's the home team, they'll be doing it in the Dodgers clubhouse....
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It wounds me deeply that the Astros will get to celebrate a series win on the field of Dodger Stadium. Even worse...if the teams are switching clubhouses based on who's the home team, they'll be doing it in the Dodgers clubhouse....
They're fucking cheating dogs!
Yay Rays!!!!!
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It wounds me deeply that the Astros will get to celebrate a series win on the field of Dodger Stadium. Even worse...if the teams are switching clubhouses based on who's the home team, they'll be doing it in the Dodgers clubhouse....
This. Hopefully the Rays can beat they bitch ass.
Glad the Yanks lost.
I'm not confident about the Dodgers beating the Braves after the Dodgers pitching in game 2. Bellinger saved Graterol with a great catch. Jansen has lost it, and Kelly was BOUNCING pitches. Braves will eat them up.
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Soo...here's the roster of MLB HOF'ers we've lost in 2020:
RHP.........Bob Gibson
RHP.........Tom Seaver
LHP.........Whitey Ford
2B...........Joe Morgan
OF.......... Lou Brock
OF...........Al Kaline
On top of that:
1B............Bob Watson
SS............Tony Fernandez
OF.............Jimmy Wynn
Someone somewhere is trying to field one heck of a team....
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Never Enough should be the Dodgers theme song. It's gonna take a miracle now.
Rays are one away from sweeping the Asterisks!!!
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Altuve errors leading to numerous runs is the stuff dreams are made of.
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Well now I feel a little better about the Dodgers! :lol What a wild first inning! Sucks I had to listen to it on the radio instead of watch it.
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Well now I feel a little better about the Dodgers! :lol What a wild first inning! Sucks I had to listen to it on the radio instead of watch it.
I was at work and had forgotten that the game started early. All of a sudden, I started getting text message, so I checked the ESPN Gamecast. Crazy stuff! Hopefully the momentum keeps going.
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Yep, same inconsistent Dodgers. ::)
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Yep, same inconsistent Dodgers. ::)
Same organizational philosophy that just doesn't work well in the postseason. A HUGE segment of the fan base is, predictably, calling for Dave Roberts to be fired, but it starts higher up than that. As much success as this team has had since the current ownership group bought the team, it's unthinkable that it hasn't had been better in the postseason. Pretty much everyone from Friedman on down needs to go, OR someone with an old-school baseball philosophy needs to be put in a position to check and balance Friedman.
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I call them the San Jose Sharks of MLB. Crashing and burning every postseason.
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Well the Dodgers stay alive again! :metal :metal :metal And the Asstros are done!!! :lol If the Dodgers don't get to the WS at least that happened.
This is the first LCS where all teams are from the southern US.
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Well the Dodgers stay alive again! :metal :metal :metal And the Asstros are done!!! :lol If the Dodgers don't get to the WS at least that happened.
This is the first LCS where all teams are from the southern US.
I guess it depends on how you define "southern," but there are currently nine teams located south of the mid-point of the continental United States (approx 36o 57' latitude), and there have been three prior LCSs involving two of those teams:
2001 NLCS - Arizona v. Atlanta
1998 NLCS - St. Diego v. Atlanta
1997 NLCS - Florida v. Atlanta
If you define "southern" to mean the 15 most southern MLB teams, then the number goes up significantly.
Also, that was a heck of a game last night (although I'm sure Atlanta fans would disagree, and I'm biased)!
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Yea but this time BOTH championship series had southern teams. In the past there has been at least one team in the northern US like NY, Chicago, Cleveland, SF, etc.
I was so negative about the Dodgers this whole season based on their past postseasons and preparing myself to be let down again. But damn it they did it! Defense came up big time and Atlanta made some mistakes. Gonna be a good WS.
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Someone should figure out a way to make this the new MLB logo!
(https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2864ee1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3019x1788+0+0/resize/840x497!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc1%2Ff8%2Fc73800a041d6b317486ab0ca9294%2Fla-photos-1staff-635100-sp-dodgers-12-rcg.JPG)
Or this...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkqAbLrWMAAZkf8?format=jpg&name=large)
I love that he's got his tongue sticking out!
Atlanta made some mistakes.
They sure did. Ozuna leaving the base early the other night. In the span of 3-4 pitches, there was a two run swing (between Ozuna being called out and Seager leading off the next inning with a dinger).
And that second and third play last night was ridiculous. Why Swanson was going on contact with nobody out is beyond me. He had tons of time to get back to third because Turner was well off the bag. And then Riley hesitating between second and third. What the hell was that? At that point, the worst case scenario for the Braves should have been one out with runners at first and third. Inexcusable baserunning. Not that I'm not happy about it!
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Hope you LA guys are loving Mookie.
The kid is an amazing player. I freaking loved him here. Too bad he wanted to play somewhere else. At least I can say it never affected the way he played or his efforts in the community.
He was a pure joy to watch, and still is.
Hah, and on cue, Mookie hits a homah!
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Hope you LA guys are loving Mookie.
The kid is an amazing player. I freaking loved him here. Too bad he wanted to play somewhere else. At least I can say it never affected the way he played or his efforts in the community.
He was a pure joy to watch, and still is.
Everyone on sports talk radio masturbates on the air to the wonder that is Mookie pretty much every 15 minutes. I was watching the postgame news conference last night, and pretty much every Dodger player that came up got asked, "What's it like being on the same field as the wonder that is Mookie? Do you feel completely unworthy when you are in the Mook's presence? Do you want to kill yourself for not even being 1/10th of the player the great Mook is?" It's getting to be a little much, and I really want someone to start responding to some of these dumbass questions with some syrupy sarcasm.
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Post game questions usually blow.
The guy is getting a lot of hype for sure.
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I can't even watch the stuff with Mr. J-Lo in the studio. He ruined Jessica Mendoza when he took over after Aaron Boone left Sunday Night Baseball, and now he's doing his best to make David Ortiz and Frank Thomas seem like buffoons.
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David Ortiz is a buffoon.
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Damn right we're loving Mookie!!! He's saved our asses on multiple occasions. Plus he's a fun dude, good attitude. He's becoming a favorite player of mine.
Word is the Rays offense is weak, relying on a few big hits and their pitching. I think the Dodgers can finally win it all!!
I like Ortiz, he's a goofball. Not everyone in sports has to be a stiff.
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I'm not a huge fan of Ortiz personally. But holy shit was that dude clutch.
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Word is the Rays offense is weak, relying on a few big hits and their pitching. I think the Dodgers can finally win it all!!
Kinda like last night (and I think that's also pretty descriptive of the Dodgers)....
Two home runs by a guy who entered the game hitting .107 with 1 HR and 3 RBI in the post season. Yeesh...
I'm seriously questioning both Gonsolin and May as viable MLB pitchers at this point (which isn't to say they can't become viable players; just that they aren't there right now).
Fortunately, we have Buehler, Urias and Kershaw going in the next three games.
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That's a perfect example of why the Dodgers can't win a WS. Why the freak is Roberts putting Jansen in a one run game?????
And Kershaw is pitching tomorrow. He pitched well in game 1 so he's due to blow it in game 5.
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If you’ve never heard Brett Phillips laugh before, you owe it to yourself to look it up. One of the greatest things ever.
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That's a perfect example of why the Dodgers can't win a WS. Why the freak is Roberts putting Jansen in a one run game?????
And Kershaw is pitching tomorrow. He pitched well in game 1 so he's due to blow it in game 5.
Come on.... That was NOT on Jansen. He broke Kiermaier's bat on a nasty pitch. It was pure luck that the ball made it over the infield. He pitched Arozarena perfectly, and Phillips beat the percentages. NO WAY Taylor should have tried to field the ball the way he did, and Smith should have caught the throw from Muncy. Who was the better option than Jansen?
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That's a perfect example of why the Dodgers can't win a WS. Why the freak is Roberts putting Jansen in a one run game?????
And Kershaw is pitching tomorrow. He pitched well in game 1 so he's due to blow it in game 5.
Come on.... That was NOT on Jansen. He broke Kiermaier's bat on a nasty pitch. It was pure luck that the ball made it over the infield. He pitched Arozarena perfectly, and Phillips beat the percentages. NO WAY Taylor should have tried to field the ball the way he did, and Smith should have caught the throw from Muncy. Who was the better option than Jansen?
Don't forget that Jansen didn't back up home plate for some reason on that last play.
It always makes me smile when the Dodgers make such silly mistakes in the playoffs and then lose. :biggrin:
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Don't forget that Jansen didn't back up home plate for some reason on that last play.
So what? Even if he had responsibility to back up the plate, he wouldn't have been anywhere near where the ball ended up when Smith botched it. And, even if he had been near where the ball went, the chances that he could have picked it up and thrown it to Smith in time to tag Arozarena. I can excuse Smith slightly because he didn't know Arozarena had slipped and thought he was going to have to try and make a quick tag. Taylor acted like he thought he had a chance of getting Arozarena going from first to third, which wasn't realistic.
But...the Dodgers had a great bounce back game yesterday. Hopefully they can close it out tomorrow and help keep my blood pressure in control.
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That's always been the Dodgers problem: lack of reliable relievers. I guess Jansen was the best choice, and yea it's not all on him.
And Kershaw was a base hit away from another disaster last night. Getting that dude stealing home saved his ass. Not confident in Gonsolin going next, but there's no one else. If only David Price was playing!!!
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And Kershaw was a base hit away from another disaster last night. Getting that dude stealing home saved his ass. Not confident in Gonsolin going next, but there's no one else. If only David Price was playing!!!
Just as you can say Kershaw was a base hit away from another disaster, you can also point out that Jansen was two inches away from a 1-2-3 inning and a save to put the Dodgers up 3-1.
Glad you brought up the attempted steal of home!
I honestly think that was a great attempt by Margot. Watching that play unfold, you think, "how could they possibly throw him out?" In a postgame interview, Kershaw mentioned that this wasn't the first time someone has tried that against him, so the Dodger first basemen know ahead of time to give Kershaw a heads up so he can do exactly what he did: step off without balking and get the runner at home. It actually wasn't a great throw; it was high and outside, and Austin Barnes did a GREAT job catching the ball (ahem, Will Smith), securing it with two hands, and applying the tag. Of course, a better throw from Kershaw makes the play less close, but if Barnes isn't perfect, Margot scores.
Doing some reading this morning, I learned that Jackie Robinson's famous steal in the 1955 Word Series remains the last successful straight steal of home in a World Series. I also learned that there have been only four other successful steals of home in the WS. In 1951, Monte Irvin of the Giants stole home against Allie Reynolds of the Yankees. This happened during Bobby Thomson's first at-bat following the "shot heard 'round the world" the day before. This was a particularly impressive feat given that Reynolds was a righty, although he did pitch from a wind-up. Prior to that, Bob Meusel and Mike McNally of the Yankees did it in the 1921 WS, and Ty Cobb did it in 1909.
Others have stolen home as part of a double steal The most recent such occurrence was Brad Fullmer of the Angels in 2002. Even noted speedster Tim McCarver did it (in the 1964 WS against the Yankees)!
The most recent UNsuccessful* attempt to steal home on a straight steal was by Lonnie Smith in 1982 with Don Sutton on the mound (like Allie Reynolds, Sutton was a righty throwing out of a wind-up). Billy Martin was caught trying to steal home in the same 1955 game in which Robinson accomplished the feat. I think it was mentioned on the broadcast last night that Shane Mack of the Twins was caught stealing on an unsuccessful suicide squeeze against John Smoltz and the Braves in 1991.
* - Even the 38 year old replays clearly show that Smith was safe.
I think what I'm happiest about (aside from the win, obviously) is that, assuming he doesn't pitch again, Kershaw will finish the Series with a 2-0 record, a 2.31 ERA, 14 strikeouts, and the all-time record for postseason strikeouts (although record is of questionable significance since it was accomplished in an era with three playoff rounds (and even more this year)).**
** - Kershaw has a strikeout rate of 1.095 K/9 IP (207K over 189.0 IP). This rate still puts him ahead of the next five pitchers on the list:
Verlander - 1.092 (205K over 187.2 IP)
Smoltz - 0.952 (199K over 209.0 IP)
Pettitte - 0.661 (183K over 276.2 IP)
Clemens - 0.869 (173K over 199.0 IP)
Among starters, Max Scherzer seems to have the best all-time postseason K9: 1.223 (137K over 112.0 IP).
I couldn't find a list of postseason strikeout leaders that went past #10, so I randomly looked up some older guys to check their rates. Sandy Koufax had 61K over 57.0 postseason IP for a rate of 1.070. Bob Gibson had 92K over 81.0 IP for a rate of 1.136. Whitey Ford had 94K over 146.0 IP for a rate of 0.644.
Among relievers, Aroldis Chapman has a ridiculous rate of 1.500 (62K over 41.1 IP). Mariano Rivera, by contrast, had a rate of 0.780 (110K over 141.0 IP).
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If only David Price was playing!!!
Hah! Fuck him the fucking douche.
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WTF??
Cash taking Snell out was akin to Roberts taking Rich Hill out against the Sox in 2018.
Thinking too much??
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WTF??
Cash taking Snell out was akin to Roberts taking Rich Hill out against the Sox in 2018.
Thinking too much??
Yeah that was the worst move I've seen in a long time.
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Now if the Rays had an offense other than Randy Arozarena.....
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Now if the Rays had an offense other than Randy Arozarena.....
That dude is awesome!
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Now if the Rays had an offense other than Randy Arozarena.....
That dude is awesome!
Indeed. And he's been carrying the Rays offense the whole post-season.
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Congrats Dodgers!!!!!! Well done!!!!
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Justin Turner is a douchebag.
Gets pulled from the game due to a positive test then returns to the field to celebrate.
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Justin Turner is a douchebag.
Gets pulled from the game due to a positive test then returns to the field to celebrate.
:tdwn :tdwn :tdwn
What difference does it make? He was in the dugout with everyone all game long. And his teammates didn't seem to object.
WTF??
Cash taking Snell out was akin to Roberts taking Rich Hill out against the Sox in 2018.
Thinking too much??
Yeah that was the worst move I've seen in a long time.
I honestly cannot recall dumber managerial move. Taking out Hill in game 4 in '18 was not great, but he wasn't dealing anything close to what Snell was doing, he had thrown 91 pitches, and it was the seventh inning with a runner already on base. My son and I were just looking at each other saying, "are they seriously taking him out?!" We were happy as can be.
The MVP of that game was the Dodgers bullpen. Gonsolin was expectedly awful, but the bullpen pitched 7.1 innings, gave up only 2 hits and no walks, and had a dozen strikeouts.
(https://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/890/255/hi-res-72c198e8476ea84a7ec5089974bc7e2f_crop_north.jpg?1603858089&w=3072&h=2048)
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Yeah - I really had a WTF moment when Snell got pulled. From what I heard, they were playing the analytics game where Snell breaks down the more hits the other team gets on him. But he his fastball was averaging 95mph and he only threw 73 pitches I believe and how many strikeouts did he have? 7?
Analytics has taken over the game but analytics got Tampa to the Series. They stuck with the script and the analytics came up and bit him in the arse. Should have gone with his (and everyone watching the game) gut and kept him in there. I had no dog in the hunt but I was pissed because it looked like we were going to get a game 7.
Oh well, now the 2 teams can say hello to the covids.
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Yeah - I really had a WTF moment when Snell got pulled. From what I heard, they were playing the analytics game where Snell breaks down the more hits the other team gets on him. But he his fastball was averaging 95mph and he only threw 73 pitches I believe and how many strikeouts did he have? 7?
Analytics has taken over the game but analytics got Tampa to the Series. They stuck with the script and the analytics came up and bit him in the arse. Should have gone with his (and everyone watching the game) gut and kept him in there. I had no dog in the hunt but I was pissed because it looked like we were going to get a game 7.
Oh well, now the 2 teams can say hello to the covids.
Snell had 9K when he was pulled.
In his postgame interview, Kevin Cash explained that he simply didn't want Betts and Seager to get a third shot at Snell. Of course, the Dodgers 1-3 hitters (Betts, Seager and Turner) were 0-6 against Snell with 6 strikeouts.
Given that Turner's diagnosis likely would have delayed a game 7 by at least a few days, it's definitely good for MLB that there won't be a game 7.
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Yeah - I really had a WTF moment when Snell got pulled. From what I heard, they were playing the analytics game where Snell breaks down the more hits the other team gets on him. But he his fastball was averaging 95mph and he only threw 73 pitches I believe and how many strikeouts did he have? 7?
Analytics has taken over the game but analytics got Tampa to the Series. They stuck with the script and the analytics came up and bit him in the arse. Should have gone with his (and everyone watching the game) gut and kept him in there. I had no dog in the hunt but I was pissed because it looked like we were going to get a game 7.
Oh well, now the 2 teams can say hello to the covids.
Snell had 9K when he was pulled.
In his postgame interview, Kevin Cash explained that he simply didn't want Betts and Seager to get a third shot at Snell. Of course, the Dodgers 1-3 hitters (Betts, Seager and Turner) were 0-6 against Snell with 6 strikeouts.
Given that Turner's diagnosis likely would have delayed a game 7 by at least a few days, it's definitely good for MLB that there won't be a game 7.
Good point
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I was so negative about this team waiting for them to choke again as in the past. I can't believe they actually did it! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
So glad Kershaw got a ring. He's probably done now. We got our new ace Buehler. Urias was a unexpected stud. Mookie did his job to get us the chip! So many players did their parts too.
And for once the OTHER manager screwed up! :lol And I can't believe our pen did so well.
Now the only major sport playing is NFL. Feels weird.
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I was so negative about this team waiting for them to choke again as in the past. I can't believe they actually did it! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
So glad Kershaw got a ring. He's probably done now. We got our new ace Buehler. Urias was a unexpected stud. Mookie did his job to get us the chip! So many players did their parts too.
And for once the OTHER manager screwed up! :lol And I can't believe our pen did so well.
Now the only major sport playing is NFL. Feels weird.
The Rangers will take him. Time to bring him home..... :tup
BTW - there's also college and I would learn to like Soccer, Rugby and LaCrosse......and dare I say, figure skating????
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Just kidding about figure skating!!!!!! :xbones
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I was so negative about this team waiting for them to choke again as in the past. I can't believe they actually did it! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
So glad Kershaw got a ring. He's probably done now. We got our new ace Buehler. Urias was a unexpected stud. Mookie did his job to get us the chip! So many players did their parts too.
And for once the OTHER manager screwed up! :lol And I can't believe our pen did so well.
Now the only major sport playing is NFL. Feels weird.
I think the thing I was most surprised about yesterday was Alex Wood's performance. If I remember correctly, he wasn't even on the NLDS roster, but he was untouchable last night (as he was in his prior appearance in this year's WS. Totally unexpected.
Kershaw is under contract one more year. I don't see him retiring, but I don't think he'll be back with the Dodgers after 2021.
Normally, the NHL would have started a few weeks ago and the NBA would be just about to start. It does feel weird.
The Rangers will take him. Time to bring him home..... :tup
I'm sure the Rangers would take him, but I have a feeling he's going to retire as a Dodger.
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Yea I watch some CFB and I've started to watch women's college soccer. It's not as aggressive as men's, kinda fun to watch.
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Jon Lester kicks so much ass.
https://nesn.com/2020/10/jon-lester-picking-up-beer-tab-for-cubs-fans-in-chicago/
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Jon Lester kicks so much ass.
https://nesn.com/2020/10/jon-lester-picking-up-beer-tab-for-cubs-fans-in-chicago/
I'm trying to figure out a joke that relates this to his well-known fear of making pick-off throw to first.
But yeah...that's pretty awesome.
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I was thinking about whom would be on a Dodgers' "Mount Rushmore."
Three seem ridiculously obvious and undisputable: Jackie Robinson, Tommy Lasorda (although Walter Alston was more successful and longer-tenured), and Vin Scully.
The #4 spot isn't quite as obvious, but I think Sandy Koufax gets the nod.
Who's on your team's "Mount Rushmore"?
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'My team" largely due to geography, but for the Mariners this should be easy, considering to their relatively short, and mostly crappy, history.
Ken Griffey Jr
Randy Johnson
Ichiro Suzuki
Dave Neihaus
Shit, how could I forget Edgar?! Let me rethink this.... He might have to replace Randy. But if Johnson doesn't win that game against the Angels in 95, there is no Ichiro in Seattle beacuaee there is no Mariners team in Seattle.
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Brewers....
Robin Yount
Ryan Braun
Paul Molitor
Cecil Cooper
Honorable mention: Prince Fielder, Teddy Higuera
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Twins:
Kirby Puckett
Rod Carew
Harmon Killebrew
Joe Mauer
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Giants:
Willie Mays
Barry Bonds
Buster Posey
Christy Mathewson
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Indians:
Bob Feller
Lou Boudreau
Jim Thome
Tris Speaker
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'My team" largely due to geography, but for the Mariners this should be easy, considering to their relatively short, and mostly crappy, history.
Ken Griffey Jr
Randy Johnson
Ichiro Suzuki
Dave Neihaus
Before I google it, I'm gonna write WHO?
EDIT: Now I see.
Brewers....
Robin Yount
Ryan Braun
Paul Molitor
Cecil Cooper
Honorable mention: Prince Fielder, Teddy Higuera
Gorman Thomas? Pete Vukovich? I kid mostly, but I watched a highlight reel from the 1982 season, and those mustaches were EPIC!
Twins:
Kirby Puckett
Rod Carew
Harmon Killebrew
Joe Mauer
Where's Zoilo Versailles?! :biggrin:
Giants:
Willie Mays
Barry Bonds
Buster Posey
Christy Mathewson
Posey over Mel Ott??
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Giants:
Willie Mays
Barry Bonds
Buster Posey
Christy Mathewson
Posey over Mel Ott??
I kind of went back and forth on including Ott. I ultimately picked Mathewson over Ott. Posey on the other hand has helped lead the Giants to 3 World Series wins. Ott only had one in his time. Posey is also an MVP and RotY winner. Granted, Rookie of the Year wasn't a thing when Ott started playing, but I doubt he would have won the award when he was eligible anyway. Plus being a catcher and doing what Posey has done at that position adds a little more weight to my decision.
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Nothing wrong with the Posey pick.
I'd consider Jason Varitek on my Sox list as well.
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'My team" largely due to geography, but for the Mariners this should be easy, considering to their relatively short, and mostly crappy, history.
Ken Griffey Jr
Randy Johnson
Ichiro Suzuki
Dave Neihaus
Before I google it, I'm gonna write WHO?
EDIT: Now I see.
Ask any Mariners fan and they'll tell you he means as much to this franchise as anyone. He is beloved in the sports community here, nearly unlike any other sports figure in any field. And I formally replace Johnson with Edgar in my list.
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'My team" largely due to geography, but for the Mariners this should be easy, considering to their relatively short, and mostly crappy, history.
Ken Griffey Jr
Randy Johnson
Ichiro Suzuki
Dave Neihaus
Before I google it, I'm gonna write WHO?
EDIT: Now I see.
Ask any Mariners fan and they'll tell you he means as much to this franchise as anyone. He is beloved in the sports community here, nearly unlike any other sports figure in any field. And I formally replace Johnson with Edgar in my list.
I didn't recognize the name, but I knew who he was. Turns out he was an Angels broadcaster before the Mariners existed, so I might have heard him when I was very young. MLB Network played game 5 of the 1995 Division Series over the weekend as part of a 25 greatest games series. It's a great series, and they have 1-2 participants from each team, along with Bob Costas and Tim Kurkjian (I think) hosting/moderating. I don't actually remember that game very well -- probably because I was depressed at how badly the Dodgers were sucking (they made the playoffs in '95 for the first time since the '88 WS win and promptly got swept by the Reds).
Giants:
Willie Mays
Barry Bonds
Buster Posey
Christy Mathewson
Posey over Mel Ott??
I kind of went back and forth on including Ott. I ultimately picked Mathewson over Ott. Posey on the other hand has helped lead the Giants to 3 World Series wins. Ott only had one in his time. Posey is also an MVP and RotY winner. Granted, Rookie of the Year wasn't a thing when Ott started playing, but I doubt he would have won the award when he was eligible anyway. Plus being a catcher and doing what Posey has done at that position adds a little more weight to my decision.
Hard to argue too much with that. The Giants are one of those teams that have enough worthy candidates for a double Rushmore.
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2021 HOF BALLOT
Who goes in? The number in parentheses is the number of years the player has been on the ballot.
Curt Schilling (9)
Roger Clemens (9)
Barry Bonds (9)
Sammy Sosa (9)
Jeff Kent (8)
Gary Sheffield (7)
Billy Wagner (6)
Manny Ramirez (5)
Omar Vizquel (4)
Scott Rolen (4)
Andruw Jones (4)
Todd Helton (3)
Andy Pettitte (3)
Bobby Abreu (2)
Tim Hudson (1)
Marke Buehrle (1)
Torii Hunter (1)
Dan Haren (1)
Barry Zito (1)
Aramis Ramirez (1)
Shane Victorino (1)
AJ Burnett (1)
Nick Swisher (1)
LaTroy Hawkins (1)
Michael Cuddyer (1)
I expect that none of the first year guys will remain on the ballot after this year.
I would vote for Clemens, Bonds, Sheffield, Helton, Manny, Kent and Sosa. I was very on the fence about Wagner and somewhat less so about Rolen and Schilling.
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The only ones I'd positively put in are Clemens, Schilling, and Bonds.
I can go either way on Manny, Sheff, and Visquel.
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The only ones I'd positively put in are Clemens, Schilling, and Bonds.
I can go either way on Manny, Sheff, and Visquel.
I liked Vizquel, but he was no better than an average hitter in an era with some exceptional hitting shortstops. Being the best defensively of the group for a decade wasn't enough for me to include him. Schilling has the 3,100+ strikeouts and the postseason resume but nothing else.
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Schilling has the 3,100+ strikeouts and the postseason resume but nothing else.
What else do you need? That's not enough??
I have no issue with some of the 'roid guys getting in, because Bonds and Clemens were HOFers without them, but Helton, Sosa, Bagwell...definitely were not.
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Schilling has the 3,100+ strikeouts and the postseason resume but nothing else.
What else do you need? That's not enough??
I have no issue with some of the 'roid guys getting in, because Bonds and Clemens were HOFers without them, but Helton, Sosa, Bagwell...definitely were not.
Helton also had the benefit of Coors Canaveral for a few years before they brought in the humidor. Nice enough guy though. I met him while bartending out in Colorado. Very low key, loved to talk baseball.
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Schilling has the 3,100+ strikeouts and the postseason resume but nothing else.
What else do you need? That's not enough??
I have no issue with some of the 'roid guys getting in, because Bonds and Clemens were HOFers without them, but Helton, Sosa, Bagwell...definitely were not.
Regarding Schilling, he just wasn't an HOF regular season pitcher. Only 216 wins in 17+ full MLB seasons? Career ERA of 3.46? Those are "meh" numbers. He compares to guys like Kevin Brown and Bob Welch. If you tell me that being a well-above average regular season pitcher, mixed with 2+ epic postseasons is enough (NLCS MVP in 1993 and 2001 plus 2004 with the Sox), I'm not going to protest. However, if I have to work too hard to convince myself a guy should get in, then I wouldn't put him in (same thing with guys like Scott Rolen).
Regarding Helton, why are you lumping him in as a "'roid guy"? He was not part of that group.
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He wasn't??
(https://cconnect.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/1996-Topps-Chrome-Refractor-Todd-Helton-13-e1552896776933.jpg)(https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/HeltonTodd.jpg)
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He wasn't??
(https://cconnect.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/1996-Topps-Chrome-Refractor-Todd-Helton-13-e1552896776933.jpg)(https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/HeltonTodd.jpg)
What's your point? That everyone who put on some muscle mass after gaining access to MLB-level nutrition and training and who grew facial hair was on steroids?
Peruse some of these search results: https://www.google.com/search?q=todd+helton+steroids&rlz=1C1GCEJ_enUS915US915&oq=todd+helton+steroids&aqs=chrome..69i57.3306j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I think you'll find that the only performance enhancing drug he's ever been accused of using (beyond one provably false statement by someone who had no personal knowledge) is the PED known as Coors Field.
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I don’t know man. I’m skeptical.
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Yeah, I would bet dollars to donuts that Todd Helton never used steroids.
As far as the HoF ballot, I'd vote for Bonds, Clemens, Helton, Ramirez, and Sheffield.
Kent, Rolen, Abreu, Wagner, Sosa, and Schilling are all borderline at best. Not to say they weren't good players, but just not what I would consider legendary status. A player that could strike fear into the hearts of their opponents whenever they stepped on the field.
Vizquel is a conundrum. He was a legend on defense, but his offense was weak by comparison. And almost no one gets into the HoF on defense alone.
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Vizquel is a conundrum. He was a legend on defense, but his offense was weak by comparison. And almost no one gets into the HoF on defense alone.
That's kinda how I feel. HOWEVER, baseball-reference.com has something called "similarity scores," which it lifted from a book by Bill James. It is explained here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/about/similarity.shtml
Based on this methodology, the eight most similar players to Vizquel are Luis Aparicio, Rabbit Maranville, Ozzie Smith, Bill Dahlen, Dave Concepcion, Luke Appling, Pee Wee Reese and Nellie Fox. Of those, only Dahlen (who played between 1891-1911 and hit .272 in an era when the best players were hitting in the high .300s) and Concepcion (who probably suffers for being the weak offensive link on the Big Red Machine) are not in the HOF. Aparicio was a career .262 hitter, with a career OPS of .653, 83 HR, 791 RBI, 394 doubles and 1,335 runs. He played in the 1959 and 1966 World Series (10 games and 45 AB). His postseason numbers were very similar to his regular season numbers. Without fine-tooth comb analysis, Vizquel's numbers (over a longer career) are very similar. Different eras and all, but between Aparicio and Ozzie, Vizquel at least has precedent to make a case.
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Vizquel is a conundrum. He was a legend on defense, but his offense was weak by comparison. And almost no one gets into the HoF on defense alone.
That's kinda how I feel. HOWEVER, baseball-reference.com has something called "similarity scores," which it lifted from a book by Bill James. It is explained here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/about/similarity.shtml
Based on this methodology, the eight most similar players to Vizquel are Luis Aparicio, Rabbit Maranville, Ozzie Smith, Bill Dahlen, Dave Concepcion, Luke Appling, Pee Wee Reese and Nellie Fox. Of those, only Dahlen (who played between 1891-1911 and hit .272 in an era when the best players were hitting in the high .300s) and Concepcion (who probably suffers for being the weak offensive link on the Big Red Machine) are not in the HOF. Aparicio was a career .262 hitter, with a career OPS of .653, 83 HR, 791 RBI, 394 doubles and 1,335 runs. He played in the 1959 and 1966 World Series (10 games and 45 AB). His postseason numbers were very similar to his regular season numbers. Without fine-tooth comb analysis, Vizquel's numbers (over a longer career) are very similar. Different eras and all, but between Aparicio and Ozzie, Vizquel at least has precedent to make a case.
Yeah, and now you get into the territory of certain players that I don't think should have ever been inducting into the HoF. So I'm certainly going by my own criteria when putting in my opinion.
I am familiar with Bill James and his books though. It is an interesting way to look at it. I am very much a numbers/stats guy when it comes to baseball and overall performance/effectiveness.
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Yeah, I would bet dollars to donuts that Todd Helton never used steroids.
I feel like we've had this conversation before. If Helton never did PED's I'd be shocked honestly. But I won't belabor the point.
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Yeah, I would bet dollars to donuts that Todd Helton never used steroids.
I feel like we've had this conversation before. If Helton never did PED's I'd be shocked honestly. But I won't belabor the point.
We probably have :lol
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Yeah, and now you get into the territory of certain players that I don't think should have ever been inducting into the HoF. So I'm certainly going by my own criteria when putting in my opinion.
For sure. The concept of precedent loses all validity when you consider that Phil Rizzuto was inducted: .273/.351/.355/.706, 1,588 hits, 38 HR, 563 RBI (and his postseason numbers over 52 games are actually worse!). Not a single one of the top 10 "similar" players (all of whom have a score over 900) are in the HOF. The ONLY reason why he's in is because he had the fortuity of being on the Yankees.
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Despite being a Yankees fan, my initial reaction to seeing Pettitte on the list was "Loved him as a Yankee, good player for a long time, and while he'd make a fine addition to the Hall of Very Good, he's definitely not a Hall of Famer". Decided to poke around some though and there are some decent arguments for him
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30372428/why-everybody-vote-andy-pettitte-hall-fame
https://www.cooperstowncred.com/andy-pettitte-complicated-hall-of-fame-case/
His vote share the first two years was pretty poor though, so very unlikely he gets close.
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Despite being a Yankees fan, my initial reaction to seeing Pettitte on the list was "Loved him as a Yankee, good player for a long time, and while he'd make a fine addition to the Hall of Very Good, he's definitely not a Hall of Famer". Decided to poke around some though and there are some decent arguments for him
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30372428/why-everybody-vote-andy-pettitte-hall-fame
https://www.cooperstowncred.com/andy-pettitte-complicated-hall-of-fame-case/
His vote share the first two years was pretty poor though, so very unlikely he gets close.
When lawyers are taught how to write, they are generally taught to lead with their strongest argument. The ESPN article started with several paragraphs about how few pitchers born in the 1970s are in the HOF. Seriously? Not that I expect a sports writer to write like a lawyer, but by the time the article moved onto a more legitimate argument, I had lost interest. Also, my general rule of thumb is that, if one has to make a "complicated case" for someone to get in, then he doesn't belong in.
For me, Pettitte is an easy no. He spent 18 seasons -- mostly with the team that was, during his career, the best in baseball -- and could only muster 256 wins and fewer than 2,500 strikeouts (and yes, I know that he wasn't a "strikeout pitcher"). In my view, he benefitted immensely from being on the Yankees -- much more so than the Yankees benefitted from having him on the team.
He's a shoe-in, however, for the Hall of Really Good.
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Yeah, I'm generally a no on Pettite.
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I care so little about MLB these days, but I will always find discussions about the HoF and who should/should not be in fascinating.
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Apparently, the Cleveland Indians are likely to announce they're dropping the "Indians" name as soon as this coming week.
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Apparently, the Cleveland Indians are likely to announce they're dropping the "Indians" name as soon as this coming week.
I saw something about that somewhere....
Sad.
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Phil Niekro just died.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30605849/hall-fame-pitcher-phil-niekro-famous-signature-knuckleball-dies-81
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Phil Niekro just died.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30605849/hall-fame-pitcher-phil-niekro-famous-signature-knuckleball-dies-81
One of the ultimate stat collectors. He began his major league career before I was born, and he retired when I was 20. I cannot recall ever thinking he was an elite MLB pitcher. Of course, part of that is because he pitched for the then perennially shitty Braves.
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RIP Hammerin Hank Aaron.
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RIP Hammerin Hank Aaron.
I literally just started a separate thread about this. :'(
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A day late with this one, but baseball writers demonstrated yet again that they are a bunch of numbnuts. No one was elected to the Baseball HOF this year.
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2021-01-27-there-wont-be-any-inductees-in-the-baseball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2021/?Sc=editorial&Pname=local_social&Keyid=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR18DkYmUSyKQOJfMa1FWy-TVjpmvDo9e_oY_h2wUqjkv87EJaWVP_SdAuk
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A day late with this one, but baseball writers demonstrated yet again that they are a bunch of numbnuts. No one was elected to the Baseball HOF this year.
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2021-01-27-there-wont-be-any-inductees-in-the-baseball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2021/?Sc=editorial&Pname=local_social&Keyid=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR18DkYmUSyKQOJfMa1FWy-TVjpmvDo9e_oY_h2wUqjkv87EJaWVP_SdAuk
Yup, they are always referring to a "character clause" originated by a racist while half the guys in the hall were drunks, wife abusers, drug abusers, racists, etc. A pathetic group of men and I'm glad Schilling went off on them. And the use political differences in their votes too.
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It would be better if someone other than Schilling could take up this battle. Schilling wants to believe his politics are keeping him out of the HOF, but the reality is that he is, at best, a borderline case for the HOF.
The Baseball HOF is a private organization. It is not bound go give 100% of the primary voting power to the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and it's high time that the voting power was spread out among other groups (along with the BBWAA.
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Interesting...
I just learned that the Baseball HOF does not -- and has not since 2001 -- allowed players and managers to select which cap appears on their plaques. Apparently, the change was made in part because of rumors that players were receiving compensation (e.g., money or a retired number) in exchange for selecting a particular team to appear on their HOF plaque cap. In particular, there was a story (which he vehemently denied) that Wade Boggs's contract with the Devil Rays required him to select a Rays cap to appear on his HOF plaque. This came into play with guys like Gary Carter and Andre Dawson. They wanted their plaques to depict, respectively, Mets and Cubs caps, but the HOF decided both would have Expos caps. It does appear, though, that the HOF will give greater deference to a player who wants to be depicted with no logo on his plaque cap (e.g., Tony LaRussa and Greg Maddox).
Notwithstanding my dissatisfaction with the selection process, visiting the HOF was awesome, and I need to do it again. I went there in January 1996, during the week leading up to my wedding in Albany. I went with one of my groomsmen who wasn't as into it as I was, so we only spent a couple hours there.
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Thread title changed.
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I visited the HOF as a kid, the Summer of 1986, and distinctly recall spending the better part of 2 days there, and yet did not get to see everything. Some 35 years later, I can only imagine one could spend at least a week there before seeing more or less everything.
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I visited the HOF as a kid, the Summer of 1986, and distinctly recall spending the better part of 2 days there, and yet did not get to see everything. Some 35 years later, I can only imagine one could spend at least a week there before seeing more or less everything.
And that's just the stuff that's actually on display. I would be like a kid in a candy store if I could get access to the HOF archives.
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Wow. Cardinals have been taking some heat foe being cheap asses and taking advantage of a loyal fan base.....especially the past few years as the Blues ownership has shown them what real owners look like.
They just made a heck of a move.
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I just saw that..Nolan Arenado? WOW!
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I just saw that..Nolan Arenado? WOW!
Yeah, I was really hoping the Giants would make a move for him. :yeahright
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Was he on the block? I wasn't aware of that.
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This Arenado trade is maddening. Rockies don’t get any of the Cards top 5 prospects and the Rockies are picking up $50M of his salary. Arenado does appear to have an opt out at the end of ‘21 and ‘22, which I guess I can see the reluctance of the Cards giving up more, but still, absolute steal for St. Louis.
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This Arenado trade is maddening. Rockies don’t get any of the Cards top 5 prospects and the Rockies are picking up $50M of his salary. Arenado does appear to have an opt out at the end of ‘21 and ‘22, which I guess I can see the reluctance of the Cards giving up more, but still, absolute steal for St. Louis.
I’ve read that the opt out clause will be removed.......that it was one of the things the Cardinals requested to make the trade happen.
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In other news, the Red Sox jerked off yesterday.
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Damn!
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2930387-espn-reporter-pedro-gomez-dies-at-age-58
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In other news, the Red Sox jerked off yesterday.
Along with 20 other teams that have no desire to field a competitive team. MLB needs a salary cap and a salary floor.
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It's odd, but of all of the sports without fans this past year, I found baseball the hardest to witch without them.
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MLB needs a salary cap and a salary floor.
Yeah...I agree.
It's odd, but of all of the sports without fans this past year, I found baseball the hardest to witch without them.
That's probably because fans show up in pretty much every shot, including every pitch from the centerfield camera. Hockey's a close second, though.
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There is no worse professional sports team than the Seattle Mariners. In 44 years, they have 14 winning seasons, 4 playoff appearances, and zero pennants. They are the only current MLB team to never play in the World Series. And as someone who spent their first full year of life in the same year the M's did, I cannot honestly say they have had any extended period of time where they were committed to winning. A past president has gone on record saying that their primary goal was to put an entertaining, competitive team on the field, not winning a championship. Now a (former) CEO has been on record saying that they purposefully manipulate players' service years (everyone does it, they just don't brag about it) and paying for the interpreters of foreign born players (who apparently speak terrible English) is annoying
If there is a worse professional sports franchise, please tell me what it is.
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There is no worse professional sports team than the Seattle Mariners. In 44 years, they have 14 winning seasons, 4 playoff appearances, and zero pennants. They are the only current MLB team to never play in the World Series. And as someone who spent their first full year of life in the same year the M's did, I cannot honestly say they have had any extended period of time where they were committed to winning. A past president has gone on record saying that their primary goal was to put an entertaining, competitive team on the field, not winning a championship. Now a (former) CEO has been on record saying that they purposefully manipulate players' service years (everyone does it, they just don't brag about it) and paying for the interpreters of foreign born players (who apparently speak terrible English) is annoying
If there is a worse professional sports franchise, please tell me what it is.
The Detroit Lions or the Cleveland Browns might have a claim to the title of "worst professional sports franchise". Neither team has even been to the Superbowl. The Lions haven't placed first in their division since 1993 and have only done so 3 times in the Superbowl era. If you count the pre-Superbowl era, they've only placed first 8 times going all the way back to 1930...
Or maybe the Arizona Coyotes...
Or the LA Clippers
But I agree, the Mariners are a sorry team.
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There is no worse professional sports team than the Seattle Mariners. In 44 years, they have 14 winning seasons, 4 playoff appearances, and zero pennants. They are the only current MLB team to never play in the World Series. And as someone who spent their first full year of life in the same year the M's did, I cannot honestly say they have had any extended period of time where they were committed to winning. A past president has gone on record saying that their primary goal was to put an entertaining, competitive team on the field, not winning a championship. Now a (former) CEO has been on record saying that they purposefully manipulate players' service years (everyone does it, they just don't brag about it) and paying for the interpreters of foreign born players (who apparently speak terrible English) is annoying
If there is a worse professional sports franchise, please tell me what it is.
You know...I heard what the guy said last night (whatever sports talk scrub was on during the 8:00 hour), and I kept waiting for him to say something that I thought was really bad. Don't like paying for non-English speaking players' interpreters? Don't blame him (and I'm shocked that the teams, rather than the players, pay). Manipulate service time? As you mentioned, everyone does it. Anyhoo...
One of the shows the MLB Network runs with some regularity during the off-season is an hour long documentary about the 1995 Mariners, and the theme is that they were the team that saved baseball in Seattle. As I was watching it, I came to the realization (which you mentioned) that the Mariners are now the only team that has never played in a World Series. So many teams have broken through that barrier in the last 20 years: Rockies, Rangers, Rays, Nationals, Angels, D-Backs and Astros.
The Detroit Lions or the Cleveland Browns might have a claim to the title of "worst professional sports franchise". Neither team has even been to the Superbowl. The Lions haven't placed first in their division since 1993 and have only done so 3 times in the Superbowl era. If you count the pre-Superbowl era, they've only placed first 8 times going all the way back to 1930...
Or maybe the Arizona Coyotes...
Or the LA Clippers
But I agree, the Mariners are a sorry team.
The Clippers? I'd say the Kings, Suns and Knicks are much worse (especially the Knicks, who have pissed all over their history and have no excuse). Arizona's probably the best choice in the NHL, although they were in the playoffs in 2020. Sabres have the longest playoff drought (9 years), but the Coyotes (fKa Jets) are one of only four teams who have never played in the Stanley Cup Final (and the franchise has been in existence twice as long as the other three teams). And, of course, there's the Maple Leafs, who have the longest Cup drought.
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I was curious how much play this is making nationally. I have heard his comments about service time will torpedo the next round of contract negs. It will be the MLBPA's exhibit A.
Locally, the radio waves are seething, and mostly with the long-time fans, who have endured mediocrity for so long. We are also a region who lost their popular NBA team over 10 years ago. And the Mariners should be aware if you walked around the streets Seattle (at your own risk...) you'd see Kraken garb outnumber M's garb 10-1. And the Kraken have yet to play a game. If what he said wasn't that bad, it is seen here as just another part of a pattern of behavior that has existed with this franchise for so long.
Also, you have to recognize our large Asian population here. Paying an Asian dude's interpreter's salary pays off a hundred fold in what that player brings to the table, both tangible and intangible.
I wasn't old enough to appreciate what the franchise was going through in 1995, but they have had multiple owners who wanted to relocate, and Seattle is a very fair-weather fan town who has little interest in investing dollars or time in to a flailing franchise. It's not too much of an exaggeration to say Edgar's double kept the team here.
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I was curious how much play this is making nationally. I have heard his comments about service time will torpedo the next round of contract negs. It will be the MLBPA's exhibit A.
Exhibit A should be Kris Bryant. In 2015, he was one of the top prospects in baseball and hit 9 HR in 40 spring training at-bats but wasn't on the Cubs' opening day roster. The MLBPA made a stink about it, and it's been widely known at least since then that teams did this. If the MLBPA doesn't like it, then yeah, it should be a subject of negotiation.
If what he said wasn't that bad, it is seen here as just another part of a pattern of behavior that has existed with this franchise for so long.
Fair point.
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https://www.radio.com/weei/sports/red-sox/former-mlb-reliever-rheal-cormier-dies-at-53
Damn. I remember him playing for the Sox. Way too young.
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https://www.radio.com/weei/sports/red-sox/former-mlb-reliever-rheal-cormier-dies-at-53
Damn. I remember him playing for the Sox. Way too young.
Damn...only six months older than I am. Cancer sucks.
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https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/texas-rangers-plan-to-allow-full-capacity-of-fans-for-2021-mlb-opening-day/
Only in Texas.
This ought to end well.
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https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/texas-rangers-plan-to-allow-full-capacity-of-fans-for-2021-mlb-opening-day/
Only in Texas.
This ought to end well.
Brewers play their final two spring trading games there. Awesome.
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20 years ago today.....
https://youtu.be/1PyCpG06138
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20 years ago today.....
https://youtu.be/1PyCpG06138
Exhibit A of why left handed batters wanted no part of the Big Unit.
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20 years ago today.....
https://youtu.be/1PyCpG06138
I had no idea what this was going to be when I clicked on it. What a 1 in a billion thing. Am I correct in recalling that some animal rights group feigned outrage?
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20 years ago today.....
https://youtu.be/1PyCpG06138
I miss Randy Johnson. One of the very best and most intimidating pitchers I ever got to see.
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20 years ago today.....
https://youtu.be/1PyCpG06138
I had no idea what this was going to be when I clicked on it. What a 1 in a billion thing. Am I correct in recalling that some animal rights group feigned outrage?
Imagine if that happened today. You'd probably have animal rights activists shouting on Twitter for MLB to ban Randy Johnson from the sport. :lol :lol :facepalm: :facepalm:
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People remember "The Double" and the image of a smiling Griffey on the bottom of the pile, but we cannot diminish Johnson's role in saving baseball in Seattle. This was a franchise that had 2 decades of nothing to celebrate, and yet for that one game playoff, we knew we were going to beat the Angels, because Johnson was starting. There was no way anyone was going to beat him that day. Similarly when he came out of the pen in game 5 against NYY, we knew we were going to win that series.
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People remember "The Double" and the image of a smiling Griffey on the bottom of the pile, but we cannot diminish Johnson's role in saving baseball in Seattle. This was a franchise that had 2 decades of nothing to celebrate, and yet for that one game playoff, we knew we were going to beat the Angels, because Johnson was starting. There was no way anyone was going to beat him that day. Similarly when he came out of the pen in game 5 against NYY, we knew we were going to win that series.
I may go to a baseball game every five years or so. Don't much care for the game, but I enjoy the experience. Back in the early 90s I was working in a warehouse and came down with a case of Spring fever. Perfect Dallas weather and unworthy of arduous labor when there were better things to do. About noon I told my boss I didn't feel well and was heading home. Called up a friend and went out to see Kevin Brown facing Randy Johnson at the newly opened Ballpark in a rare afternoon game. Great game. We seldom have day games here, and it was on a weekday, so there weren't all that many people around. Managed to scheme our way to about 10th row behind home plate for a few innings to see them really pitch. I remember that they both went into the 9th, where Brown got yanked and TBU was relieved by the closer. One of those things I'm really glad I did and still remember fondly.
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People remember "The Double" and the image of a smiling Griffey on the bottom of the pile, but we cannot diminish Johnson's role in saving baseball in Seattle. This was a franchise that had 2 decades of nothing to celebrate, and yet for that one game playoff, we knew we were going to beat the Angels, because Johnson was starting. There was no way anyone was going to beat him that day. Similarly when he came out of the pen in game 5 against NYY, we knew we were going to win that series.
I don't know how old it is, but over the offseason, I caught an MLB Network documentary about the 1995 Mariners, and that documentary very definitely highlights Johnson's role in saving baseball in Seattle. If you haven't seen it, you should seek it out. It's well done (the fact that it kept my interest when I couldn't really give a rip about the Mariners is a testament to that).
Also, here's me with the Bigger Unit at a Dodgers v. D-Backs game in 2017:
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20663701_10210511328760046_570707325244460387_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=87sCedRLPR8AX-WzAXC&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=987e74f84c8911f71da33cfe3e9ea3b1&oe=6081469A)
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I haven't seen it but heard it is really good. I did live it in real time, though sadly I had other issues on my mind that pushed sports to the back burner. Incidentally I was in college in VA at the time and watched that one game playoff by myself because no one in VA gave a crap about a game between Seattle and Anaheim.
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I've seen that documentary. It's real good.
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Heading down to San Diego this weekend with the son and will be attending the Diamondbacks v. Padres game on Saturday. It's not the Dodgers, but I'm kinda stoked for my first live sporting event since spring training last year! And, it'll be my first trip to Petco Park.
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Happy Opening Day!
Go Brewers!
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Was wondering if anyone was going to post here today.
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The Sox were postponed so at least they didn’t lose.
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I'm following the Dodgers game on ESPN Gamecast, and the Rockies scored their first run as a partial result of the following: "Owings tripled to pitcher." How the heck does that work?
And that's not the weirdest play of the game. Justin Turner was on first and Cody Bellinger hit a homer to left field. Turner got confused and thought the outfielder caught the ball, so he started sprinting back to first. As a result, Bellinger passed turner on the base path and was called out (and credited with a single and an RBI).
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Brewers score three in the 9th to tie and win it in 10.
Yay!
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I'm following the Dodgers game on ESPN Gamecast, and the Rockies scored their first run as a partial result of the following: "Owings tripled to pitcher." How the heck does that work?
My guess is it ricocheted off the pitcher into no mans land.
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I'm following the Dodgers game on ESPN Gamecast, and the Rockies scored their first run as a partial result of the following: "Owings tripled to pitcher." How the heck does that work?
My guess is it ricocheted off the pitcher into no mans land.
Probably a soft spot in a shift.
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Heading down to San Diego this weekend with the son and will be attending the Diamondbacks v. Padres game on Saturday. It's not the Dodgers, but I'm kinda stoked for my first live sporting event since spring training last year! And, it'll be my first trip to Petco Park.
A few pics from this game yesterday. GREAT ballpark. If you're in San Diego, definitely check out a game (but be warned that parking in the area SUCKS).
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/168479272_10220469532508916_5055272550343984854_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=dPyrTFWryc0AX9J-apq&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=b28292eab9b11b39236df6ef015a33d7&oe=608F5928)
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/168991085_10220469532228909_4144988191515923059_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=7ZqzytCNswoAX-qogLG&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=3785709ed4f1a5963c36d421fa76c01a&oe=6090CAFD)
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/168544378_10220469857797048_7570178620155251170_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=kpvBfL7oO1sAX8TlGJx&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=14f8686eabf0cda951b4ce74c0fb42aa&oe=608E65F8)
(https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/169020378_10220469531388888_7518666243960199364_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=lVgn_hfq60oAX8JYOxT&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=408cf178f1bc12d7dbc80ca5e7750b19&oe=60906B8F)
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/169144593_10220469858357062_8260399891329994146_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=3_6o8y6cH08AX81eK3X&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=782acf4bb54c4634a79e32d394a243e4&oe=608F332A)
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The TACs went to a game there in 2019. What a nice stadium. I loved walking around and going out to the grassy area.
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The TACs went to a game there in 2019. What a nice stadium. I loved wanking around and going out to the grassy area.
Yeah. We're in a hotel in the Gaslamp area -- maybe a half mile walk from the stadium. I got there about an hour and a half before first pitch and just walked the whole stadium. Really well done.
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The TACs went to a game there in 2019. What a nice stadium. I loved wanking around and going out to the grassy area.
Yeah. We're in a hotel in the Gaslamp area -- maybe a half mile walk from the stadium. I got there about an hour and a half before first pitch and just walked the whole stadium. Really well done.
Oh nice, so you're right downtown. We walked through there. We actually stayed north of the city in Escondito. We had Disney Vacation Points we had to use, but we stayed at the Lawrence Welk Resort. We were worried because it sounded hokey, but the place was amazing. Same for downtown Escondito.
We bought Go San Diego passes which got us admission into so many different places.
I took some shots at the game too!
(https://i.imgur.com/p47uZ8K.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pgS5lfS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/R7IQaeX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DFrh935.jpg)
Oh, and after missing the Sox' first two games because of work, I finally sit down to watch them today. They give up 3 runs in the top of the 1st, and last only 10 pitches in the bottom... WTF??
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The TACs went to a game there in 2019. What a nice stadium. I loved wanking around and going out to the grassy area.
Thank you for not posting pics of the wanking.
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:lol :facepalm:
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Oh nice, so you're right downtown. We walked through there. We actually stayed north of the city in Escondito. We had Disney Vacation Points we had to use, but we stayed at the Lawrence Welk Resort. We were worried because it sounded hokey, but the place was amazing. Same for downtown Escondito.
We bought Go San Diego passes which got us admission into so many different places.
We have a friend whose mother has (or had) a place at the Welk resort, and we spent a weekend there once. Very nice place, and we avoided the "buy in" presentation even though we were technically supposed to attend. Escondido is a good central location for everything SD County has to offer.
My list of MLB parks visited is now at 11:
Dodger Stadium
Anaheim Stadium
Petco Park
AT&T Stadium (or whatever the Giants' stadium is called now)
Chase Field
Coors Field
Fenway Park
Citi Field
Yankee Stadium (new)
Camden Yards
Nationals Park
Only 19 left.
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When we went to Petco, we bought a Family Package. $20 for the ticket, a hot dog, and a drink. So for $80, we went to the game and ate! Can't do that in Boston!
We don't do baseball trips, but if there's a baseball team where we vacation, my wife is cool going to a game.
We did Phoenix in 1998 (their inaugural season)
Camden Yards in 2000
Dodger Stadium in 2015
Coors Field in 2016
AT&T Park (SF) in 2018
Petco (SD) in 2019
We've seen the Bruins twice in Tampa, in '97 and '13.
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We've seen the Bruins twice in Tampa, in '97 and '13.
I haven't been to nearly as many hockey venues as I have baseball stadiums. I've seen the Kings at both the Forum and Staples Center and also went to a bunch of (Mighty) Ducks games at the Pond/Honda Center. Other than that, I saw the Stars against the Rangers at MSG in 2000 and the Canucks against the Islanders in late January or early February 2020. Every time I go to Boston, it seems that the Bruins or Celtics are either out of season or on the road.
NFL: I saw the Rams once or twice when they played in Anaheim (I worked at a building on the other side of the Anaheim Stadium parking lot in the early 90s) and a couple Broncos games in Denver (Invesco).
NBA: A couple of Clipper games at Staples Center.
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I love baseball because you never know when the next oddity will come.
Tonight the Red Sox pitcher took a 10 pitch at bat against deGrom, the most all season.
https://nesn.com/2021/04/of-course-nick-pivetta-had-longest-at-bat-vs-jacob-degrom-this-season/
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Quite possibly the worst call you’ll ever see in baseball...
https://youtu.be/OGYu5EQsLEU
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Quite possibly the worst call you’ll ever see in baseball...
https://youtu.be/OGYu5EQsLEU
Yeah, guy should have been fired after the game but of course UNION . . .
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I saw that. That was brutal.
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Quite possibly the worst call you’ll ever see in baseball...
https://youtu.be/OGYu5EQsLEU
Bad? Yes. Unnecessary? Yes.
Worst call ever? Not even close.
Worthy of being fired? No....
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In other news, I learned my new favorite acronym recently
TOOTBLAN
"Thrown out on the bases like a nincompoop." I freakin' love it!
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Quite possibly the worst call you’ll ever see in baseball...
https://youtu.be/OGYu5EQsLEU
Bad call, but not even close to the worst call ever. Context matters, and there have been bad calls that changes the outcomes of playoff series and World Series (freaking Denkinger :facepalm: :facepalm:).
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Quite possibly the worst call you’ll ever see in baseball...
https://youtu.be/OGYu5EQsLEU
Bad call, but not even close to the worst call ever. Context matters, and there have been bad calls that changes the outcomes of playoff series and World Series (freaking Denkinger :facepalm: :facepalm:).
The three that came immediately to mind can all be identified with names: Don Denkinger, Jeffrey Maier and Armando Galarraga. Also Eric Gregg's collective body of work in the 1997 postseason.
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Angels releasing Pujols. I don't really watch anymore, but here's hoping the Cardinals sign him to one of those 1-day deals so he can retire a Cardinal. Legend.
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Angels releasing Pujols. I don't really watch anymore, but here's hoping the Cardinals sign him to one of those 1-day deals so he can retire a Cardinal. Legend.
Big public relations mistake by the Angels. Pretty much assures he won't have an Angels cap on his HOF plaque.
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Angels releasing Pujols. I don't really watch anymore, but here's hoping the Cardinals sign him to one of those 1-day deals so he can retire a Cardinal. Legend.
Big public relations mistake by the Angels. Pretty much assures he won't have an Angels cap on his HOF plaque.
That would have been a sham had that happened, since all of his HOF years were here in St Louis.
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I think his bank account has an Angel's cap.
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I think his bank account has an Angel's cap.
:lol
Sox-Tigers game today had 21 runs and no homers. Singles and doubles aren’t dead yet.
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I think his bank account has an Angel's cap.
:lol
Sox-Tigers game today had 21 runs and no homers. Singles and doubles aren’t dead yet.
Bravo!
The recently completed series in which the Dodgers got swept by the Cubs featured more hits that would have been outs but for "the shift" than I can remember. One of the play-by-play guys commented how the Cubs had scored in every one of the extra innings that the team had played, and I yelled back to him that this was because the Cubs were hitting to score runs, whereas the Dodgers were trying to hit home runs.
It's not just the Dodgers, but the abject refusal of "professional" hitters to take advantage of "the shift" drives me bat-crap crazy. Is it really that hard to learn to put a bunt down that probably would result in a double when the defense does this?
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/168991019_10220470568454814_2246522227433219294_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=POuXvBmF3XgAX8GZAge&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=cf1fc3910b5a5f0232d88d22efaa9b74&oe=60B9CB09)
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I think his bank account has an Angel's cap.
:lol
Sox-Tigers game today had 21 runs and no homers. Singles and doubles aren’t dead yet.
Bravo!
The recently completed series in which the Dodgers got swept by the Cubs featured more hits that would have been outs but for "the shift" than I can remember. One of the play-by-play guys commented how the Cubs had scored in every one of the extra innings that the team had played, and I yelled back to him that this was because the Cubs were hitting to score runs, whereas the Dodgers were trying to hit home runs.
It's not just the Dodgers, but the abject refusal of "professional" hitters to take advantage of "the shift" drives me bat-crap crazy. Is it really that hard to learn to put a bunt down that probably would result in a double when the defense does this?
Yeah, the shift is driving me nuts these days. Fortunately the Giants have been trying to combat it by laying down bunts the other way occasionally. Unfortunately for the the Giants, their bullpen has been imploding late in games way too often lately. They basically should have swept the Rockies, or at least taken 3 of 4.....
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They’re testing some radical measures in the minors - moving the mound back, restrictions on shifts, etc. I’m all for it.
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They’re testing some radical measures in the minors - moving the mound back, restrictions on shifts, etc. I’m all for it.
I think restrictions on the shift could be a good idea, however, moving the mound is probably the worst idea i've ever heard.
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They’re testing some radical measures in the minors - moving the mound back, restrictions on shifts, etc. I’m all for it.
I think restrictions on the shift could be a good idea, however, moving the mound is probably the worst idea i've ever heard.
I don't really know where I come out on this stuff. The best way to combat the shift is to learn to hit properly. Want to put all seven defenders who aren't the pitcher and catcher in the infield between first and second? Have at it, but I'm laying down what would ordinarily be a terrible, hard bunt to the left side and running all the way around the bases. As far as lowering the mound, I bet folks on DTF in 1968 thought lowering the mound was a terrible idea. But now it's been at its current height since most of us have been alive and it works just fine. And I bet folks in 1893 thought moving the rubber back five feet to 60'6" was a terrible idea too. It'll be interesting to see how these things play out in the low minor leagues, but I wonder how these experiments will impact player development, which is the primary purpose of those leagues.
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They’re testing some radical measures in the minors - moving the mound back, restrictions on shifts, etc. I’m all for it.
I think restrictions on the shift could be a good idea, however, moving the mound is probably the worst idea i've ever heard.
I don't really know where I come out on this stuff. The best way to combat the shift is to learn to hit properly. Want to put all seven defenders who aren't the pitcher and catcher in the infield between first and second? Have at it, but I'm laying down what would ordinarily be a terrible, hard bunt to the left side and running all the way around the bases. As far as lowering the mound, I bet folks on DTF in 1968 thought lowering the mound was a terrible idea. But now it's been at its current height since most of us have been alive and it works just fine. And I bet folks in 1893 thought moving the rubber back five feet to 60'6" was a terrible idea too. It'll be interesting to see how these things play out in the low minor leagues, but I wonder how these experiments will impact player development, which is the primary purpose of those leagues.
Lowering the mound when they did was a good idea. We've seen major swings between pitchers dominating and batters dominated in the intervening years, based on the strategies employed by the player and managers. However, I fear moving the mound back a foot may lean too far in the hitters favor and I don't think employing it in the minor leagues is a good way to get the data they need to see if it will have the desired effect. They claim it will reduce home runs and strikeouts, all while increasing action from play to play. Trying to make baseball more "exciting" by implementing ridiculous rules I don't agree with. At any rate, time will tell.
I'm also one of those people that doesn't like the designated hitter, so.... :dunno:
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However, I fear moving the mound back a foot may lean too far in the hitters favor and I don't think employing it in the minor leagues is a good way to get the data they need to see if it will have the desired effect. They claim it will reduce home runs and strikeouts, all while increasing action from play to play. Trying to make baseball more "exciting" by implementing ridiculous rules I don't agree with. At any rate, time will tell.
Well...I'm confident that moving the mound back will do three things: (1) reduce average pitch speed; (2) increase walks (which will, in turn, increase average game length) and (3) increase injuries to pitchers. I think it may reduce home runs because of the increase in walks and because you won't see as many home runs where the batter just sticks out his bat and the ball goes over the fence. It might also increase strike outs because batters get more anxious and swing harder and swing at pitches they shouldn't be swinging at.
I'm also one of those people that doesn't like the designated hitter, so.... :dunno:
I don't either. However, the DH has existed in the AL as long as I've been following baseball, and it's kinda part of the game for me. I enjoy the novelty of having different rules depending on where the game is played. Inter-league baseball has killed that somewhat -- and that's even more so since we've had 15 teams in each league, so there's always at least one inter-league game every day that all 30 teams are playing.
On an unrelated note, watching the Dodgers has become sadly difficult. When I turned on the game on Saturday, I initially thought it was 0-0, but I then realized that was an "8" in the Dodgers' run column. The Dodgers then tacked on 5 more, and I think it was 13-0, then 13-1, then 14-1. I then joked that congratulations would be in order for the Angels' record-setting comeback and they almost proved me right. Somehow, the Dodgers held on to win 14-11 and then came back yesterday and laid another one run egg.
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So...this happened yesterday.
(https://arizonasports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ap_2dfbb5dbb96048c69e91539b46a82181-1024x682-1.jpg)
I first heard the news over the weekend and thought, WTF???
It's kinda cool but still a head scratcher. The Dodgers routinely run through their entire bench in a 9-inning game so they're often left with a need to play guys in atypical positions.
Most of the roster is versatile, but AFAIK, Pujols can't play anywhere other than first base. For that reason, I assumed that, if he didn't go back to the Cards for a one-day and retire contract, he'd stay in the American League.
But...he had a nice RBI single yesterday, so we'll see.
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Man Ohtani continues to amaze. Most exciting player currently.
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Not that I pay much attention to baseball anymore, but this whole Yermin Mercedes story is ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as the sport's outdated "unwritten" rules. Tony La Russa should be embarrassed for the way he has handled this.
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Not that I pay much attention to baseball anymore, but this whole Yermin Mercedes story is ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as the sport's outdated "unwritten" rules. Tony La Russa should be embarrassed for the way he has handled this.
I go back and forth on this. BUT if the batter missed a Take sign, as LaRussa is alleging, that's a problem, no?
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I only just heard about this Mercedes/LaRussa thing this morning, so I'm not sure what Kev means about LaRussa being embarrassed. And yes, missing a take sign is a problem that should be addressed between manager/coach and player in the locker room.
Trevor Bauer's tweet about this is just about perfect: "Dear hitters: If you hit a 3-0 homer off me, I will not consider it a crime.
Dear people who are still mad about a hitter hitting: kindly get out of the game.
Can’t believe we’re still talking about 3-0 swings. If you don’t like it, managers or pitchers, just be better."
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La Russa should be embarrassed for not having his player's back. Even if he disagreed with him, you still back your player publicly and then take him to task privately. TLR not only called out Mercedes to the media, even calling him clueless, but then basically said he had no problem with the Twins throwing at him in retaliation last night. Maybe he is so old now that he has gone senile, but he should know better than this, even with his old man mentality of sticking by the sport's outdated unwritten rules.
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La Russa should be embarrassed for not having his player's back. Even if he disagreed with him, you still back your player publicly and then take him to task privately. TLR not only called out Mercedes to the media, even calling him clueless, but then basically said he had no problem with the Twins throwing at him in retaliation last night. Maybe he is so old now that he has gone senile, but he should know better than this, even with his old man mentality of sticking by the sport's outdated unwritten rules.
Makes sense. LaRussa is the poster boy for "old school" and the "unwritten rules," and one of those rules is that the manager/coach shouldn't call out the player in the media and handle it "in house."
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I only just heard about this Mercedes/LaRussa thing this morning, so I'm not sure what Kev means about LaRussa being embarrassed. And yes, missing a take sign is a problem that should be addressed between manager/coach and player in the locker room.
Trevor Bauer's tweet about this is just about perfect: "Dear hitters: If you hit a 3-0 homer off me, I will not consider it a crime.
Dear people who are still mad about a hitter hitting: kindly get out of the game.
Can’t believe we’re still talking about 3-0 swings. If you don’t like it, managers or pitchers, just be better."
Agreed!
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6 no hitters already this season.
Not sure it’s better pitching as much as it is poor hitting.
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6 no hitters already this season.
Not sure it’s better pitching as much as it is poor hitting.
Oh, no, no...it's far better to hit .210 by trying to hit over the seven fielders on the right side than to hit .310 by hitting it to the left side for a guaranteed double. I'm still waiting for a pitcher to lose his shit when he gives up a hit and/or run because of a ball hit around the shift. Clayton Kershaw has had a couple hits against him for that reason, and you can see the look of disgust on his face.
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There’s an article on ESPN about this. There’s no mystery. Most pitchers today have nigh-unhittable stuff.
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There’s an article on ESPN about this. There’s no mystery. Most pitchers today have nigh-unhittable stuff.
Except for the pitcher the Giants faced today. 19 runs.... :metal :hefdaddy
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Dodgers with the weekend sweep of the Giants!!! The only down side is that the stadium wasn't full of Giants fans who would get to suck it hard.
Good news: Dodger Stadium at full capacity starting June 15!!! I gotta get a game in before then so I can enjoy one of my favorite places at Angels level capacity.
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Dodgers with the weekend sweep of the Giants!!! The only down side is that the stadium wasn't full of Giants fans who would get to suck it hard.
Good news: Dodger Stadium at full capacity starting June 15!!! I gotta get a game in before then so I can enjoy one of my favorite places at Angels level capacity.
Yeah, I was disappointed. The Giants left Cincinnati and immediately forgot how to play baseball. Hopefully they can put up more of a fight in Dodger Stadium.
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Here is one of the more brain dead plays you’ll ever see....
https://youtu.be/s60hHhEDtbw
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WOW! That first baseman was clueless.
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Here is one of the more brain dead plays you’ll ever see....
https://youtu.be/s60hHhEDtbw
Oh...no...no...that makes me want to cry. What the heck was that idiot thinking?! Just step on the fucking bag!
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Here is one of the more brain dead plays you’ll ever see....
https://youtu.be/s60hHhEDtbw
Oh...no...no...that makes me want to cry. What the heck was that idiot thinking?! Just step on the fucking bag!
I still can't believe that worked. 0 IQ play right there.
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Here is one of the more brain dead plays you’ll ever see....
https://youtu.be/s60hHhEDtbw
Oh...no...no...that makes me want to cry. What the heck was that idiot thinking?! Just step on the fucking bag!
I still can't believe that worked. 0 IQ play right there.
Right?! How was every other Pirate not screaming, "STEP ON THE FUCKING BAG!!!" I heard clips from the manager's press conference this morning on Dan Patrick's show, and the did the trite, "that's on me," but he also, at one point, added, "well...the bag's been in the same place for 104 years, so...."
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Even worse, there were two outs. :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Turn around and step on the bag. Inning over. Wow. :lol :lol :lol :lol
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Lawsuit filed yesterday by a non-profit business organization regarding MLB's decision to move the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta because of the Georgia election law: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/app/uploads/2021/05/Complaint.filed-1.pdf
Dumb decision by MLB, but I predict this lawsuit will be dismissed on multiple grounds, including lack of standing, before the 4th of July.
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Lawsuit filed yesterday by a non-profit business organization regarding MLB's decision to move the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta because of the Georgia election law: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/app/uploads/2021/05/Complaint.filed-1.pdf
Dumb decision by MLB, but I predict this lawsuit will be dismissed on multiple grounds, including lack of standing, before the 4th of July.
It would be a nice victory against cancel culture but as you say it probably won't happen.
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Giants have the best record in baseball? I gotta dust off the hat man...
:GiantsMetal:
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Giants have the best record in baseball? I gotta dust off the hat man...
:GiantsMetal:
And they had another shutout today! :GiantsMetal:
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Lawsuit filed yesterday by a non-profit business organization regarding MLB's decision to move the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta because of the Georgia election law: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/app/uploads/2021/05/Complaint.filed-1.pdf
Dumb decision by MLB, but I predict this lawsuit will be dismissed on multiple grounds, including lack of standing, before the 4th of July.
And...well ahead of schedule, it was dismissed for lack of standing: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/06/10/judge-denies-request-to-force-mlb-all-star-game-back-to-atlanta/?sh=47ac7a115d8e
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On another subject, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the Dodgers played the Pirates in Pittsburgh. On Thursday, the Dodgers were ahead 5-3 going into the 8th inning. In the top of the 8th, the Dodgers scored one run to make it a 6-3 game, and which point the game went into a rain delay. Eventually, they called the game because of rain.
Now...here's the odd thing. All official accounts of the game that I have seen indicate that the game ended with a 6-3 score "Final/8." But why? I always understood the rule to be that, if a game that has become official is called before the completion of nine innings, the score reverts to what it was at the end of the last completed inning. In this case, that would mean the final score would be 5-3 "Final/7." It's a Dodger win regardless, but what's the deal? Anyone have any insight into the rule so I don't have to look it up?
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6'8" pitcher who throws 100mph complaining he's not allowed to cheat anymore - against a rule that's been in place since 1920 :lol.
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6'8" pitcher who throws 100mph complaining he's not allowed to cheat anymore - against a rule that's been in place since 1920 :lol.
I haven't paid a lot of attention to this issue, and I don't know to whom you're referring, but I wonder if one of the issues is the change in enforcement policy in the middle of a season, as opposed to doing it during the offseason such that pitchers can use spring training to adjust. It'd be like cops all of a sudden strictly enforcing speed limits when virtually no one has been issued a ticket for 5mph over (or, on California freeways, 10mph over) in decades.
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Tyler Glasgow.
A bunch of retired pitchers are on record saying his statements are bunk.
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I just did a quick google search, and it looks like Glasnow was mostly concerned about changing enforcement in the middle of a season. I don't think that's an illegitimate complaint. But, again, I haven't paid a ton of attention to this issue.
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But apparently MLB and the Union have been talking about it since last year. As usual, baseball doesn't do anything until they get called out, this time by SI. But what are they supposed to do, wait until next year?
Fuck Tyler Glasnow.
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Nothing like a clean sweep of the Yankees! First place baby.
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Nothing like a clean sweep of the Yankees! First place baby.
:metal :metal
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The Yankees getting swept is always a good thing. And on the other coast, the league leading Giants take 2/3 from their very tough cross Bay rivals.
:GiantsMetal:
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The Yankees getting swept is always a good thing. And on the other coast, the league leading Giants take 2/3 from their very tough cross Bay rivals.
You take the good; you take the bad....
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As far back as I can remember, into the 1970s, the Red Sox have always had trouble with Kansas City whether KC was good or terrible. I don’t get it.
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KC was my childhood favorite team. George Brett is my favorite player.
I was actually born in KC.
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Dodgers swept the Giants! Only a 2-game series, but any sweep of the Giants is so damn satisfying.
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The Cubs/Brewers game today is nuts.
Cubs scored 7 in the top of the first and the Brewers have since scored 14……it’s only the end of the fourth.
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The Cubs/Brewers game today is nuts.
Cubs scored 7 in the top of the first and the Brewers have since scored 14……it’s only the end of the fourth.
I see the Cubs now have Eric Sogard on the mound. That should be fun.
Also, remember when Jake Arrieta was one of the best pitchers in the game?
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Ohtani with #31! What a story. Him being in HR Derby in Coors Field should be epic.
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Ohtani with #31! What a story. Him being in HR Derby in Coors Field should be epic.
He's scheduled to pitch against the Sox on Tuesday! Looking forward to the upcoming series.
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When did John Lester join the Nationals?
And is he still afraid to throw to first base?
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Jackie Bradley Jr. :metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdM3T_KiVY0
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Jackie Bradley Jr. :metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdM3T_KiVY0
It’s pretty much the only good thing he’s done this season for the Brewers.
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Jackie Bradley Jr. :metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdM3T_KiVY0
It’s pretty much the only good thing he’s done this season for the Brewers.
That's the second example of horrific fundamentals by the Pirates that I've seen this year.
Also, that video was at least a minute longer than it needed to be. Is this the same clown who attributed that moronic play by the Pirates' first baseman to "1,000,000 IQ" by Javy Baez"?
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Really enjoyed this allstar game. Buck and Smoltz did a nice job, and wow the young stars in this game . . .
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Really enjoyed this allstar game. Buck and Smoltz did a nice job, and wow the young stars in this game . . .
I never miss the baseball all star game if I can help it. I'm pissed I missed the introductions. I didn't tune in until 8:00 and they were over.
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Really enjoyed this allstar game. Buck and Smoltz did a nice job, and wow the young stars in this game . . .
I never miss the baseball all star game if I can help it. I'm pissed I missed the introductions. I didn't tune in until 8:00 and they were over.
I always watch too. Unfortunately, it usually has started before I get home from work (although, when my son was younger, I'd leave the office early to get home to watch with him). I left a little early yesterday and got home sometime shortly before Guerrero's homer. I need to remember to DVR it so that I get the introductions.
The game yesterday was a bit meh, but it was nice that only three of the seven runs scored because of homers. The worst part were the uniforms. WTF?! One of the coolest parts of the ASG was seeing a guy in a Reds uniform lined up next to a guy in a Dodgers uniform or seeing Willie Randolph fielding a ball at second and throwing to Carl Yastrzemski to get the out at first -- ALL IN THEIR OWN UNIFORMS. Save the beer league softball uniforms for the HR Derby!
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Yeah, the uniforms were a travesty! From what I can tell no one liked them. Makes you wonder what MLB was thinking with that one... :facepalm:
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Yeah, the uniforms were a travesty! From what I can tell no one liked them. Makes you wonder what MLB was thinking with that one... :facepalm:
It was a classic case of "over-thinking".
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Kinda like the 2019 "Players' Weekend" uniforms.
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How the hell is the Sox/Yankees game postponed tonight yet the Sox played Philly on this past Sunday with 4 Philly players testing positive with covid.
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Classy move!
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31830562/shohei-ohtani-donated-home-run-derby-earnings-los-angeles-angels-staff-members
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Classy move!
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31830562/shohei-ohtani-donated-home-run-derby-earnings-los-angeles-angels-staff-members
I agree, but my first thought was to wonder whether he handed out 30 $5,000 checks or, since he's going to pay about 50% in income tax on that money, or 30 $2,500 checks.
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Anyone watching just now with what happened between Verdugo and the fans in right field at Yankee Stadium? What a classless bunch of assholes, big surprise.Alex has always treated them well and engaged with them in a fun way.
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If only Fernando Tatis Jr. had an ounce of hustle he could be one of the greats. So much talent, too much ego and narcissism. Seriously, why the hell would you stand in the batters box and watch a line drive, which then bounces off the wall and could have easily been a double for anyone not named Bengie Molina. The outfielder wasn't even hurrying to get the ball and throw it back in..... RUN YOU MORON!! He's also the worst fielding shortstop I have ever seen. Makes poor decisions routinely. Just very low baseball IQ.
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If only Fernando Tatis Jr. had an ounce of hustle he could be one of the greats. So much talent, too much ego and narcissism. Seriously, why the hell would you stand in the batters box and watch a line drive, which then bounces off the wall and could have easily been a double for anyone not named Bengie Molina. The outfielder wasn't even hurrying to get the ball and throw it back in..... RUN YOU MORON!! He's also the worst fielding shortstop I have ever seen. Makes poor decisions routinely. Just very low baseball IQ.
I don't know...I've seen an awful lot of Tatis this season that contradicts what you're saying. Unfortunately, admiring your hit and not running is a bit of an epidemic these days. Justin Turner had one of those a week or so before the ASG. I've seen a few others this season, and it drives me batty too.
Anyone watching just now with what happened between Verdugo and the fans in right field at Yankee Stadium? What a classless bunch of assholes, big surprise.Alex has always treated them well and engaged with them in a fun way.
Jim Gaffigan has a joke about Philly through Boston being a "corridor of hate." I don't know what it is, but there's always someone in those cities willing to be an asshole, and the populous always defends them ("oh, that's just how they are in Philly" to Yankee fans turning Jeffrey Maier into a hero). The worst part is that there won't be any way to identify the guy who did this.
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The worst part is that there won't be any way to identify the guy who did this.
Happily, I was wrong about this. The guy has been identified (although apparently not publicly) and has been banned for life from all MLB stadiums. Not sure how that gets enforced, but that's what should happen.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/07/18/fan-banned-for-life-threw-baseball-alex-verdugo-yankees-red-sox
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The Cleveland...Guardians?
(https://content.sportslogos.net/news/2021/07/cleveland-guardians-logos-new-indians-2022-mlb-baseball-logos-uniforms-sportslogosnet-750x944.png)
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I like the script logo, as it incorporates the former nickname ending. Spiders might have been preferable, but we'll get used to it. Better than the 'Burning Lakes' ;)
Hey, they even got Tom Hanks to narrate the introduction.
Better than the WTFs in DC, who are waiting til NEXT year to get off their arses for long overdue change, or they had to spend so much time defending themselves with their sexual harrassment investigation and cover up.
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That's there new name. The Washington Coverups. Nixon is their mascot.
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The Cleveland...Guardians?
Sigh... I hate that they're changing this honorific name.
For anyone who doesn't know, for the last dozen years of the 19th Century, Cleveland had a team in the National League (originally in the American Association before jumping ship to the NL) called the Spiders. One of the Spiders' more popular players was Louis Sockalexis, who was a member of the Penobscot Tribe. Sockalexis is typically identified as the first "native American" MLB player, and the Spiders were occasionally referred to as the "Indians" because of Sockalexis. The Spiders disbanded at the end of the Century and were replaced in Cleveland by the Grand Rapids Hustlers, who were renamed the Cleveland Lake Shores. The team quickly moved through multiple name changes (including Bluebirds and Blues) and eventually settled on the Cleveland Napoleons (or Naps) after their captain and star player, Nap Lajoie. In the mid-1910s, Lajoie left, so the team changed its name. The owner gave local baseball writers the task of coming up with the new name, and they chose Cleveland Indians, in honor of Sockalexis.
Over the years, the Indians had what most would characterize as offensive logos, but the Indians also signed and played the American League's first black player, Larry Doby (a guy who, while having been inducted into the HOF, is woefully overlooked simply because he came only about 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson).
Guardians? Meh...about the most I can say about it is that, at least it's not a dumbass singular name like Heat or Kraken, and it certainly is better than "Cleveland Baseball Team." I do, however, like that they're basically keeping all of the same logos.
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I'm actually fine with the new name.
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Ha ha ha Yankees sssuuuuucckk.
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As a Cleveland fan, I felt the name change was overdue, and Chief Wahoo should have bitten the dust a long time ago. Guardians was the best of an underwhelming bunch, but even as a Cleveland native, I couldn't think of anything better. The baseball logo is worse than Hugh Syme's half-assed stock image DT album covers. Mostly, I just want the Dolans to sell the team to someone willing to spend money to keep the talent around so they aren't serving as a AAAA farm team for the big money clubs. Even though Cleveland is a football town first, the fans will show up if they know the team is trying to compete and retain their star players. The 90s are a perfect example of that.
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The Tigers beat the Twins yesterday. Miguel Cabrera kicked a field goal as time expired for a 17-14 win.
But seriously, the Tigers scored their 17 runs on 16 hits, not a single one of which was a home run.
Even more remarkably, the Twins hit SEVEN home runs and still lost. Apparently, this was the fourth time since 1901 that a team hit seven homers in a 9-inning game and lost AND the FIRST TIME EVER that a team outhomered its opponent by seven and lost (and, conversely, the first time that a team was outhomered by seven and won).
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Looks like the Dodgers have acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for a bunch of prospects. There's a catcher, who is supposedly a top 20 prospect in MLB, but we've been hearing about him for at least a couple years. He's 23, and our current starter is 26, so the kid likely wouldn't ever have gotten much of a shot. There's also a pitcher, who got called up and pitched a couple games over the last week and didn't look at all ready for the bigs.
The Dodgers have been without 60% of their opening day starting rotation for a good chunk of the year (Dustin May had TJ surgery, Clayton Kershaw has had his near annual back spasms, and then there's Trevor Bauer). After not playing in 2020, David Price seems no longer to be able to handle starting games, and we've been having bullpen games twice out of every pass through the rotation, which has screwed up the bullpen something fierce.
Trea Turner wasn't a need, but he's a helluva throw in guy given that he's got one more year under contract. I'm now extra geeked for the last two months of the season.
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Looks like the Dodgers have acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for a bunch of prospects. There's a catcher, who is supposedly a top 20 prospect in MLB, but we've been hearing about him for at least a couple years. He's 23, and our current starter is 26, so the kid likely wouldn't ever have gotten much of a shot. There's also a pitcher, who got called up and pitched a couple games over the last week and didn't look at all ready for the bigs.
The Dodgers have been without 60% of their opening day starting rotation for a good chunk of the year (Dustin May had TJ surgery, Clayton Kershaw has had his near annual back spasms, and then there's Trevor Bauer). After not playing in 2020, David Price seems no longer to be able to handle starting games, and we've been having bullpen games twice out of every pass through the rotation, which has screwed up the bullpen something fierce.
Trea Turner wasn't a need, but he's a helluva throw in guy given that he's got one more year under contract. I'm now extra geeked for the last two months of the season.
LFG!!! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
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Done with baseball for the year. The Cubs are, at best, a Triple A team now. Traded the entire bullpen and all of their best players. Not going to waste 3 hours a day watching that mess.
And I just got the new Marquee network this year and they go and do this.
I feel like a kid again with this team, and that's not a compliment.
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I'm so confused with the Cubs trading all of their stars away. I haven't followed them closely for a few years, but all i've read is Ricketts saying that they lost too much money last year because of COVID. So that's the reason for getting rid of every single expensive player?
So heartbreaking to see those guys get traded away after such a magical 2016 season. It felt like Bryant, Rizzo and Baez would be Cubs forever.
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Yeah...I saw the Rizzo trade yesterday, and then both Baez and Bryant today. Yikes!
I also just saw that, from the 1870s through 1930s, the Cubs never had a losing record for the decade. Then, from the 1940s through the 2000s, they never had a losing record for a decade (although they only a few games under .500 in the 2000s). The 2010s were the Cubs' first winning decade since the 1930s (and that's despite having a losing record every season from 2010-14).
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Looks like the Dodgers have acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for a bunch of prospects. There's a catcher, who is supposedly a top 20 prospect in MLB, but we've been hearing about him for at least a couple years. He's 23, and our current starter is 26, so the kid likely wouldn't ever have gotten much of a shot. There's also a pitcher, who got called up and pitched a couple games over the last week and didn't look at all ready for the bigs.
The Dodgers have been without 60% of their opening day starting rotation for a good chunk of the year (Dustin May had TJ surgery, Clayton Kershaw has had his near annual back spasms, and then there's Trevor Bauer). After not playing in 2020, David Price seems no longer to be able to handle starting games, and we've been having bullpen games twice out of every pass through the rotation, which has screwed up the bullpen something fierce.
Trea Turner wasn't a need, but he's a helluva throw in guy given that he's got one more year under contract. I'm now extra geeked for the last two months of the season.
Scherzer and Turner is a hell of a haul for the Dodgers. Be interesting to see how close the Giants and Dodgers are at the end of the year. I like the Kris Bryant trade a lot, although I was hoping the Giants would pick up another reliable reliever or 2. I could see the him permanently in left field once Longoria and Belt are back from the IL. Dickerson has been a fun experiment, but he just can't seem to sustain any consistency. Glad they finally DFA'd Tauchman. Outside of the 2 game saving catches he made, he was worthless. Which is too bad, since he looked like he could have been a great addition initially.
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Looks like the Dodgers have acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for a bunch of prospects. There's a catcher, who is supposedly a top 20 prospect in MLB, but we've been hearing about him for at least a couple years. He's 23, and our current starter is 26, so the kid likely wouldn't ever have gotten much of a shot. There's also a pitcher, who got called up and pitched a couple games over the last week and didn't look at all ready for the bigs.
The Dodgers have been without 60% of their opening day starting rotation for a good chunk of the year (Dustin May had TJ surgery, Clayton Kershaw has had his near annual back spasms, and then there's Trevor Bauer). After not playing in 2020, David Price seems no longer to be able to handle starting games, and we've been having bullpen games twice out of every pass through the rotation, which has screwed up the bullpen something fierce.
Trea Turner wasn't a need, but he's a helluva throw in guy given that he's got one more year under contract. I'm now extra geeked for the last two months of the season.
Scherzer and Turner is a hell of a haul for the Dodgers. Be interesting to see how close the Giants and Dodgers are at the end of the year. I like the Kris Bryant trade a lot, although I was hoping the Giants would pick up another reliable reliever or 2. I could see the him permanently in left field once Longoria and Belt are back from the IL. Dickerson has been a fun experiment, but he just can't seem to sustain any consistency. Glad they finally DFA'd Tauchman. Outside of the 2 game saving catches he made, he was worthless. Which is too bad, since he looked like he could have been a great addition initially.
I didn't see whom the Giants gave up for Bryant, but I did look at his numbers and was surprised at how unimpressive they've been since his MVP season. The west is just brutal this year and, needless to say, I don't feel good about how the Dodgers have performed against SF and SD. I guess time will tell once everyone starts getting healthy.
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Looks like the Dodgers have acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for a bunch of prospects. There's a catcher, who is supposedly a top 20 prospect in MLB, but we've been hearing about him for at least a couple years. He's 23, and our current starter is 26, so the kid likely wouldn't ever have gotten much of a shot. There's also a pitcher, who got called up and pitched a couple games over the last week and didn't look at all ready for the bigs.
The Dodgers have been without 60% of their opening day starting rotation for a good chunk of the year (Dustin May had TJ surgery, Clayton Kershaw has had his near annual back spasms, and then there's Trevor Bauer). After not playing in 2020, David Price seems no longer to be able to handle starting games, and we've been having bullpen games twice out of every pass through the rotation, which has screwed up the bullpen something fierce.
Trea Turner wasn't a need, but he's a helluva throw in guy given that he's got one more year under contract. I'm now extra geeked for the last two months of the season.
Scherzer and Turner is a hell of a haul for the Dodgers. Be interesting to see how close the Giants and Dodgers are at the end of the year. I like the Kris Bryant trade a lot, although I was hoping the Giants would pick up another reliable reliever or 2. I could see the him permanently in left field once Longoria and Belt are back from the IL. Dickerson has been a fun experiment, but he just can't seem to sustain any consistency. Glad they finally DFA'd Tauchman. Outside of the 2 game saving catches he made, he was worthless. Which is too bad, since he looked like he could have been a great addition initially.
I didn't see whom the Giants gave up for Bryant, but I did look at his numbers and was surprised at how unimpressive they've been since his MVP season. The west is just brutal this year and, needless to say, I don't feel good about how the Dodgers have performed against SF and SD. I guess time will tell once everyone starts getting healthy.
They traded Alexander Canario (their #9 prospect) and Caleb Kilian (their #30 prospect), so not a huge ask. However, it's basically just a rental, since his contract is up after this season. I don't see him resigning with the Giants either. We'll see.
But yeah, his numbers have been down since his MVP year, but the Giants hitting coaches have worked miracles with the team so far this year, so perhaps they could tweak something with Bryant to get his number back up to MVP caliber.
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Can’t lie, love the Cubs sending everyone off.
Go Brewers!
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https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/07/31/jed-hoyer-explains-the-decision-to-trade-all-three-of-bryant-rizzo-and-baez/
Great explanation from Jed Hoyer about why the Cubs traded three of their best players. I can understand his reasoning - sentimental emotions towards players isn't always the right thing for a team to do. Doesn't mean I am not sad about it though.
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So as a Mariners follower (purely regional, I cannot call myself a fan), we are not going all in this year, yet we haven't explicitly been told to "wait" as we have been for so many years. Our playoff drought is now old enough to purchase alcohol. How is there any baseball fan alive older than 20 who considers themselves a fan of this franchise?
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Well the Astros @ Dodgers for the first time with fans last night went as expected. :lol
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31954914/los-angeles-fans-give-houston-astros-not-warm-welcome-dodger-stadium
I've seen posts that it got real ugly in the stands.
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Well the Astros @ Dodgers for the first time with fans last night went as expected. :lol
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31954914/los-angeles-fans-give-houston-astros-not-warm-welcome-dodger-stadium
I've seen posts that it got real ugly in the stands.
Wouldn't surprise me. On one hand, that's bullshit. On the other hand, if you showed up to that game in Astros gear, you were basically asking for it. When looking at games to attend, I completely avoided this series (although that was easy since it's a Tuesday/Wednesday series). I also typically avoid games against the Giants.
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Giants come from behind late to win again. These guys are straight up gold plated lately.
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Giants come from behind late to win again. These guys are straight up gold plated lately.
It's been an amazing season!
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Giants come from behind late to win again. These guys are straight up gold plated lately.
It helped the Brewers pen is decimated by Covid right now and the Brewers gave away game two with a horrific defensive play.
I look forward to seeing both teams full strength in the playoffs.
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It just seems like every time I tune in, they're pulling this type of stuff off. I got a Dodgers fan at work who actively avoids me now after that last series :lol
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The Sox made quite a move at the Trade Deadline this year. They traded their season away for future considerations.
WTF??
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The Sox made quite a move at the Trade Deadline this year. They traded their season away for future considerations.
WTF??
Cubs did the same thing. Although I'm not complaining since we got Kris Bryant out of it!
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The Sox made quite a move at the Trade Deadline this year. They traded their season away for future considerations.
WTF??
Cubs did the same thing. Although I'm not complaining since we got Kris Bryant out of it!
The difference is that the Sox had the best record in the AL at the Trade Deadline. :censored
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Speaking of the Sox, how nice was that today that they kept walking the #9 hitter so that Vlad and Springer could beat them with homers? Stupid and infuriating.
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Wow Matt Barnes is a clown show.
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Yeah. Ouch.
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Well...the Orioles managed to avoid their 33-year old AL record losing streak by beating Anaheim yesterday. Notwithstanding, that is a BAD team.
Dodgers and Padres played the longest extra inning game in the Mandfred runner era. I stopped watching around 10:45 p.m. after the top of the 12th when it was still 1-1. Turned on MLB Network this morning and saw that the game ended with the Dodgers winning 5-3 after 16 freaking innings. Dodgers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 15th, but the Padres tied it in the bottom of the inning, and the Dodgers got a 16th inning dinger from the red hot AJ Pollock to win it. Fortunately for both teams, both starters went deep into the game (not surprising for a game that was 1-1 after nine innings.
The race in the NL West is CRAZY. The Dodgers record in August is 17-4, but they've only managed to pick up a half game on the Giants who are 17-5 in August. The Labor Day weekend series in SF is going to be HUGE.
Meanwhile, the Padres have been so bad (they've lost 11 of their last 13) that the Reds have passed them for the second NL wild card.
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Thanks to an antiquated rule that they refuse to change, a Red Sox starter had another win vultured away from him by a shit bullpen performance. Houck allows 0 runs in 5 innings, Ottavino gives up 3 in the 9th but gets credit for a “win” anyway. Stupid stupid rule. Give Houck the win and Ottavino a blown save.
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Thanks to an antiquated rule that they refuse to change, a Red Sox starter had another win vultured away from him by a shit bullpen performance. Houck allows 0 runs in 5 innings, Ottavino gives up 3 in the 9th but gets credit for a “win” anyway. Stupid stupid rule. Give Houck the win and Ottavino a blown save.
That would make zero sense. Boston won the game in the bottom of the 9th, therefore the last pitcher to pitch for them gets the win. That is just logical. Yeah, it's goofy that it's also the pitcher who blew the save, but it's the way it is, and the way it should be. You can't give the win to a pitcher who hadn't been in the game in four innings when the game was then tied in the 9th. :lol :lol
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Also, wins for a pitcher is one of the dumbest stats in baseball.
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Thanks to an antiquated rule that they refuse to change, a Red Sox starter had another win vultured away from him by a shit bullpen performance. Houck allows 0 runs in 5 innings, Ottavino gives up 3 in the 9th but gets credit for a “win” anyway. Stupid stupid rule. Give Houck the win and Ottavino a blown save.
That would make zero sense. Boston won the game in the bottom of the 9th, therefore the last pitcher to pitch for them gets the win. That is just logical. Yeah, it's goofy that it's also the pitcher who blew the save, but it's the way it is, and the way it should be. You can't give the win to a pitcher who hadn't been in the game in four innings when the game was then tied in the 9th. :lol :lol
It’s an antiquated rule, it no longer applies. They change rules in football all the time. Give the win to the pitcher that pitched most effectively. Simple. And relievers don’t care about wins anyway.
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Thanks to an antiquated rule that they refuse to change, a Red Sox starter had another win vultured away from him by a shit bullpen performance. Houck allows 0 runs in 5 innings, Ottavino gives up 3 in the 9th but gets credit for a “win” anyway. Stupid stupid rule. Give Houck the win and Ottavino a blown save.
That would make zero sense. Boston won the game in the bottom of the 9th, therefore the last pitcher to pitch for them gets the win. That is just logical. Yeah, it's goofy that it's also the pitcher who blew the save, but it's the way it is, and the way it should be. You can't give the win to a pitcher who hadn't been in the game in four innings when the game was then tied in the 9th. :lol :lol
It’s an antiquated rule, it no longer applies. They change rules in football all the time. Give the win to the pitcher that pitched most effectively. Simple. And relievers don’t care about wins anyway.
But it's a rule that makes sense and should not be changed.
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Thanks to an antiquated rule that they refuse to change, a Red Sox starter had another win vultured away from him by a shit bullpen performance. Houck allows 0 runs in 5 innings, Ottavino gives up 3 in the 9th but gets credit for a “win” anyway. Stupid stupid rule. Give Houck the win and Ottavino a blown save.
That would make zero sense. Boston won the game in the bottom of the 9th, therefore the last pitcher to pitch for them gets the win. That is just logical. Yeah, it's goofy that it's also the pitcher who blew the save, but it's the way it is, and the way it should be. You can't give the win to a pitcher who hadn't been in the game in four innings when the game was then tied in the 9th. :lol :lol
I agree with the highlighted, but I don't agree that it's logical to give it to the guy who nearly yacked the game and just happened to be the "pitcher of record." A better way to handle it would be to give no win or a "team win." There is some precedent for the "team win" since they allow for "combined no hitters," and it's a more sensible thing to do in a "bullpen game" than to have the official scorer simply pick from one of the eight guys who pitched.
Also, wins for a pitcher is one of the dumbest stats in baseball.
It was a lot more meaningful when starters routinely went 7+ innings. What is silly is the rule that says a starter has to pitch at least 5 innings to get a win, but a reliever in a "bullpen game" can get a win by pitching only 1.2 innings.
On another subject, where does every come down on Alex Rodriguez as a commentator? I think he is absolutely awful and, even worse, he makes those around him worse. When ESPN had the 3-person booth with Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone as commentators (and I think John Schiambi as the PBP guy), they were SO GOOD -- in particular, I thought Mendoza was one of the best new announcers I'd heard in a long time. Then Boone left to take the Yankees' job and they stuck Rodriguez in his spot, and he turned Mendoza into a blithering idiot. If last night's game hadn't been an important game for the Dodgers, I almost certainly would have turned the game off.
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On another subject, where does every come down on Alex Rodriguez as a commentator? I think he is absolutely awful and, even worse, he makes those around him worse. When ESPN had the 3-person booth with Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone as commentators (and I think John Schiambi as the PBP guy), they were SO GOOD -- in particular, I thought Mendoza was one of the best new announcers I'd heard in a long time. Then Boone left to take the Yankees' job and they stuck Rodriguez in his spot, and he turned Mendoza into a blithering idiot. If last night's game hadn't been an important game for the Dodgers, I almost certainly would have turned the game off.
I agree Alex Rodriguez is awful in the broadcast booth, but wasn't the ESPN broadcast last night Matt Vasgersian, Eric Karros, and Buster Olney? I admit I like Matty V, but Eric Karros is also a blithering idiot. Or was that Alex in the booth with Matt last night and I'm just purging that from memory?
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On another subject, where does every come down on Alex Rodriguez as a commentator? I think he is absolutely awful and, even worse, he makes those around him worse. When ESPN had the 3-person booth with Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone as commentators (and I think John Schiambi as the PBP guy), they were SO GOOD -- in particular, I thought Mendoza was one of the best new announcers I'd heard in a long time. Then Boone left to take the Yankees' job and they stuck Rodriguez in his spot, and he turned Mendoza into a blithering idiot. If last night's game hadn't been an important game for the Dodgers, I almost certainly would have turned the game off.
I agree Alex Rodriguez is awful in the broadcast booth, but wasn't the ESPN broadcast last night Matt Vasgersian, Eric Karros, and Buster Olney? I admit I like Matty V, but Eric Karros is also a blithering idiot. Or was that Alex in the booth with Matt last night and I'm just purging that from memory?
It was Rodriguez (and that was the impetus for my post). Karros works Fox games.
The one thing that I thought was particularly absurd was when they were running down how many potential Hall of Famers were playing in the game (Pujols, Scherzer, Kershaw, etc.). I'm not sure if it was Rodriguez or Olney, but someone tried to make a case for Brandon Crawford as a potential HOF'er. LOL...WHAT??
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I think the better question is WHO?? The Giants shortstop who has had one season hitting over .280, that year being this year? Career avg. of .253 and career SLG of .402? That guy? Hilarious!!!!
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I think the better question is WHO?? The Giants shortstop who has had one season hitting over .280, that year being this year? Career avg. of .253 and career SLG of .402? That guy? Hilarious!!!!
EXACTLY! When they were saying it, I scoffed derisively and then I looked him up on Baseball Reference this morning, and it's worse than I thought. Career OPS of .722. I'm not into advanced stats, but I understand OPS+ to be one of those stats where 100 is MLB average, and Crawford has a career OPS+ of 98 (i.e., below average). Dude's numbers in the playoffs are even worse than his regular season numbers. There's a stat called cWPA that appears to be a measure of how much a player improved his team's chance of winning a championship, and Crawford's number is NEGATIVE.
On the positive side, the dude is a total Enos Cabell (i.e., he always seems to play like a HOF'er against the Dodgers despite otherwise being completely average), and he's won three Gold Gloves.
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I think the better question is WHO?? The Giants shortstop who has had one season hitting over .280, that year being this year? Career avg. of .253 and career SLG of .402? That guy? Hilarious!!!!
EXACTLY! When they were saying it, I scoffed derisively and then I looked him up on Baseball Reference this morning, and it's worse than I thought. Career OPS of .722. I'm not into advanced stats, but I understand OPS+ to be one of those stats where 100 is MLB average, and Crawford has a career OPS+ of 98 (i.e., below average). Dude's numbers in the playoffs are even worse than his regular season numbers. There's a stat called cWPA that appears to be a measure of how much a player improved his team's chance of winning a championship, and Crawford's number is NEGATIVE.
On the positive side, the dude is a total Enos Cabell (i.e., he always seems to play like a HOF'er against the Dodgers despite otherwise being completely average), and he's won three Gold Gloves.
He's definitely one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, but a Hall of Famer, no. I think the point they were making was a potential to be voted in by the veterans committee, which I've seen crazier things from them...
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And speaking of the Giants. 2 days in a row they've completely dominated the Rockies, in Denver.
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He's definitely one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, but a Hall of Famer, no. I think the point they were making was a potential to be voted in by the veterans committee, which I've seen crazier things from them...
Is he? As I've said many times, I'm not into advanced stats, but I'm not otherwise sure how to quantify defense. For 6 of his 11 years, Crawford had a dWAR between 1.1-3.4, and he won Gold Gloves three years in a row. For other 5 years, however, his dWAR ranged between -0.4 and 0.9. If I understand the intent behind WAR correctly, that means that, for half his career, his defense was essentially meaningless in terms of the team's win total.
Honestly, the best argument for any average middle infielder is that Phil Rizzuto is in the HOF. If Rizzuto belongs, then pretty much everyone who ever played shortstop should get in.
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Phil Rizzuto is in the HOF because of WHERE he played, not HOW he played. If he played for the White Sox or the Athletics back then, he'd be a nobody.
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Phil Rizzuto is in the HOF because of WHERE he played, not HOW he played. If he played for the White Sox or the Athletics back then, he'd be a nobody.
I know that, but every time they let scrubs like Rizzuto and Mussina in, it opens the door for a "well...if ___ is in, why not ___?"
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Phil Rizzuto is in the HOF because of WHERE he played, not HOW he played. If he played for the White Sox or the Athletics back then, he'd be a nobody.
I know that, but every time they let scrubs like Rizzuto and Mussina in, it opens the door for a "well...if ___ is in, why not ___?"
This is where Stadler comes in with his "Hall of the Very Good". ;)
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"Hall of the Very Good". ;)
I've been using that term for a LONG time. IIRC, I got it from Jim Rome when I listened to him back in the mid- to late '90s.
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Brewers with their first no-hitter (albeit combined) since 1987.
This years Brewers team is the best I’ve ever seen, even better than the 1982 WS team. It would be so sweet to follow the Bucks championship with a Brewers one.
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Max Scherzer had a pretty good day yesterday.
"Immaculate inning" in the second.
3,000th strikeout a couple innings later.
Perfect game for 7.1 innings. Broken up by an Eric Hosmer double -- same guy who was the 3K strikeout victim.
Dodgers sweep the Padres over the weekend and gain no ground because the fucking Cubs SUCK.
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Haven't watched too much baseball in years but DAMN them Blue Jays are on fire lately.
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Max Scherzer had a pretty good day yesterday.
"Immaculate inning" in the second.
3,000th strikeout a couple innings later.
Perfect game for 7.1 innings. Broken up by an Eric Hosmer double -- same guy who was the 3K strikeout victim.
Dodgers sweep the Padres over the weekend and gain no ground because the fucking Cubs SUCK.
The next 3 days look like the Dodgers best chance of making up any ground, playing the D'backs and all....although I'd laugh if the D'backs swept the Dodgers :lol
The Giants aren't going to make it easy though.
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Max Scherzer had a pretty good day yesterday.
"Immaculate inning" in the second.
3,000th strikeout a couple innings later.
Perfect game for 7.1 innings. Broken up by an Eric Hosmer double -- same guy who was the 3K strikeout victim.
Dodgers sweep the Padres over the weekend and gain no ground because the fucking Cubs SUCK.
The next 3 days look like the Dodgers best chance of making up any ground, playing the D'backs and all....although I'd laugh if the D'backs swept the Dodgers :lol
The Giants aren't going to make it easy though.
Let's go Padres....
Sigh....
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Max Scherzer had a pretty good day yesterday.
"Immaculate inning" in the second.
3,000th strikeout a couple innings later.
Perfect game for 7.1 innings. Broken up by an Eric Hosmer double -- same guy who was the 3K strikeout victim.
Dodgers sweep the Padres over the weekend and gain no ground because the fucking Cubs SUCK.
The next 3 days look like the Dodgers best chance of making up any ground, playing the D'backs and all....although I'd laugh if the D'backs swept the Dodgers :lol
The Giants aren't going to make it easy though.
Let's go Padres....
Sigh....
:neverusethis:
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Giants clinch a playoff berth! :metal
Now to take the division! :corn
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My brother was complaining about the Dodgers a couple days ago, and I had to remind him that, at the time, the Dodgers had won 20 of the previous 25 games against teams other than the Giants. Including the three games against the Giants, the Dodgers are now 23-7 in their last 30 games. That's a friggin' .767 clip. Can't do a lot better than that. The Giants are 21-9 over their last 30.
It's insane -- but not good for my blood pressure -- how well both of these teams have been playing over the last couple months.
Also, for the Seattle folks: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32207855/seattle-mariners-host-2023-mlb-all-star-game-sources-say
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My brother was complaining about the Dodgers a couple days ago, and I had to remind him that, at the time, the Dodgers had won 20 of the previous 25 games against teams other than the Giants. Including the three games against the Giants, the Dodgers are now 23-7 in their last 30 games. That's a friggin' .767 clip. Can't do a lot better than that. The Giants are 21-9 over their last 30.
It's insane -- but not good for my blood pressure -- how well both of these teams have been playing over the last couple months.
Also, for the Seattle folks: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32207855/seattle-mariners-host-2023-mlb-all-star-game-sources-say
It's been a fun year for sure watching the Giants and Dodgers. I honestly thought the Padres would stick in the division race longer, but they've been plummeting.
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My brother was complaining about the Dodgers a couple days ago, and I had to remind him that, at the time, the Dodgers had won 20 of the previous 25 games against teams other than the Giants. Including the three games against the Giants, the Dodgers are now 23-7 in their last 30 games. That's a friggin' .767 clip. Can't do a lot better than that. The Giants are 21-9 over their last 30.
It's insane -- but not good for my blood pressure -- how well both of these teams have been playing over the last couple months.
Also, for the Seattle folks: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32207855/seattle-mariners-host-2023-mlb-all-star-game-sources-say
It's been a fun year for sure watching the Giants and Dodgers. I honestly thought the Padres would stick in the division race longer, but they've been plummeting.
Yeah, the Padres have been really disappointing.
I actually watch a ton of these West Coast games when I go to bed.
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My brother was complaining about the Dodgers a couple days ago, and I had to remind him that, at the time, the Dodgers had won 20 of the previous 25 games against teams other than the Giants. Including the three games against the Giants, the Dodgers are now 23-7 in their last 30 games. That's a friggin' .767 clip. Can't do a lot better than that. The Giants are 21-9 over their last 30.
It's insane -- but not good for my blood pressure -- how well both of these teams have been playing over the last couple months.
Also, for the Seattle folks: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32207855/seattle-mariners-host-2023-mlb-all-star-game-sources-say
It's been a fun year for sure watching the Giants and Dodgers. I honestly thought the Padres would stick in the division race longer, but they've been plummeting.
Yeah, the Padres have been really disappointing.
I actually watch a ton of these West Coast games when I go to bed.
Can I convert you to a Giants fan? :biggrin: The Red Sox are also disappointing :corn
Then again, I've endured a lot of disappointing years as a Giants fan. Been watching (and a fan of) the Giants since about 1991 when I was 6 years old.
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The Brewers had a three game series over the previous weekend with Cleveland.
Their starters gave up a total of 4 hits.
Three of those hits in were in one game, in one inning.
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The Padres have gone straight into the dumpster. It makes me chuckle because of all the newly-minted Padre fans thinking there was suddenly going to be some sort of rivalry with the Dodgers (and, to be fair, they spanked the Dodgers in a couple early season series).
Dodgers and Giants have both clinched playoff spots. The Brewers' magic number to win the division is 5, and I don't see the Phillies or Mets catching the Braves, even though the Phillies are only 4.5 games back.
Assuming whichever team is the second wild card (currently the Cardinals by a half game over the Reds and a game over the Padres) doesn't pull off a miracle upset over the Dodgers or Giants, we'll have the first ever Dodgers/Giants playoff series (not counting the three game tiebreaker series in 1951). After those teams beat the crap out of each other, they'll get to face the winner of the Brewers/Braves series, which will probably the Brewers. If the Brewers can get through that series in 4-5 games and get their rotation set up for the NLCS, they'll have a big advantage.
I haven't paid any attention to the American League this year, but it looks like the Rays, White Sox and Astros have solid leads in their divisions, with the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees fighting for the two wild card spots (sorry Mariners).
Also, this is pretty cool, but it's kinda sad that 20% of the stadium's tickets are actually available for a team that's led its division all season: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32213468/milwaukee-brewers-star-christian-yelich-give-away-10000-tickets-series-st-louis-cardinals
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As a Giants fan, the one team I'd rather not face in the playoffs is the Brewers, especially if they can set up their rotation properly. Their pitching has been the toughest on the Giants all year.
If we do indeed get a Dodgers/Giants playoff series this year, that would be amazing, since it's never happened before. That has the potential to be a series for the ages. :corn
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Also, this is pretty cool, but it's kinda sad that 20% of the stadium's tickets are actually available for a team that's led its division all season: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32213468/milwaukee-brewers-star-christian-yelich-give-away-10000-tickets-series-st-louis-cardinals
If what I’ve heard is true, most of these seats were the family section ‘no alcohol’ seats.
We like to drink in Wisconsin. ;)
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Also, this is pretty cool, but it's kinda sad that 20% of the stadium's tickets are actually available for a team that's led its division all season: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32213468/milwaukee-brewers-star-christian-yelich-give-away-10000-tickets-series-st-louis-cardinals
If what I’ve heard is true, most of these seats were the family section ‘no alcohol’ seats.
We like to drink in Wisconsin. ;)
It's even more amazing that you've got so many of those "no alcohol" seats. :o
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Also, this is pretty cool, but it's kinda sad that 20% of the stadium's tickets are actually available for a team that's led its division all season: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32213468/milwaukee-brewers-star-christian-yelich-give-away-10000-tickets-series-st-louis-cardinals
If what I’ve heard is true, most of these seats were the family section ‘no alcohol’ seats.
We like to drink in Wisconsin. ;)
Are there really 10,000 "no alcohol" seats (which I assume is 20-25% of the park's capacity) at a stadium named for beer?
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I’m just going off of what I heard, but ya, the numbers don’t add up.
And PG, the park was renamed American Family Field starting this season, though us locals still refer to it as Miller Park
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And PG, the park was renamed American Family Field starting this season, though us locals still refer to it as Miller Park
Really? In 2020, my kid and I went to spring training in Arizona for a long weekend, and the first game we saw was the Dodgers at Brewers...at American Family Field. So...did they rename the Major League stadium after the minor league field? Obviously, having a shload of alcohol free seats at "American Family Field" makes a lot more sense than at "Miller Park." :)
By the way, thank you to the Padres for winning the last two games against the Giants. Only one game now separates the Dodgers and Giants with 15 games left to play for each team (none of which are head-to-head). I'd say it'll be a fun couple of weeks, but it will probably be too stressful to be truly "fun." GO BLUE!
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So...here we go.
Dodgers and Giants have 12 games each remaining, and the Dodgers are down by 1 measly game.
Dodgers have 3 at Colorado and 3 at Arizona, followed by 3 at home against San Diego and 3 at home against Milwaukee.
Giants have 3 at San Diego and 3 at Colorado, followed by 3 at home against Arizona and 3 at home against San Diego.
I'm hoping that, by the time the Brewers come to LA, they'll have long since clinched the NL Central (their magic number is 3) and will be resting players (esp. their best pitchers). But I think the reality is that the Padres will decide who wins the NL West. The Giants' series at San Diego should be a bit tougher than the Dodgers series at Colorado. The Padres still have a small chance at the second wild card. The Dodgers absolutely need at least 5 of the next 6 games, and hopefully the Giants don't take any more than 4 of their next 6. I expect the Padres will have been eliminated from playoff contention by the time they get to LA. We may very well see a one-game playoff between the Dodgers and Giants to decide the division.
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Jeez, apparently Gausman is just throwing BP to the Padres right now. :censored
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Jeez, apparently Gausman is just throwing BP to the Padres right now. :censored
Needless to say, you were feeling much better about two hours after you posted this. :censored :censored
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Jeez, apparently Gausman is just throwing BP to the Padres right now. :censored
Needless to say, you were feeling much better about two hours after you posted this. :censored :censored
:rollin indeed! I almost gave up watching the game. It's almost like the Giants saw the Dodgers win their game and kicked it up a notch to make sure they beat the Padres.
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Thank you D-backs for beating the Dodgers tonight, let's do it again tomorrow! :corn
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Thank you D-backs for beating the Dodgers tonight, let's do it again tomorrow! :corn
Once a month the Dodgers come up against a scrub pitcher and decide he needs to have the game of his life. Here's hoping the D-backs do us a solid and get tough against the Giants and that the Padres sputter for the next three before finishing strong.
Absolutely NO ONE wants to deal with a win-or-go-home game against the Cardinals.
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Red Sox only had to win one game at home vs. the Yankees to be in a good position to lead the wild card and couldn't do it.
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Brewers 8th inning guy….
“ Devin Williams is being placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured right hand. He told us he had too much to drink after Sunday’s celebration, got upset about something and punched a wall with his pitching hand. He will need surgery. ”
Un-freaking-believable.
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Brewers 8th inning guy….
“ Devin Williams is being placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured right hand. He told us he had too much to drink after Sunday’s celebration, got upset about something and punched a wall with his pitching hand. He will need surgery. ”
Un-freaking-believable.
Wow. What is that old saying...you can't fix stupid.
I wish I still cared about baseball, because I'd be having a blast with this all-time winning streak the Cardinals are on.
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Brewers 8th inning guy….
“ Devin Williams is being placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured right hand. He told us he had too much to drink after Sunday’s celebration, got upset about something and punched a wall with his pitching hand. He will need surgery. ”
Un-freaking-believable.
Now the Dodgers just need someone to go on the IL with a hand fracture and we can complete the trifecta, since Brandon Belt just went on the IL with a broken hand after being hit by a pitch.
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Brewers 8th inning guy….
“ Devin Williams is being placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured right hand. He told us he had too much to drink after Sunday’s celebration, got upset about something and punched a wall with his pitching hand. He will need surgery. ”
Un-freaking-believable.
I heard them mention this on the Dodgers broadcast. Nomar Garciaparra is the color commentator, and he did everything but call this guy a selfish idiot. What I thought was bizarre was how breaking your pitching hand and needing surgery only lands him on the TEN day IL.
Now the Dodgers just need someone to go on the IL with a hand fracture and we can complete the trifecta, since Brandon Belt just went on the IL with a broken hand after being hit by a pitch.
I'm pretty sure the Dodgers have lost 932,621 man-games to injury this year. We're covered.
And what a crazy game the Dodgers played last night. Dodgers scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first and seemed to be headed for an easy victor, but Max Scherzer had easily his worst outing of the year and gave up 6 runs (5 earned) over the next five innings to give the Padres a 6-5 lead, which inflated to 9-5 against Brustar "Gas Can" Graterol (what a complete disappointment that guy has been this year). Dodgers got 1 in the bottom of the seventh and then scored FIVE in the eights on FOUR homers. Of course, the Giants continue to refuse to lose, so it'll likely be academic.
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Dodgers down 9-5 in the 7th hit 5 HOME RUNS IN TWO INNINGS to beat the Padres 11-9!!! :metal :metal :metal :lol :lol :lol
Echoes of their 2006 comeback win, again against the Padres.
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Brewers 8th inning guy….
“ Devin Williams is being placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured right hand. He told us he had too much to drink after Sunday’s celebration, got upset about something and punched a wall with his pitching hand. He will need surgery. ”
Un-freaking-believable.
I heard them mention this on the Dodgers broadcast. Nomar Garciaparra is the color commentator, and he did everything but call this guy a selfish idiot. What I thought was bizarre was how breaking your pitching hand and needing surgery only lands him on the TEN day IL.
Now the Dodgers just need someone to go on the IL with a hand fracture and we can complete the trifecta, since Brandon Belt just went on the IL with a broken hand after being hit by a pitch.
I'm pretty sure the Dodgers have lost 932,621 man-games to injury this year. We're covered.
And what a crazy game the Dodgers played last night. Dodgers scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first and seemed to be headed for an easy victor, but Max Scherzer had easily his worst outing of the year and gave up 6 runs (5 earned) over the next five innings to give the Padres a 6-5 lead, which inflated to 9-5 against Brustar "Gas Can" Graterol (what a complete disappointment that guy has been this year). Dodgers got 1 in the bottom of the seventh and then scored FIVE in the eights on FOUR homers. Of course, the Giants continue to refuse to lose, so it'll likely be academic.
That was a hell of a game from the Dodgers.
The Giants game was a nail biter all the way through.
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At the end of today's games, on Sept 30, the Mariners are tied for the second wild card spot, with 3 games to play. This is unbelievable.
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Would have been sweet to see both Toronto and Seattle beat out the Yanks and Sox.
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So...we're now down to the final series of the year. It looks like every team except the Braves have played 159 games. I didn't look, but I'm assuming the Braves got rained out and, now that they've clinched the NL East and are locked into the third best record among division winners, won't make up the game.
American League
- Tampa Bay has clinched the AL East and the best record in the AL
- The White Sox and Trashtros have clinched the AL Central and West divisions. Houston has a two game lead for the better record and the right to host the ALDS.
- The Yankees have a two game lead over the Red Sox and Mariners in the AL Wild Card race, and the Blue Jays are one game behind the Sox and Mariners.
- The Rays and Yankees play each other in the final series, so the Rays will get some say in who gets the two Wild Card spots.
- The Red Sox play in Washington against a really bad Nationals team.
- The Blue Jays host the Orioles.
- The Mariners host the Angels (FWIW, I heard on the radio this morning that Otani isn't going to pitch in what would be his normal spot on Sunday).
- The White Sox host the Tigers.
- The Astros host the A's.
I think it would be fantastic if the Yankees, Red Sox, Mariners and Jays all finish with identical records. Alternatively, if the Yankees get swept and are left outside looking in, that'd be cool too. The Red Sox should sweep the Nats, but they seem to be pretty Jekyll and Hyde this season.
National League
Things are a bit more settled here.
- The Brewers and Braves are locked into the 2 and 3 spots respectively, so they have nothing to play for this weekend.
- The Dodgers remain 2 games back of the Giants, and whichever of them doesn't win the NL West will be the home team for the Wild Card game.
- The Cardinals have the #2 Wild Card spot. They only thing they have to play for this weekend is keeping their momentum going.
- The Brewers play in Los Angeles and should absolutely rest all of their top players and spend the weekend evaluating prospects.
- The Giants host the Padres. It's about time the Padres muster up some pride and play angry, but I suspect they bend over and take it like the little bitches they are.
REALLY not looking forward to having the Dodgers host the Cardinals in a 5:10 PDT game. There's a decent chance that both Scherzer and Wainwright take no-hitters into the 5th or 6th inning.
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- The Brewers play in Los Angeles and should absolutely rest all of their top players and spend the weekend evaluating prospects.
You would love that :lol
The Brewers haven't been playing the best baseball over the last couple weeks, but I expect this whole series to be a low scoring affair. I don't envy anyone that has to face Burnes.
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Brewers up 5-1 in the 3rd :heart
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Yanks just cannot beat Tampa Bay. Pisses me off. Kevin Cash did not seem to be worried about the 9th inning tonight and they still fell short. Albert Abreu is not mlb ready yet and honestly they should have walked Franco with a 3-0 count and faced Cruz right on right. If the Yanks get the Wild Card and even win it they are to inconsistent to go deep. I’ll revisit this Sunday. >:( :censored
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Brewers up 5-1 in the 3rd :heart
And a grand slam just tied it up :censored
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Brewers up 5-1 in the 3rd :heart
And a grand slam just tied it up :censored
Goddamn, they're like fucking herpes man.
At least the Giants won, magic number is officially 1 :GiantsMetal:
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Alternatively, if the Yankees get swept and are left outside looking in, that'd be cool too. The Red Sox should sweep the Nats, but they seem to be pretty Jekyll and Hyde this season.
Not inconceivable. Mariners/Jays need to win their final two; Sox split; Yanks get swept. They all finish 91-69. Biggest factor could be how hard the Rays play, I guess.
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Let's win today :GiantsMetal: and take the division, then y'all can take tomorrow off. :corn
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Let's win today :GiantsMetal: and take the division, then y'all can take tomorrow off. :corn
Please. Time to put the Dodgers to rest.
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Ugh... :yeahright
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Two trips to Yankee Stadium this season, two blowout losses :lol :lol
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Two trips to Yankee Stadium this season, two blowout losses :lol :lol
You're getting Season Tickets for Christmas. ;D
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Two trips to Yankee Stadium this season, two blowout losses :lol :lol
You're getting Season Tickets for Christmas. ;D
:lol
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Two trips to Yankee Stadium this season, two blowout losses :lol :lol
You're getting Season Tickets for Christmas. ;D
:lol
>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
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Ugh... :yeahright
And double ugh... They're gonna push this to a fucking one game Giants Dodgers playoff man
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Ugh... :yeahright
And double ugh... They're gonna push this to a fucking one game Giants Dodgers playoff man
Apparently the Brewers have decided to just roll over now that they've won their division... >:(
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Ugh... :yeahright
And double ugh... They're gonna push this to a fucking one game Giants Dodgers playoff man
Apparently the Brewers have decided to just roll over now that they've won their division... >:(
And the Padres are trying to instigate some latent, last minute revenge over tanking the 2010 season to us....
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The AL Wildcard is fun. Go M’s and Jays!
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Can't deny the idea of a Red Sox-Yankees first round one game wild card at Fenway is about at baseball as it gets.
As traditionally 'baseball' as a SF-Dodgers tiebreaker game in SF sounds, let's just forego that one and have the Giants win today, k?
:GiantsMetal:
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Can't deny the idea of a Red Sox-Yankees first round one game wild card at Fenway is about at baseball as it gets.
As traditionally 'baseball' as a SF-Dodgers tiebreaker game in SF sounds, let's just forego that one and have the Giants win today, k?
:GiantsMetal:
Lonestar, How about the Yankees win the WC and sweep the Rays?
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Can't deny the idea of a Red Sox-Yankees first round one game wild card at Fenway is about at baseball as it gets.
As traditionally 'baseball' as a SF-Dodgers tiebreaker game in SF sounds, let's just forego that one and have the Giants win today, k?
:GiantsMetal:
Lonestar, How about the Yankees win the WC and sweep the Rays?
Yeah... That'd be a no from me dawg... My family has long roots in Boston. With all due respect, fuck the Yankees.
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Can't deny the idea of a Red Sox-Yankees first round one game wild card at Fenway is about at baseball as it gets.
As traditionally 'baseball' as a SF-Dodgers tiebreaker game in SF sounds, let's just forego that one and have the Giants win today, k?
:GiantsMetal:
Lonestar, How about the Yankees win the WC and sweep the Rays?
Yeah... That'd be a no from me dawg... My family has long roots in Boston. With all due respect, fuck the Yankees.
I agree, fuck the Yankees. And I usually default to hating Boston teams above all others.
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I was super busy all day yesterday. By the time I was able to take a break, the Padres had already beaten the plague from the Bay, and the Dodgers were up a lot to 1. The Brewers wimped out and yanked Burnes before he was able to give up enough runs to lose the ERA title.
HUGE day today. Go Dodgers! Go Padres!
In the AL, I'd really love for the Mariners and Jays to win and the Red Sox and Yankees to lose. I have no idea what would happen, but I'm sure it'll be fun.
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:GiantsMetal:
Now where's the Dodger emoji? That's right, they don't get one.
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Teams with substance don't need emojis.
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:lol
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Teams with substance don't need emojis.
Substance :lol aka throw tons of money at the problem :biggrin:
I'm just messing with you. The Dodgers do in fact have a great team and then they have Cody Bellinger......The Dodgers hitting coaches are really doing him a disservice by not taking him aside and fixing his swing, which even I (not a hitting coach) can see is all out of whack mechanically. He has the biggest uppercut I've ever seen and he swings as hard as possible no matter the situation or pitch...
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Teams with substance don't need emojis.
Substance :lol aka throw tons of money at the problem :biggrin:
I'm just messing with you. The Dodgers do in fact have a great team and then they have Cody Bellinger......The Dodgers hitting coaches are really doing him a disservice by not taking him aside and fixing his swing, which even I (not a hitting coach) can see is all out of whack mechanically. He has the biggest uppercut I've ever seen and he swings as hard as possible no matter the situation or pitch...
All that being said, fuck the Dodgers.
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Well, the Jays are doing their part. 9-1 after 3. Just need some help from the Rays or Nats.
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Man, has the home plate umpire been bad today. Calling strikes 6 inches outside and above the strike zone.... :\
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Also, WILMER FLORES!!! He has been absolutely clutch all year. :GiantsMetal:
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:GiantsMetal:
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Logan Webb :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Let’s go Angels! Fuck the Mariners!!!!
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Logan Webb :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
Right? Talk about doing all he can.
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Fuck the Mariners!!!!
What the heck did a team that has made 4 playoffs in their 45 year history, with none in the past 2 decades, and zero World Series appearances do to necessitate such hatred? :)
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Aaaaaaaaaand done.
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Aaaaaaaaaand done.
Just an absolutely amazing and special season. The absolute best Giants team I have ever watched and I've been a fan and watching the Giants for 30 years now. Better than any Will Clark era team, any Bonds era team, even the 2010's teams (although those teams were special too).
LET'S GO!
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Well fuck. Eliminated by Boston again. God I hate Boston sports teams.
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Well fuck. Eliminated by Boston again. God I hate Boston sports teams.
Yankees are gonna shit on Boston Tuesday! Cole is gonna toss a gem!!!!
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Yankees seem to have the Sox # of late. Wouldn't surprise me.
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That was a great game today. I actually watched that instead of Packers/Steelers.
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and then they have Cody Bellinger......The Dodgers hitting coaches are really doing him a disservice by not taking him aside and fixing his swing, which even I (not a hitting coach) can see is all out of whack mechanically. He has the biggest uppercut I've ever seen and he swings as hard as possible no matter the situation or pitch...
I don't disagree with any of this. However, because of the injury to Max Muncy, he'll likely be in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Scherzer v. Wainwright in a 5:10 PDT game. I don't know what the over/under is on runs scored in the game, but if it's more than 3.5, bet the under!
Just a crazy season. The Dodgers' 106 wins would've won every other division by at least 6 games. To see two teams in the same division with 106+ wins is just ridiculous.
I have to admit to being a little disappointed that we didn't get the 4-way Wild Card tie in the AL.
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YOU'RE disappointed!?!?!! >:( :P
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Damn Giants. Every postseason I have zero confidence in the Dodgers, this is no exception. They had some miracles to win it all last season, they'll need some more now.
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Damn Giants. Every postseason I have zero confidence in the Dodgers, this is no exception. They had some miracles to win it all last season, they'll need some more now.
Isn't that true of virtually every champion?
The Dodgers starting lineup will include (1) the presumptive NL Cy Young winner (along with potentially having 1-2 other Cy Young candidates in the bullpen if needed), (2) last year's World Series MVP who has been on a massive tear over the past couple weeks, (3) at least one recent MVP and, if it's not two, it'll be a recent MVP and a Hall of Famer who has had a career renaissance since joining the Dodgers, and (4) a guy with a really good shot at winning the MVP this year.
It's one game, so anything can happen, but I kinda think the confidence level should be pretty high. While the "we've got nothing to lose" position has some appeal, I feel pretty ok.
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Losing Max Muncy and Clayton Kershaw is gonna hurt though.
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I actually really like Matt Vasgersian, but not when he's calling Sox games. He is such a Yankee lover.
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I actually really like Matt Vasgersian, but not when he's calling Sox games. He is such a Yankee lover.
Matt used to call Brewers games about 20 years ago. He was always a fun listen.
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I love his enthusiasm for the game. I love his Hot Stove show with Harold Reynolds too.
I just can't stand him calling Yanks/Sox. He makes A-Rod seem impartial. :lol
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The TAC's NL West tour!
2015
(https://i.imgur.com/myVzSRN.jpg)
2016
(https://i.imgur.com/SdFvAwC.jpg)
2018
(https://i.imgur.com/nBxZ5U0.jpg)
2019
(https://i.imgur.com/DFrh935.jpg)
Oh, and in 1998 Phoenix
(https://i.imgur.com/4AE4jDX.jpg)
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The TAC's NL West tour!
2015
(https://i.imgur.com/myVzSRN.jpg)
2016
(https://i.imgur.com/SdFvAwC.jpg)
2018
(https://i.imgur.com/nBxZ5U0.jpg)
2019
(https://i.imgur.com/DFrh935.jpg)
Oh, and in 1998 Phoenix
(https://i.imgur.com/4AE4jDX.jpg)
Very nice family my friend. You’re blessed! Keep the Ovaltine going man. :)
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Losing Max Muncy and Clayton Kershaw is gonna hurt though.
I don't see losing Kershaw and an issue at all (and certainly not for tonight's game). He'd have been the #4 starter and likely wouldn't see the mound in the divisional series.
Completely agree about Muncy, though. Forces the Dodgers to do one or more of the following:
- Start Pujols (minus defender) against an RHP.
- Start the offensively struggling Bellinger AND Taylor (although both are ++ defenders at multiple positions).
- Start the unproven Gavin Lux in an unfamiliar defensive position.
Hitting in front of Muncy allowed Trea Turner to see better pitches than he otherwise would have, which led to his strong September. Muncy is also the best Dodger in terms of making the pitcher throw a lot of pitches.
The Dodgers will be leaving Walker Buhler off the wild card game roster (since he'll start game 1 against SF if the Dodgers win), so that'll free up a spot for an extra bat on the bench.
I actually really like Matt Vasgersian, but not when he's calling Sox games. He is such a Yankee lover.
His call on that play where Judge got hosed at the plate was really good.* I think he's the Angels PBP guy now (in addition to his national broadcast job).
He's also the PBP guy on the "MLB The Show" video game series. My son calls him "Moonshot Matt," based on one of his home run calls from the game: "High...deep...THAT is a moon shot, folks, a LONG home run!"
* - And the idiot Rodriguez actually got one right. It was an utterly moronic decision to send Judge (although it worked out nicely).
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Even without Muncy I see the Dodgers beating the Cardinals with Scherzer on the mound. As good as Wainwright has been all year (which in itself is pretty amazing, since after getting hurt in 2015 he's been pretty mediocre before this year), I don't see him shutting down the rest of the Dodgers lineup. We shall see.
Will make for better baseball entertainment if the Dodgers end up facing the Giants in the NLDS, that's for sure. That will most likely be a series that would end up in extra innings in game 5 :corn
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Looking forward to the game tonight!
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Well, Scherzer doesn't look to be at his best tonight.
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And now Wainwright is looking shaky... :corn
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Wow, Scherzer gets pulled for Psycho Joe?
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I see the Cardinals decided to just roll over. Didn't even attempt to put up a fight. Oh well.
Bring on the Dodgers on Friday! :GiantsMetal:
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I see the Cardinals decided to just roll over. Didn't even attempt to put up a fight. Oh well.
Bring on the Dodgers on Friday! :GiantsMetal:
Huh? That was a great game. Both teams got great pitching, and LA got the big hit to win it. No one rolled over.
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I see the Cardinals decided to just roll over. Didn't even attempt to put up a fight. Oh well.
Bring on the Dodgers on Friday! :GiantsMetal:
Huh? That was a great game. Both teams got great pitching, and LA got the big hit to win it. No one rolled over.
StL was 0-11 with runners in scoring position. One hit and LA loses that game. But honestly they 'should' have won it so I don't know what the big hub bub is? I'd be more worried if I were LA that they didn't mop the floor with StL and had to wait for StL's manager to put a pitcher in that everyone in StL knew the game was over when he did. Anyway.....
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I see the Cardinals decided to just roll over. Didn't even attempt to put up a fight. Oh well.
Bring on the Dodgers on Friday! :GiantsMetal:
Huh? That was a great game. Both teams got great pitching, and LA got the big hit to win it. No one rolled over.
StL was 0-11 with runners in scoring position. One hit and LA loses that game. But honestly they 'should' have won it so I don't know what the big hub bub is? I'd be more worried if I were LA that they didn't mop the floor with StL and had to wait for StL's manager to put a pitcher in that everyone in StL knew the game was over when he did. Anyway.....
I'm with Kev. As nerve-wracking as it was, that was a great game. Neither starter was on his game, but each managed to surrender only a single run, and both bullpens were excellent.
While the Cards may have been 0-11 with RISP, at least they got guys into scoring position. The Dodgers only had five ABs with RISP and got two hits, one of which was the walk-off HR, and the other was an infield single that didn't allow the runner on second to advance. Other than Justin Turner's home run, the Dodgers didn't have a hit that left the infield until the seventh inning.
Dominant pitching or offenses didn't show up...call it what you want. That was pretty par for the course for the Dodgers.
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Wow, Scherzer gets pulled for Psycho Joe?
Always a roll of the dice there...
Yea the Dodgers not hitting good pitching is not surprising. We got lucky with a couple of pitching mistakes and crushed them. SF and LA look pretty even this season, could go either way.
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Go Brewers!
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I'm rooting for a Brewers-White Sox or Brewers-Rays World Series this year. I suppose I could also support an Astros-Dodgers rematch as long as the Dodgers humiliate the Astros.
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I didn't see either of the games yesterday, but the scores suggest they will be short series. The Red Sox apparently carried no momentum from the wild card win, and I hope this isn't an indication that the White Sox are completely overmatched.
Keeping my fingers crossed for tonight. I'm assuming that the series will go five games and that every game will be bad for my blood pressure (although I'll miss a good chunk of Saturday's game).
GO BLUE!!!
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These two AL series are shaping up to be real duds. The Astros have outscored the White Sox 15-5 over the first two games, and now the Rays look to be following suit against the Red Sox. Chris Sale got yanked after giving up 5 (all earned) in the first inning. At least the Braves v. Brewers game was close.
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Sox go ahead in 8-5 in the top of the 5th. They'll need at least 4 more runs to win this game.
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Sox go ahead in 8-5 in the top of the 5th. They'll need at least 4 more runs to win this game.
I hope the Rays pissed in the Sox Ovaltine. >:( :censored
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Sox go ahead in 8-5 in the top of the 5th. They'll need at least 4 more runs to win this game.
I hope the Rays pissed in the Sox Ovaltine. >:( :censored
(https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/64963317.jpg)
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Buster Posey! :GiantsMetal:
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Buster Posey! :GiantsMetal:
First ballot!
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Pitching wins in the post season…… I like my team.
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Logan Webb is absolutely dealing again! And KB has broken out of his slump at the perfect time! GO GIANTS!
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That's one!! :GiantsMetal:
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Buster Posey! :GiantsMetal:
First ballot!
Posey, Yadi, and maybe Salvy.
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Game 2 under way. Let's go Giants!
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Game 2 under way. Let's go Giants!
I'm watching!
That ballpark is awesome!!
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Tim, your favorite stadium you've visited?
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Tim, your favorite stadium you've visited?
Easily. It's not like my list is huge.
Phoenix
Baltimore
LA
Denver
SF
SD
We don't base our vacations on it, but if there's a game where we are going, we usually get one in.
We're going to Texas this winter and we're taking in a Spurs game.
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Did you see the video of the Raiders new stadium with the huge screen next to the highway? It's asking for accidents.
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Did you see the video of the Raiders new stadium with the huge screen next to the highway? It's asking for accidents.
I did not. Sounds crazy.
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I'll text you it.
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I'll text you it.
Got it..Wow that's nuts!
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Can you imagine driving home seeing that screen? I'd cause an accident.
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Welp...seems like we're going to have a battle. Not that it surprises me, but I really don't need the added stress lol
Oracle Park is fucking stunning. Fun story...so I worked at Lyft HQ, which is next door to Oracle, and out of the main dining area the view is of the promenade where the home runs splash down over right field. So anyways, it's the off season, and I'm on my break chilling and watching the bay. There's a father and son, maybe 6 or 7, and a dude in a kayak. The father is giving underhanded pitches to his son, and the son is knocking them into the water. The dude in the kayak is then fishing them out.
Now that is parenting :lol
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...so I worked at Lyft HQ, which is next door to Oracle, and out of the main dining area the view is of the promenade where the home runs splash down over right field.
I took this shot behind the stadium. Were you in one of these buildings?
(https://i.imgur.com/K1JGPv3.jpg)
Before the game, we had crossed that small black bridge on the other side. This was our view of the ballpark.
(https://i.imgur.com/wLvbtAZ.jpg)
We actually walked out on the pier on that side and had a nice conversation with an elder Sox fan who was with his Yankees fan adult son, and they were doing a SF Ballpark trip together.
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Tim, your favorite stadium you've visited?
I've not been to a game at that stadium, but there's a great beer bar built into the stadium that I've been to. It's open to the public like a normal bar, but there's also a way for fans at the game to access it and get beers to bring back to their seats. My buddy has sent me pictures of him double fisting Pliny the Elder at a game :lol
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...so I worked at Lyft HQ, which is next door to Oracle, and out of the main dining area the view is of the promenade where the home runs splash down over right field.
I took this shot behind the stadium. Were you in one of these buildings?
(https://i.imgur.com/K1JGPv3.jpg)
Before the game, we had crossed that small black bridge on the other side. This was our view of the ballpark.
(https://i.imgur.com/wLvbtAZ.jpg)
We actually walked out on the pier on that side and had a nice conversation with an elder Sox fan who was with his Yankees fan adult son, and they were doing a SF Ballpark trip together.
So Lyft HQ occupies the 3,4,5,6 floor of this building, and the 4,5 of the sister building obscured by the park. The circled area is where I took my breaks and watched the bay...
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/245152547_171682738479302_3260327231091657188_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=gUFpQ8l_zhkAX_P1QL-&_nc_oc=AQkbbbWFuPMjlDkdEn6r-HpDY9aDZaX6qETyXP9Z6cnTA-CD7N_X8M5NzJhUjjpiWzU&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=f258bebf072bdb320a7ab92d60b4b82c&oe=61879C58)
If your pics were for a weekday game, and before gametime, it's a guarantee I was in said building.
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I think it may have been a Sunday game (it was August 12) . This was in 2018. You were working at a hotel across the bay at the time I thought. I got my wife to agree to eat there after the game, but you weren't working that day.
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Yup, I didn't start at lyft until 2019
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I don’t like the Sox but I want the Rays gone. Bottom line, now that the Yanks are out I would like to see the Giants or Brewers mash the Astros in WS 2021!!!
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What's wrong with the Rays?
I'm up for anyone mashing the Astros. Especially the Sox.
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What's wrong with the Rays?
I'm up for anyone mashing the Astros. Especially the Sox.
Nothing, they’re great and always shit on the Yankees. I’m just bitter. :)
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SOX WIN!!!
Seemed the Rays got jobbed of a run in the top of the 13th though. Fucking weird ass play.
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SOX WIN!!!
Seemed the Rays got jobbed of a run in the top of the 13th though. Fucking weird ass play.
Now going forward outfielders can try and sell that play. This one was not intentional but wow!{
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That's one!! :GiantsMetal:
And that's all you get! Ha!
Every once in a while, the Dodgers decide that some scrub pitcher needs to feel better about himself and make him look like a Cy Young award winner. Alex Wood on the mound for the Giants and Max Scherzer for the Dodgers today. :lol :lol Close out game tomorrow.
As for the other series, very nicely done by the Red Sox. I watched most of yesterday's game. Made me really miss Kike Hernandez. That play in right field was crazy, but it was absolutely the right call based on the rule. The guys on MLB Network were speculating that the rule will be changed, but I don't see why it would be. It's not like this sort of thing happens with ANY frequency. If they do change it, the only thing that ought to change is giving the umpire discretion as to where to place runners already on base. Of course, my understanding is that they already have discretion with a regular ground rule double, but I can't recall them ever letting a runner score from first on a GRD.
Haven't seen a second of the Brewers/Braves series. Glad to see it knotted at one. Hopefully it goes 5.
The White Sox looked for all the world like they were going to get swept. I checked the score at some point yesterday and it was 6-1 Astros. Next thing I knew it was tied at 6, and then the White Sox scored three more before I turned it off. Really hoping the Sox pull off the reverse sweep.
Tim, your favorite stadium you've visited?
Easily. It's not like my list is huge.
Phoenix
Baltimore
LA
Denver
SF
SD
We don't base our vacations on it, but if there's a game where we are going, we usually get one in.
We're going to Texas this winter and we're taking in a Spurs game.
I've been to (including the two that are local to me):
Giants
Dodgers
Angels
Padres
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Nationals
Orioles
Yankees (new)
Mets (Citi)
Red Sox
Fenway is easily the best for obvious reasons, but the nicest of the newer stadiums was probably SD. I love Dodger Stadium, but the access just kills it for me. Parking costs a small fortune. You can avoid that by taking public transportation, but that's a huge pain in the butt.
I'm seriously thinking of planning a CHC/CHW/MIL/MIN trip in late June 2022.
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deleted
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Can’t win if you don’t score. Brewers bats have gone ice cold.
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That's one!! :GiantsMetal:
And that's all you get! Ha!
Every once in a while, the Dodgers decide that some scrub pitcher needs to feel better about himself and make him look like a Cy Young award winner. Alex Wood on the mound for the Giants and Max Scherzer for the Dodgers today. :lol :lol Close out game tomorrow.
Please...if you think the baseball gods are gonna make it that easy, you haven't been paying attention to the game enough. We all know this one is going 5, and it'll be decided in the 9th. It's gonna be earned, and no matter the side you're on, it's going to take a bit of your soul.
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That's one!! :GiantsMetal:
And that's all you get! Ha!
Every once in a while, the Dodgers decide that some scrub pitcher needs to feel better about himself and make him look like a Cy Young award winner. Alex Wood on the mound for the Giants and Max Scherzer for the Dodgers today. :lol :lol Close out game tomorrow.
Please...if you think the baseball gods are gonna make it that easy, you haven't been paying attention to the game enough. We all know this one is going 5, and it'll be decided in the 9th. It's gonna be earned, and no matter the side you're on, it's going to take a bit of your soul.
Probably true, but I so rarely take a moment to flex and talk smack. It figures that the game I missed in nearly its entirety will probably end up being the only game that doesn't end up being at least a little close (of course, game 1 was really close either).
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:lol
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3 run jack by Devers. 5 am wake up call for a flight to Dallas. Ugh. Lol
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3 run jack by Devers. 5 am wake up call for a flight to Dallas. Ugh. Lol
That's one more hour of sleep than I get! Plus you can sleep on the plane. Quit wining bitch.
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3 run jack by Devers. 5 am wake up call for a flight to Dallas. Ugh. Lol
That's one more hour of sleep than I get! Plus you can sleep on the plane. Quit wining bitch.
Went to a wedding and forgot my C pap machine. Didn't sleep a wink last night
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3 run jack by Devers. 5 am wake up call for a flight to Dallas. Ugh. Lol
That's one more hour of sleep than I get! Plus you can sleep on the plane. Quit wining bitch.
Went to a wedding and forgot my C pap machine. Didn't sleep a wink last night
Ooh that sucks. Don't forget to pack it.
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Oh not for tomorrow. Last night was hell.
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Went to a wedding and forgot my C pap machine. Didn't sleep a wink last night
Ooh that sucks.
Oh not for tomorrow. Last night was hell.
Yeah, I got that, sleepy.
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I'm flying out to Dalkas tomorrow.
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That's one!! :GiantsMetal:
And that's all you get! Ha!
Every once in a while, the Dodgers decide that some scrub pitcher needs to feel better about himself and make him look like a Cy Young award winner. Alex Wood on the mound for the Giants and Max Scherzer for the Dodgers today. :lol :lol Close out game tomorrow.
Please...if you think the baseball gods are gonna make it that easy, you haven't been paying attention to the game enough. We all know this one is going 5, and it'll be decided in the 9th. It's gonna be earned, and no matter the side you're on, it's going to take a bit of your soul.
Probably true, but I so rarely take a moment to flex and talk smack. It figures that the game I missed in nearly its entirety will probably end up being the only game that doesn't end up being at least a little close (of course, game 1 was really close either).
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Giants flipped the script on Scherzer and pulled out 5 or 6 runs against him. Then again it would surprise me either if this ended up being a super low scoring game like 2-1 or something like that.
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I'm flying out to Dalkas tomorrow.
Enjoy your trip to Texkas.
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AT&T Stadium for dinner tomorrow night!
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Dammit.
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That's one!! :GiantsMetal:
And that's all you get! Ha!
Every once in a while, the Dodgers decide that some scrub pitcher needs to feel better about himself and make him look like a Cy Young award winner. Alex Wood on the mound for the Giants and Max Scherzer for the Dodgers today. :lol :lol Close out game tomorrow.
Please...if you think the baseball gods are gonna make it that easy, you haven't been paying attention to the game enough. We all know this one is going 5, and it'll be decided in the 9th. It's gonna be earned, and no matter the side you're on, it's going to take a bit of your soul.
Probably true, but I so rarely take a moment to flex and talk smack. It figures that the game I missed in nearly its entirety will probably end up being the only game that doesn't end up being at least a little close (of course, game 1 was really close either).
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Giants flipped the script on Scherzer and pulled out 5 or 6 runs against him. Then again it would surprise me either if this ended up being a super low scoring game like 2-1 or something like that.
Tonight will be a war of attrition.
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RJ, aren't you supposed to be posting in orange or something?
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Dammit.
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RJ, aren't you supposed to be posting in orange or something?
I don't need to virtue signal my allegiances.
:GiantsMetal:
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SOX WIN!! SOX WIN!!
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My stress level is through the roof with this game.... :|
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As it should be.
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Seriously why is it that the teams that seem to be most successful in this era are all teams that I absolutely despise?
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Seriously why is it that the teams that seem to be most successful in this era are all teams that I absolutely despise?
:lol
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Seriously why is it that the teams that seem to be most successful in this era are all teams that I absolutely despise?
I don't know what you are talking about. The Yankees aren't in the postseason :biggrin: :corn
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Seriously why is it that the teams that seem to be most successful in this era are all teams that I absolutely despise?
I don't know what you are talking about. The Yankees aren't in the postseason :biggrin: :corn
Lol nicely done. I was raised a Yankee fan, and of the four teams I root for (Yankees, Jets, Rangers, Nets), they’re the only one I’ve actually seen win a championship. Meanwhile, across all four leagues I’ve had to watch the city of Boston (and Foxborough), which is my least favorite sports city (Philly is a close second), have sustained success. The New York/Boston sports rivalry is a big part of my fandom, and unfortunately the bad guys (well they’re the villains in my world) have been more successful in my lifetime.
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What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
It's only because of the rivalry with LA that I'm checking out this series after not really following the Giants since their last World Series run, but what was that about the NL voting on adding the DH? The pitchers batting (as a pitcher in HS) was one thing I liked about the NL, and was hoping it would go the other way in the AL.
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What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
It's only because of the rivalry with LA that I'm checking out this series after not really following the Giants since their last World Series run, but what was that about the NL voting on adding the DH? The pitchers batting (as a pitcher in HS) was one thing I liked about the NL, and was hoping it would go the other way in the AL.
Apparently there have been complaints about pitchers hitting. They aren't exciting enough :dunno: People don't respect the strategy of the game anymore. I am firmly against the DH in the National League.
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What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
I have no idea how he got high enough to get that, just amazing.
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:GiantsMetal:
BeatLA! :corn
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What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
I have no idea how he got high enough to get that, just amazing.
I've been saying it all year. Crawford is THE best all around shortstop this year.
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And the Giants take the lead in the series! :GiantsMetal:
What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
I have no idea how he got high enough to get that, just amazing.
With hair like that, I've got a hunch. ;D
Apparently there have been complaints about pitchers hitting. They aren't exciting enough :dunno: People don't respect the strategy of the game anymore. I am firmly against the DH in the National League.
That's ridiculous, hoping the vote fails. Sure, neither pitcher got a hit tonight, extending their hit drought, but Scherzer still managed to advance the runner.
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Gargantuan victory in enemy territory against one of the best arms in the game. Just huge
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Yay Sox! Walk-offs 2 nights in a row.
Baseball is fascinating. Yes the Rays scored more runs than the Sox this year - but I would still rather have a lineup with Devers, Bogaerts, Martinez, Schwarber etc than anything the Rays can trot out there. Many times you depend on your star players more than team depth. And I'd rather have Sale and Eovaldi than any Rays pitcher.
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What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
I despise the Giants, and I despise Brandon Crawford most of all.
Fucking Dodgers...Scherzer wasn't on his game but still gave us 7 IP and only ONE run allowed. And the bats utterly disappear.
FUUUCCUCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!
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What a catch by Crawford, that might be the deciding play keeping SF's lead.
I despise the Giants, and I despise Brandon Crawford most of all.
Fucking Dodgers...Scherzer wasn't on his game but still gave us 7 IP and only ONE run allowed. And the bats utterly disappear.
FUUUCCUCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!
(https://media0.giphy.com/media/OJ3cQLxCi0jn2/giphy.gif?cid=790b761186c64866c6c3d5f095b5a1dbaf0dfc0bbb7bf45d&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
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Sox to play Houston. The Astros destroyed them this season.
Atlanta is through. Who will the West Coast?
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Sox to play Houston. The Astros destroyed them this season.
Atlanta is through. Who will the West Coast?
The way this one is starting, we'll probably find out Thursday
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I would love a Boston - San Fran series.
With a Sox win of course. ;D
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I would love a Boston - San Fran series.
With a Sox win of course. ;D
That'd be an awkward series for my family, especially my father. We all have the Sox in our hearts. Most of us it would be an easy choice, but for my dad I'm sure it'd be a solid inner conflict :lol
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I can see that.
Be great to have the two most beautiful ballparks in the WS though.
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Sox to play Houston. The Astros destroyed them this season.
Atlanta is through. Who will the West Coast?
The way this one is starting, we'll probably find out Thursday
Yeah, this is not going well. Starting Desclafani against the Dodgers was probably a bad idea, but I don't think they really had an option. At least we'll have Webb for game 5 at home.
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That couldn’t have been more disappointing.
Go Bucks!
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Mookie rules!
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Mookie rules!
(https://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/584876DD-D071-42F5-8FE8-578396938DD5-e1561701393693-700x301.jpeg)
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We wanted to close it out at home anyways.
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We wanted to close it out at home anyways.
Speak for yourself...I'd rather be done with this shit tonight. :lol
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:lol Yeah, I'm hoping for a miracle, LA has just had the number of every pitcher thrown out tonight.
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Geez, the Giants bats have been completely flaccid the last 3 games... :censored
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Sox to play Houston. The Astros destroyed them this season.
Atlanta is through. Who will the West Coast?
The way this one is starting, we'll probably find out Thursday
I'm guessing this was posted about two seconds before Trea Turner's double in the bottom of the first. :lol
I would love a Boston - San Fran series.
:|
Be great to have the two most beautiful ballparks in the WS though.
Dodger Stadium and Fenway Park. Revenge for 2018!
Mookie rules!
Thank you.
And you're welcome for Kike Hernandez.
Geez, the Giants bats have been completely flaccid the last 3 games... :censored
Game 5 is going to depend entirely on which Dodgers lineup shows up. Even with being shutout twice, the Dodgers have average 4 runs per game in this series, while the Giants have only averaged 2.25 runs per game. Simply put...if the Dodgers can figure out Webb, we win.
GO BLUE!!!
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Game 5 is going to depend entirely on which Dodgers lineup shows up. Even with being shutout twice, the Dodgers have average 4 runs per game in this series, while the Giants have only averaged 2.25 runs per game. Simply put...if the Dodgers can figure out Webb, we win.
GO BLUE!!!
Since the All Star break no one has figured out Webb. Hopefully he can keep it going. The only problem is the Giants can't seem to figure out Urias. And they have a lineup that, on paper, should be able to rake against Urias....
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.
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.
Do you need a tampon for that?
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I was premature. I thought the game was tonight. :lol
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Damn.. It doesn't get more intense than this. Giants vs Dodgers. Game 5 do or die.
:GiantsMetal:
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Game 5 is going to depend entirely on which Dodgers lineup shows up. Even with being shutout twice, the Dodgers have average 4 runs per game in this series, while the Giants have only averaged 2.25 runs per game. Simply put...if the Dodgers can figure out Webb, we win.
GO BLUE!!!
Since the All Star break no one has figured out Webb. Hopefully he can keep it going. The only problem is the Giants can't seem to figure out Urias. And they have a lineup that, on paper, should be able to rake against Urias....
Seems like a few teams figured him out (particularly the Cubs and Padres (twice), who scored 5, 4 and 4 ER, respectively, against him in September). For that matter, he had a 3.98 ERA in September.
As for Urias, the Dodgers just announced that Corey Knebel will be the starter tonight. I assume he'll be an "opener" and Urias will be first out of the bullpen.
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Mookie rules!
(https://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/584876DD-D071-42F5-8FE8-578396938DD5-e1561701393693-700x301.jpeg)
M-m-m-m-mookie! :lol (I always say that when he does good)
REPEAT LA!!!
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This is about as close to a game 7 WS as these two teams are going to get, go Giants!
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Wearing an ensemble that no Californian would ever wear!
(https://i.imgur.com/z5P8DFY.jpg)
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Wearing an ensemble that no Californian would ever wear!
(https://i.imgur.com/z5P8DFY.jpg)
Nice but where’s your freakin Ovaltine man?
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In mah belly!
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In mah belly!
Would be great to see the Giants win! Donovan Solano was a Yankee farm hand I used to see play at Triple A Scranton. Cool guy!!!!
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So I posted this a few years ago, but this was what was on the Dodgers' catcher's wristband during the 2018 WS against Boston.
Can anyone decipher this?
(https://i.imgur.com/9S6UdV1.jpg)
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Wearing an ensemble that no Californian would ever wear!
(https://i.imgur.com/z5P8DFY.jpg)
Wtf? Just need to kick your own ass now.
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Well, outside of Mookie Betts, the Dodgers still can't figure out this "scrub" pitcher.
Unfortunately the Giants still can't figure out how to hit, period....
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Bobby Thomson to PH!!! ;) ;D
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Bobby Thompson to PH!!! ;) ;D
If Bobby Thomson hadn't been dead for 11 years now, sure :biggrin:
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Bobby Thompson to PH!!! ;) ;D
If Bobby Thomson hadn't been dead for 11 years now, sure :biggrin:
They need that magic.
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Deleted.
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What a shitty way to end the game. :\
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What a shitty way to end the game. :\
Holy. Shit. That was one of the worst missed calls I've seen in a long long time.
Besides that, how do you end the game calling someone out on a check swing.... :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored :censored
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Yeah, that was fucked.
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The Dodgers better send that umpire a gift basket or 12...
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I was literally thinking to myself, "Thank God it wasn't that egregious, the ump definitely won't call it for an anti-climactic ending."
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I try to avoid bitching about stuff like that, but damn man,thats not how I wanted to see that epic match end.
Just a damn shame for how epic its been the last month.
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That was absolutely awful. It’s bad enough in a regular season game but come on man.
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Now, where did I put that Red Sox hat.....
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Now, where did I put that Red Sox hat.....
I've got a few you can borrow.
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I didn't see the play till this morning, but yeesh that is absolutely brutal. That is a complete embarrassment to MLB to have a series end on a judgment call like that, one that was clearly incorrect.
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Even all of my Dodger fan friends, though happy, thought that was a completely fucked call. That says a lot. Funny, ten years ago this would've eaten me up for days, but I'm already over it. Chalk it up partially to maturity, and partially to knowing that one call didn't make for the series. The Giants left way too many offensive opportunities on the table. Hard to be a champion when every victory is gained by holding the other team to little or no runs. They found all the holes in the team that need filling for sure, the biggest one though, their heart, is just fine. Great season, a totally unexpected run to the best record in baseball, and an epic series with our hated rival that came down to the very last out of the very last game, both with 109 wins. That's some solid baseball for sure.
:GiantsMetal:
It was still a shit call though.
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Wearing an ensemble that no Californian would ever wear!
(https://i.imgur.com/z5P8DFY.jpg)
Dafuq is wrong with you? :biggrin:
I try to avoid bitching about stuff like that, but damn man,thats not how I wanted to see that epic match end.
Just a damn shame for how epic its been the last month.
I mean...I have lots of emotions, but this is absolutely correct.
I didn't get to watch the first half of the game, but I was checking on the ESPN app. Betts kept getting hits and no one else was. Fortunately, the Dodgers "bullpen game" plan worked to perfection. Whether it was ineptitude at the plate or damn good pitching, the Giants mustered only 6 hits -- only one of which was meaningful -- while the Dodgers had exactly the same totals through 7.2 innings.
The Giants were pretty bad at the plate all series, scoring only 10 runs in 5 games. In this game, the Dodgers did JUST ENOUGH to win. After an absolutely embarrassing season, Cody Bellinger came up huge when it mattered.
As for the game ending call, I have no delusions that Whining Wilmer was going to do anything against Scherzer. But he should have gotten the opportunity. I was standing up in my living room watching the game with my son. The pitch was delivered, and Smith pointed for the check, and I said no. When the camera switched and the first base umpire rung him up, my reaction was, "WHAT?! Really?" No way in the world was that a swing. Obviously, I'll take the result, but there is NO WAY any game should end on a check swing that isn't beyond dispute, and this one wasn't even borderline.
Of course, Dodger fans on social media all began to scream about one of the mid-season games where Darin Ruf DIDN'T get rung up on an obvious swing that would and should have ended a game that the Giants ended up winning. As though this was some sort of make-up call or "karma" from the "baseball gods," which is just silly.
One guy on Reddit said it best: "It was a shitty call. And it will go down as one of many big huge moments in the long history between these two teams, and I’m ok with that. We hate each other for a reason.
I want the bad blood and the rage and the desire for revenge. It’s the best rivalry in sports for a reason, and we were all getting too happy and friendly and swapping players and executives and joking about the [P]adres and shit. Fuck that.
Giants fans, you got jobbed. You wouldn’t have won anyway, but you got jobbed. Thems the breaks. We’ll see you next year. . . . It’ll be an even year, y’all like those. Let’s do it all again.
God, I love baseball."
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By the way...
I'm now very glad the Braves beat the Brewers.
GO DODGERS!!!
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It's great they won, but not this way. This win feels tainted to me. The dude would have probably been out on the next pitch or two anyway, but in baseball, anything can happen! I wanted to beat these midgets clean and with no doubt, and that didn't happen.
We'll never live this down. Giants fans and Dodgers haters are going to be throwing this in our faces for years, just like the Astros and their fans get.
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It's great they won, but not this way. This win feels tainted to me. The dude would have probably been out on the next pitch or two anyway, but in baseball, anything can happen! I wanted to beat these midgets clean and with no doubt, and that didn't happen.
We'll never live this down. Giants fans and Dodgers haters are going to be throwing this in our faces for years, just like the Astros and their fans get.
Yup :biggrin:
It'll be another asterisk'd victory, right next to the covid shortened season championship :lol
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By the way...
I'm now very glad the Braves beat the Brewers.
I’m not :P
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Wtf? Just need to kick your own ass now.
Dafuq is wrong with you? :biggrin:
It takes a special person to get a Giants fan and a Dodgers fan to agree on something!
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I mean...whatever.
SCOREBOARD.
Wtf? Just need to kick your own ass now.
Dafuq is wrong with you? :biggrin:
It takes a special person to get a Giants fan and a Dodgers fan to agree on something!
So...I guess you're Jimmy Carter and lonestar and I are Sadat and Begin?
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(https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/boingboing/original/3X/2/e/2e76e02883a129220ae06ca4626c03ddded3e187.gif)
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Dodgers won. Giants didn't. The call was terrible. Oh well. History doesn't have asterisks.
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Wtf? Just need to kick your own ass now.
Dafuq is wrong with you? :biggrin:
It takes a special person to get a Giants fan and a Dodgers fan to agree on something!
How about something all of us can agree on... Fuck the Yankees.
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Wtf? Just need to kick your own ass now.
Dafuq is wrong with you? :biggrin:
It takes a special person to get a Giants fan and a Dodgers fan to agree on something!
How about something all of us can agree on... Fuck the Yankees.
That's not nice. That's my team since birth. :sad:
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I just saw the check swing from last night.
I'll say this though, that even though Flores had some great bat control, his arms are out front. It's a tough call, and under slo mo, it's clearly wrong, but in real time, Flores' arms swing....so that probably fooled the ump.
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Some of the hyperbole associated with this game has made me chuckle.
When I was at lunch a guy on ESPN radio said something to the effect of "how about Mookie Betts coming up huge in the biggest game of his life?!" Ummm...last time I checked, Mookie Betts played in and won two World Series with two different teams, and I'd have to believe some of those games were bigger.
The other one is that Vin Scully of all people put out a statement (before the game) about game 5 being "the most important game in the history of [the Dodger/Giant] rivalry." I mean...who am I to disagree with Vin (especially about this subject), but wasn't the Bobby Thompson game in 1951 "more important"? The Dodgers and Giants tied for the National League penant, and it was determined that they would play a 3-game series to determine which team would face the Yankees in the World Series. While the games in that series were officially "regular season" games, I have a hard time regarding the third game (the teams split the first two) not being more "important."
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but wasn't the Bobby Thompson game in 1951 "more important"? The Dodgers and Giants tied for the National League penant, and it was determined that they would play a 3-game series to determine which team would face the Yankees in the World Series. While the games in that series were officially "regular season" games, I have a hard time regarding the third game (the teams split the first two) not being more "important."
You were just a kid then, right? ;D
Oh, and Mookie is amazing.
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Dodgers won. Giants didn't. The call was terrible. Oh well. History doesn't have asterisks.
No but fan bases do. Look how long ago the Astros scandal was and we're still talking about it.
But as Vin would say, "it's a strikeout in the box score".
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but wasn't the Bobby Thompson game in 1951 "more important"? The Dodgers and Giants tied for the National League penant, and it was determined that they would play a 3-game series to determine which team would face the Yankees in the World Series. While the games in that series were officially "regular season" games, I have a hard time regarding the third game (the teams split the first two) not being more "important."
You were just a kid then, right? ;D
Har har har... :lol
My father and his father were born in Brooklyn. Between the two of them, they saw games in every place the Dodgers have ever called home. My family moved from Long Island to Southern California shortly after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, and it's always been a family joke that my father moved the family in order to follow the Dodgers. My brother, who was born in 1945, has told me more than once that, when Thompson hit that home run, my father nearly broke the family TV set. My father died when I was 7, so I have few memories of him, but I don't doubt that story.
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Your brother is 22 years older than you? He's older than my father!
I'm sorry to hear that about your father. Jeez, that blows.
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Even all of my Dodger fan friends, though happy, thought that was a completely fucked call. That says a lot. Funny, ten years ago this would've eaten me up for days, but I'm already over it. Chalk it up partially to maturity, and partially to knowing that one call didn't make for the series. The Giants left way too many offensive opportunities on the table. Hard to be a champion when every victory is gained by holding the other team to little or no runs. They found all the holes in the team that need filling for sure, the biggest one though, their heart, is just fine. Great season, a totally unexpected run to the best record in baseball, and an epic series with our hated rival that came down to the very last out of the very last game, both with 109 wins. That's some solid baseball for sure.
:GiantsMetal:
This is how I look at it. We'll be back next year. The Giants have some tough decisions to make this offseason though. Also, even though Doval gave up the winning run, he looks absolutely electric. I think he should definitely be the closer going forward.
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Even all of my Dodger fan friends, though happy, thought that was a completely fucked call. That says a lot. Funny, ten years ago this would've eaten me up for days, but I'm already over it. Chalk it up partially to maturity, and partially to knowing that one call didn't make for the series. The Giants left way too many offensive opportunities on the table. Hard to be a champion when every victory is gained by holding the other team to little or no runs. They found all the holes in the team that need filling for sure, the biggest one though, their heart, is just fine. Great season, a totally unexpected run to the best record in baseball, and an epic series with our hated rival that came down to the very last out of the very last game, both with 109 wins. That's some solid baseball for sure.
:GiantsMetal:
This is how I look at it. We'll be back next year. The Giants have some tough decisions to make this offseason though. Also, even though Doval gave up the winning run, he looks absolutely electric. I think he should definitely be the closer going forward.
Totally agree, he has that rare combination of speed and vicious movement that's just deadly in a closer
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Your brother is 22 years older than you? He's older than my father!
I'm sorry to hear that about your father. Jeez, that blows.
Thanks. It's been so long, I really don't give it much thought. Coincidentally, pretty much all my memories of him relate somehow to baseball. He's the guy second from the right in the picture below. He'd have been 100 this year.
(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/213488808_10221060014270591_5558862703657369244_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=ecoCgnBYpVkAX_Wh9JP&tn=6SbsvnXSt74MFmJE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=f5ddcaefd39746deaa6cb0ccd0e7cace&oe=617111D1)
The gap between when my four siblings were born was 10 1/2 years. The gap between my youngest sibling and me was 11 1/2 years. Needless to say, I was an accident.
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That's a great picture. Thank you for sharing it.
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That's a great picture. Thank you for sharing it.
Seconded.
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That's a great picture. Thank you for sharing it.
Seconded.
:tup
Unfortunately, the Dodgers had a shitty weekend. Hopefully things get batter as the series shifts to Dodger Stadium.
Go Sox tonight!
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Dodgers ain't going to the WS if they can't close a f'n game!!! :censored :facepalm: :loser: ::) Ridiculous.
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Sox just destroyed the Astros last night. Great to see.
Dodgers hitters need to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and get some clutch hits. Keep up the 2-18 with RISP, and this will be a short series.
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Who'da figured...Joe Kelly will be starting what might be the last Dodgers game of 2021.
Oy....
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Well...Kelly sucked yesterday but, for a change, EVERYONE else did not. Only one of eight position players in the starting lineup did not have a hit, and Chris Taylor did his best Reggie Jackson impression. And Cody Bellinger, who was under the Mendoza line all season, is now hitting .355 in 31 postseason ABs. If THIS Dodger team can show up every night NO ONE is going to beat them.
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Congratulations to the Braves! 2021 NL Champions! Dodgers and fans should be proud as well.
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The Brewers have been eliminated by the NLCS champion four years in a row
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Congratulations to the Braves! 2021 NL Champions! Dodgers and fans should be proud as well.
I mean...it's disappointing, but the Braves absolutely deserved it, and PLEASE destroy the Astros.
As for the Dodgers, it's sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that 60% of the teams starting rotation missed significant time this year and weren't around for the playoffs. Dustin May was lost for the season after making only 5 starts. Trevor Bauer has been on "administrative leave" since the end of June. Clayton Kershaw only pitched 122 innings (none in the playoffs). Getting Scherzer made the division close, but he and Buehler and Urias couldn't handle being the only three legit starters in the playoffs.
Lots of big free agent decisions to be made this offseason, so 2022 could be a very interesting season for the boys in Blue.
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Braves pitcher Charlie Morton got hit in the leg in Game 1, continued pitching, not knowing he broke his leg.
Give him the MVP right now.
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[Former Astros] pitcher Charlie Morton got hit in the leg in Game 1, . . . he broke his leg.
2017 karma?
That said, GO BRAVES!
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So...game 2 was basically a mirror image of game 1. Series resumes in Atlanta on Friday. Braves need to sweep to avoid going back to Houston for games 6 and 7. However, with Morton out, the Braves' pitching staff is going to be shorthanded. Hope they come through!
In other news, PETA demonstrates that it has nothing important to do: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/peta-mlb-should-rename-bullpen-to-more-animal-friendly-arm-barn/
Seriously? Are there NO legitimate animal welfare issues to be addressed? The term "bullpen" "devalues talented players"? WTF?!
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I made sure I didn't fall for this by clicking that link, as well as the link the author provided. One never knows if its something clever or insane that The Onion wrote up.
But, sure enough, that's what they suggested :facepalm:
Arm barn? Seriously!?!? Who raises arms? (other than students....)
Many teams fade during the dog days of August, as well as during the stretch run. Guess we'll have to change those two terms as well ;)
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FUCK THE ASTROS!!
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Nice to see the cheating scumbags come up short yet again.
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I don’t know if I’ll ever get tired of watching the Astros come up short. Fuck them.
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I don’t know if I’ll ever get tired of watching the Astros come up short. Fuck them.
...and Dusty Baker.
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The Brewers have been eliminated by the NLCS champion four years in a row
The Brewers have now been eliminated by the World Series winner three years in a row.
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Nice to see the cheating scumbags come up short yet again.
Indeed.
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FUCK THE ASTROS!!
Damn right!!! Well done, Braves.
The Dodgers didn't repeat, but I got two great things: the Dodgers winning a playoff series against the Giants on the Giants' field and another team winning a World Series and celebrating at the Juice Box (and with the Braves fans, at times, overpowering the Astros fans in the stands).
Bring on 2022!
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Outstanding series!
Also, we got the Pujols/Lidge hit video! 16 years in orbit.
(https://i.ibb.co/V3QnzS6/Lidge-Owned.jpg)
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I love baseball, but I think I watched a handful of innings from the LCSs onwards. The four to ten camera angle switches between every pitch, and the four hour games have made the game unwatchable for me for most of this century. The games last well past my bedtime, and I was so disinterested in the WS that I didn't know who won until I saw it here. Just glad the A**tros lost.
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The Brewers have now been eliminated by the World Series winner three years in a row.
That's true of the Dodgers in each of the last six seasons (except 2020 when they won it all).
Fun fact time!
In the 27 seasons since the strike, the NL has won the World Series 14 times, and the AL has won 13 times. In the 27 prior seasons (1967-93), the NL won 13 and the AL won 14.
During that same 54 year span, only once (1979-82) did one league win more than thrice in a row.
No team has won back-to-back since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000, and the only other back-to-back winners during this 54 year stretch were the 1977-78 Yankees, the 1975-76 Reds and the 1972-74 A's.
During this 54 year span, 29 of the 30 franchises have played in at least one World Series (sorry Mariners fans), and 23 of the 30 franchises won at least one World Series (sorry Mariners, Padres, Rockies, Rangers, Rays, Brewers and Indians fans).
All in all, that's some pretty impressive parity.
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No team has won back-to-back since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000, and the only other back-to-back winners during this 54 year stretch were the 1977-78 Yankees, the 1975-76 Reds and the 1972-74 A's.
Joe Carter would like a word with you.
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No team has won back-to-back since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000, and the only other back-to-back winners during this 54 year stretch were the 1977-78 Yankees, the 1975-76 Reds and the 1972-74 A's.
Joe Carter would like a word with you.
Damnit. I knew I was going to miss one.
(https://c.tenor.com/buIaWQSxFa8AAAAC/shame-cersei-lannister.gif)
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Posey to announce retirement tomorrow :(
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FUCK THE ASTROS!!
I know Joe Buck said we need to get past it and he gave valid reasons why we should move on.
But I agree - FUCK THE ASTROS!!!!!!
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Posey to announce retirement tomorrow :(
Wow...why? Too much wear and tear on the body? Or something else?
Not counting his September call-up season in 2009, he only played 11 full seasons (and was injured for most of the 2011 season).
He's obviously got the credentials for the HOF (ROTY, MVP, four Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove), but his numbers are lacking (only 1,500 career hits, 158 HR and 729 RBI), and his postseason numbers aren't very good. As a Dodger fan, I'm legally obligated to hate him, but I'm on the fence about him getting into the HOF.
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Posey to announce retirement tomorrow :(
Wow...why? Too much wear and tear on the body? Or something else?
Not counting his September call-up season in 2009, he only played 11 full seasons (and was injured for most of the 2011 season).
He's obviously got the credentials for the HOF (ROTY, MVP, four Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove), but his numbers are lacking (only 1,500 career hits, 158 HR and 729 RBI), and his postseason numbers aren't very good. As a Dodger fan, I'm legally obligated to hate him, but I'm on the fence about him getting into the HOF.
I'd guess the wear and tear, and maybe he's just done and wants to go out in good shape. I'm sure hell be in the HOF, maybe not first ballot but he'll make it. He's just too good a steward of the game not to.
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Right. He'll be in. Didn't MLB change the plowing into home rule because of his injury?
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Didn't MLB change the plowing into home rule because of his injury?
Yup.
As for the HOF, I feel like he's going to make it, but I'm not sure he should...maybe the Sandy Koufax exception applies. I don't know.
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2022 universal DH, thank goodness!!! . Just common sense. Jorge Soler the WS MVP was a DH. Would you want your starter batting when you have hitters on the bench? Too risky and literally cost some pitchers their careers. Should have been universal DH years ago. Moronic! It automatically gave NL teams advantages in their home field.
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2022 universal DH, thank goodness!!! . Just common sense.
So much NO.
Jorge Soler the WS MVP was a DH.
Well...sort of. He was the DH in the 50% of the games that were played with designated hitters. And in the other 50% of the games he was the right fielder (and, in one game, bench warmer).
Would you want your starter batting when you have hitters on the bench?
Yes. Catchers are also often weak hitters. Let's have designated hitters for catchers too. Same with second basemen. Heck...let's have a whole roster of designated hitters so that no one who plays in the field also bats.
Too risky and literally cost some pitchers their careers.
Who?
It automatically gave NL teams advantages in their home field.
It does? Is that advantage any different than the advantage that the home team is presumed to enjoy simply because it is playing at home?
While I was not able to find statistics limited to interleague games played in National League parks, American League teams have won 302 more interleague games than National League since interleague play began, so I doubt that any advantage is statistically significant.
Also, in the 34 World Series from 1986-2021 (excluding 2020, in which the DH was used in all six games), the designated hitter was used in games in the AL park and not used in games in the NL park. During those 35 series, the AL teams' aggregate record in games played in the NL parks was 46-50. Hardly a statistically significant advantage, and certainly not one that rises above the level of an ordinary home-field advantage. However, if you add all games in the 1973-75, 77, 79, 81, 83 and 85 World Series (in which NL rules were used in all seven WS games despite the AL using the DH during the regular season), the AL's overall record in games in which the pitchers batted jumps to 74-72.
Needless to say, I disagree that the universal DH is "common sense" and that not using DHs is "moronic" (or anything close to it).
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2022 universal DH, thank goodness!!! . Just common sense.
So much NO.
Jorge Soler the WS MVP was a DH.
Well...sort of. He was the DH in the 50% of the games that were played with designated hitters. And in the other 50% of the games he was the right fielder (and, in one game, bench warmer).
Would you want your starter batting when you have hitters on the bench?
Yes. Catchers are also often weak hitters. Let's have designated hitters for catchers too. Same with second basemen. Heck...let's have a whole roster of designated hitters so that no one who plays in the field also bats.
Too risky and literally cost some pitchers their careers.
Who?
It automatically gave NL teams advantages in their home field.
It does? Is that advantage any different than the advantage that the home team is presumed to enjoy simply because it is playing at home?
While I was not able to find statistics limited to interleague games played in National League parks, American League teams have won 302 more interleague games than National League since interleague play began, so I doubt that any advantage is statistically significant.
Also, in the 34 World Series from 1986-2021 (excluding 2020, in which the DH was used in all six games), the designated hitter was used in games in the AL park and not used in games in the NL park. During those 35 series, the AL teams' aggregate record in games played in the NL parks was 46-50. Hardly a statistically significant advantage, and certainly not one that rises above the level of an ordinary home-field advantage. However, if you add all games in the 1973-75, 77, 79, 81, 83 and 85 World Series (in which NL rules were used in all seven WS games despite the AL using the DH during the regular season), the AL's overall record in games in which the pitchers batted jumps to 74-72.
Needless to say, I disagree that the universal DH is "common sense" and that not using DHs is "moronic" (or anything close to it).
10000000% MORONIC!!! Chin min Wang running the bases, Tanaka tagging from third. Wang was never the same and retired and Tanaka hamstring. Off the top of my head. You want your pitcher hitting over ANY bench player seriously???? Come on man!!!!! :tdwn
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I want my players playing baseball. Playing baseball involves both defense and offense. Starting pitchers make more money than any other position, so there's nothing wrong with expecting them to play the complete game.
I barely remember Chin Min Wang, but if he was such a piss poor athlete that he was incapable of running, then he shouldn't be in the league. Same with Tanaka.
And again, why not have designated hitters for all positions?
Or, if the point is that we want a better hitter batting, just get rid of the concept of a lineup entirely and let the best player who isn't already on base hit -- even if that means the same guy gets seven at bats in an inning and multiple at bats in a row.
Or...you know...just get rid of the DH altogether so that it's not such a shock to the system when AL pitchers are expected to act like athletes.
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Then how come pitchers don't hit after high school? If that was the case then you're argument would be valid and I would get you're point. all other positions bat all the way through the system, that's the difference.
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Then how come pitchers don't hit after high school? If that was the case then you're argument would be valid and I would get you're point.
*Your
Obviously, the NCAA and non-NL affiliate minor league teams followed the lead of the American League (NL affiliated AA and AAA teams have pitchers bat).
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Then how come pitchers don't hit after high school? If that was the case then you're argument would be valid and I would get you're point.
*Your
Obviously, the NCAA and non-NL affiliate minor league teams followed the lead of the American League (NL affiliated AA and AAA teams have pitchers bat).
Most Pitchers do not get consistent at bats in both leagues. Answer this.... Would you rather have a pitcher come to the plate over any other position player or DH in a key spot in the game seriously? It makes zero sense and this is why it will change.
One example, Walker Buehler batted .101 in 69 at bats in 2021 and that's what most pitchers do.
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What do I want?
I want pitchers to bat. If you don't want your pitcher to bat in a particular spot, then pinch hit.
Do I think I'm going to get what I want or that the universal DH isn't inevitable? No.
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What do I want?
I want pitchers to bat. If you don't want your pitcher to bat in a particular spot, then pinch hit.
Do I think I'm going to get what I want or that the universal DH isn't inevitable? No.
Ok, you're clearly not the only one who feels this way, I don't have to agree but I respect your opinion. (I'm holding up a white flag in peace my friend) :)
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Ohtani with the unanimous MVP! And congrats to Harper on his 2nd.
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Well...let's see. The MLB awards mostly went under my radar this week.
NL MVP
Bryce Harper (17/30 first-place votes)
Juan Soto
Fernando Tatis Jr.
This was a two horse race as far as I was concerned. Tatis barely belongs on the list. Brandon Crawford got more first-place votes than Tatis.
AL MVP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Shohei Ohtani (30 of 30 first-place votes)
Marcus Semien
I don't have a ton of insight into this race, but the vote really highlights that the MVP award is misnamed. Ohtani was of almost no value to the Angels, except for every 5th or 6th game at the turnstiles. The Angels were 77-85 and easily could have done about as well with or without Ohtani. This was a "player of the year" vote.
NL Cy Young
Corbin Burnes (12 of 30 first-place votes)
Max Scherzer
Zack Wheeler
This was the only vote in which the winner did not receive more than 50% of the first-place votes. In fact, Burnes and Wheeler both received 12 first-place votes (with Scherzer getting the other 6), and Burnes won by virture of more second-place votes. It would be really hard to argue against any of the top three. I will say that Julio Urias not getting anything more than three fifth-place votes is a complete joke.
AL Cy Young
Gerrit Cole
Lance Lynn
Robbie Ray (29 of 30 first-place votes)
This wasn't even close. Ray got 29 first-place votes and one second-place votes, while Cole got one first-place votes and 29 second-place votes.
NL ROTY
Dylan Carlson
Jonathan India (29 of 30 first-place votes)
Trevor Rogers
Another vote that wasn't close. The one first-place vote that India didn't get went to Rogers, who got 26 of the 30 second-place votes. I have no idea who Trevor Rogers is (Marlins), and I only vaguely think I've heard of Dylan Carlson.
AL ROTY
Randy Arozarena (22 of 30 first-place votes)
Wander Franco
Luis Garcia
I was surprised Arozarena was still a rookie, and this feels like it was a reward for his postseason performance in 2020. The only thing I know about Garcia is that he got shelled a lot in the postseason, and I only recognize Franco because of his unusual first name.
NL Manager of the Year
Craig Counsell
Gabe Kapler (28 of 30 first-place votes)
Mike Shildt
Despite "only" getting 28 first-place votes (Counsell and Shildt each got one), this seems like the biggest no-brainer ever. Giants hadn't had better than a .483 winning percentage since 2016 and they win 107 f-ing games. I hate the Giants with every fiber of my being, but this should have been unanimous.
AL Manager of the Year
Dusty Baker
Kevin Cash (19 of 30 first-place votes)
Scott Servais
Two in a row for Cash. Kinda feel like Dusty Baker should've gotten more love.
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Cash all the way.
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Not a single player in the top three in MVP voting played on a playoff team.
Another MVP "fun fact":
The MVP award (as we now know it) has been given out every year since 1931. From 1931-2009 is 79 seasons, so we've had 158 winners (although many players obviously won multiple awards). The only active player who won an MVP during that period is Albert Pujols, and no sane person would not regard him as a HOFer, so I will consider him as such for purposes of this fact. Of the 158 winners, only 69 (33 from the AL and 36 from the NL) are not in the HOF. Of those 69, we have Barry Bonds (who won 7) and Pete Rose (1), two players who would unquestionably be in the HOF but for the gambling and steroid thing, so the "real" number 61, which means 97/158 winners (61.4%) are (or should be) HOFers. That's pretty impressive considering only 235 of over 19,000 players (about 1%) are in the HOF. Looking at the list of winners from 2010 to present, there are 7-8 virtual locks for HOF: Verlander, Cabrera, Trout (x3), Kershaw and maybe Votto.
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No posts about baseball trades??? Scherzer to Mets, Corey Seager to Texas. ::) Mega contracts.
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No posts about baseball trades??? Scherzer to Mets, Corey Seager to Texas. ::) Mega contracts.
Texas finally spending some money! :metal
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No posts about baseball trades??? Scherzer to Mets, Corey Seager to Texas. ::) Mega contracts.
That Corey Seager signing makes 0 sense to me. He is not worth anywhere near that kind of money.
Also the Bluejays picked up Kevin Gausman. I was hoping the Giants would pick him back up for a 3ish year contract.
I guess the Giants are about to sign the often injured Alex Cobb... Not really a direct replacement for Guasman.
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The Seager deal is ridiculous.
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As they say, you're worth what someone is willing to pay.
As a Dodger fan, I'm not all that upset about Seager leaving. There's a lot of sentiment that he's destined to be a 3B (although my understanding is that he doesn't want that). He's an average to below average defensive shortstop and also has some notable injury history. It's not like there's a salary cap or the Dodgers are low on money, but I'm glad they didn't give him a contract like that.
Of course, the guy who should be happiest about the Seager deal (besides Seager and Boras) is Trea Turner. The Dodgers will have to print money to keep him after next season.
I'm also fine with losing Scherzer. The "dead arm" during the playoffs raised HUGE red flags, and THREE years for the highest average annual salary ever is WAY too much.
However, my concern as a Dodger fan revolves around the rotation. The 2021 starting 5 at the start of the season was Buehler, Bauer, Kershaw, Urias and May. Only Buehler and Urias were left by the time the playoffs started. Bauer was essentially replaced by Scherzer, but we had NOTHING to fill out even a 4-man rotation in the playoffs.
So now, we have Buehler and Urias as 2/5 of the starting rotation. Bauer remains in "administrative leave" limbo, May is recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn't expected until mid-season, and we have no idea if Kershaw wants to come back and is healthy. I'd LOVE to have Kershaw retire as a Dodger. However, we have to be 100% confident that he can give us 30 starts and still resemble the guy who pitched pretty well in 2021. He's also going to have to be willing to take less money to come back to the Dodgers than the Rangers will almost certainly throw at him. We also picked up Andrew Heaney. Oh boy. All I know is that the starting rotation at the start of the season CANNOT be Buehler, Urias, Heaney, Tony Gonsolin, and the bullpen and duct tape until May returns. Unfortunately, the available free agent starters list is looking really slim.
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Unfortunately, the available free agent starters list is looking really slim.
This is bad news for the Giants too. Will be interesting to see how both teams fill out their rotations before the season starts. If Logan Webb hadn't emerged as a top of the line starter the only starting pitcher we'd have going into the season so far is DeSclafani....and he's at best a decent number 3 starter. I wouldn't mind getting Alex Wood back.
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The Seager deal is ridiculous.
Maybe but these moves ensure a far improved infield and maybe one of the better ones in the league. Rumor around these parts is that they are looking at going after Clayton Kershaw.
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The Seager deal is ridiculous.
Maybe but these moves ensure a far improved infield and maybe one of the better ones in the league. Rumor around these parts is that they are looking at going after Clayton Kershaw.
Assuming "they" refers to the Rangers, there's no question that the Rangers are a possible landing cite for Kersh if he doesn't return to the Dodgers. In fact, I'd say there's virtually NO chance Kershaw will ever play for a team other than the Dodgers or the Rangers.
As I mentioned previously, I really want Kershaw to be a Dodger for his entire career. However, his health is a huge issue. He's also the rare (former) superstar for whom money isn't going to be the primary motivator. Family and faith-based charity work are huge for him, so I can see him as a guy who will retire early and not look back. Really hard to say, though, because he's also a super intense competitor.
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MLB is officially in a lockout. I hope this gets resolved sooner than later. :(
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MLB is officially in a lockout. I hope this gets resolved sooner than later. :(
Judging by the changes both sides are trying to implement and how neither side can come to an agreement of any kind, I don't see this being resolved any time soon. I hope this isn't the case, but we may be looking at the first time we lose games because of a lockout.
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Just getting to this, but pg1067 is saying everything I tend to think about the DH and doing it better than I could. I don't want positions in sports to get too specialized. I want players on the field to be the best athletes in the world, not just good at the one skill they possess.
I want pitchers to bat. If you don't want your pitcher to bat in a particular spot, then pinch hit.
Or make sure your pitcher can at least make contact, hit a sac fly maybe, or lay down a decent bunt.
Oh, and yeah, MLB labor discord. Sigh...
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MLB is officially in a lockout. I hope this gets resolved sooner than later. :(
Judging by the changes both sides are trying to implement and how neither side can come to an agreement of any kind, I don't see this being resolved any time soon. I hope this isn't the case, but we may be looking at the first time we lose games because of a lockout.
I'm with you. You could see the strained relationship between union and league during the Covid negotiations.
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This says it all: https://soundcloud.com/stevebush/lockout
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Universal DH is stupid
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As they say, you're worth what someone is willing to pay.
As a Dodger fan, I'm not all that upset about Seager leaving. There's a lot of sentiment that he's destined to be a 3B (although my understanding is that he doesn't want that). He's an average to below average defensive shortstop and also has some notable injury history. It's not like there's a salary cap or the Dodgers are low on money, but I'm glad they didn't give him a contract like that.
Of course, the guy who should be happiest about the Seager deal (besides Seager and Boras) is Trea Turner. The Dodgers will have to print money to keep him after next season.
I'm also fine with losing Scherzer. The "dead arm" during the playoffs raised HUGE red flags, and THREE years for the highest average annual salary ever is WAY too much.
However, my concern as a Dodger fan revolves around the rotation. The 2021 starting 5 at the start of the season was Buehler, Bauer, Kershaw, Urias and May. Only Buehler and Urias were left by the time the playoffs started. Bauer was essentially replaced by Scherzer, but we had NOTHING to fill out even a 4-man rotation in the playoffs.
So now, we have Buehler and Urias as 2/5 of the starting rotation. Bauer remains in "administrative leave" limbo, May is recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn't expected until mid-season, and we have no idea if Kershaw wants to come back and is healthy. I'd LOVE to have Kershaw retire as a Dodger. However, we have to be 100% confident that he can give us 30 starts and still resemble the guy who pitched pretty well in 2021. He's also going to have to be willing to take less money to come back to the Dodgers than the Rangers will almost certainly throw at him. We also picked up Andrew Heaney. Oh boy. All I know is that the starting rotation at the start of the season CANNOT be Buehler, Urias, Heaney, Tony Gonsolin, and the bullpen and duct tape until May returns. Unfortunately, the available free agent starters list is looking really slim.
All good points. Gonsolin should go to a mid-level club, he'd do fine.
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Well...once again, the BBWAA proves itself to be a sham group that is making the HOF less and less legitimate as time passes.
I'm fine with David Ortiz getting in. His power numbers and clutch performances in the post season are undeniable. BUT...
He tested positive for steroids. Yet he gets in while the all-time HR leader doesn't. Neither does a guy with 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts. And not putting Schilling in because...what? He espoused an unpopular political position years after he retired? Fucking what?
Those guys don't get in but Ortiz does? And Gaylord Perry is in despite admittedly cheating and, in fact, sometimes being celebrated for it.
The whole point of the Hall of Fame is to tell the story of baseball through its best players, and you can't do that without Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, etc.
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They need to get rid or the morals clause. Ortiz got in because he was good to the media. Clemens & Bonds were not. Curt just needed to stay off social media for a few year but couldn't. Not right at all but obviously the writers are petty.
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The whole point of the Hall of Fame is to tell the story of baseball through its best players, and you can't do that without Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, etc.
This. My family of Giants and A's fans has been having a heated, one sided discussion on the topic, as has the local media, and for us it boiled down to this. And with the longball era of Bonds/McGuire/Sosa etc...these guys saved baseball from near disaster after the strike, and made their respective clubs, the league in general, and anyone associated with it bags and bags of money. Now to all of a sudden claim their work is beneath recognition reeks of hypocrisy.
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They need to get rid or the morals clause. Ortiz got in because he was good to the media. Clemens & Bonds were not. Curt just needed to stay off social media for a few year but couldn't. Not right at all but obviously the writers are petty.
The Schilling thing is the worst of them all. I don't agree, but I can at least understand the argument against the steroid guys. The Schilling thing is just pettiness for the sake of being petty.
for us it boiled down to this. And with the longball era of Bonds/McGuire/Sosa etc...these guys saved baseball from near disaster after the strike, and made their respective clubs, the league in general, and anyone associated with it bags and bags of money. Now to all of a sudden claim their work is beneath recognition reeks of hypocrisy.
Hugely hypocritical. Tim Kurkjian was on Dan Patrick's show this morning. He made it clear that he's been voting for these guys all along, and he seemed really to be struggling to justify what the writers, as a whole, are doing.
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They need to get rid or the morals clause. Ortiz got in because he was good to the media. Clemens & Bonds were not. Curt just needed to stay off social media for a few year but couldn't. Not right at all but obviously the writers are petty.
The Schilling thing is the worst of them all. I don't agree, but I can at least understand the argument against the steroid guys. The Schilling thing is just pettiness for the sake of being petty.
for us it boiled down to this. And with the longball era of Bonds/McGuire/Sosa etc...these guys saved baseball from near disaster after the strike, and made their respective clubs, the league in general, and anyone associated with it bags and bags of money. Now to all of a sudden claim their work is beneath recognition reeks of hypocrisy.
Hugely hypocritical. Tim Kurkjian was on Dan Patrick's show this morning. He made it clear that he's been voting for these guys all along, and he seemed really to be struggling to justify what the writers, as a whole, are doing.
As the older writes pass on, the newer generation won't even really know about the scandals' at all.
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Tim Kurkjian was on Dan Patrick's show this morning. He made it clear that he's been voting for these guys all along, and he seemed really to be struggling to justify what the writers, as a whole, are doing.
I'll give Kurkjian credit for voting for Bonds and Clemens every year for the last 10 years, but his "I understand it" comment regarding some not voting for Schilling because of his behavior in recent years reeks of media cowards having the backs of one another. What Curt Schilling said a decade after his career ended should have ZERO impact on his Hall of Fame credentials. Don't get me wrong, I think Schilling is kind of a jackass, but this just proves once again how awful the media is (as if we needed more proof).
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Tim Kurkjian was on Dan Patrick's show this morning. He made it clear that he's been voting for these guys all along, and he seemed really to be struggling to justify what the writers, as a whole, are doing.
I'll give Kurkjian credit for voting for Bonds and Clemens every year for the last 10 years, but his "I understand it" comment regarding some not voting for Schilling because of his behavior in recent years reeks of media cowards having the backs of one another. What Curt Schilling said a decade after his career ended should have ZERO impact on his Hall of Fame credentials. Don't get me wrong, I think Schilling is kind of a jackass, but this just proves once again how awful the media is (as if we needed more proof).
Curt Schilling's general jack-assery and politics aside, I still wouldn't vote him into the hall of fame. He was a good pitcher, even really good for a handful of seasons, but he was never great, in my opinion.
He had very similar overall numbers to guys like Kevin Brown, Orel Hershiser, and Bob Welch (who I think were all better than Schilling and are not in the HoF) and even guys like Tim Hudson, who wasn't necessarily better, but I don't think stands a snowball's chance in hell of getting into the HoF.
Bonds and Clemens should be in the HoF and should have been voted in on the first ballot. In my mind they are both HoFers. Steroids or not, Bonds is the greatest player in the history of the sport and no one comes close.
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Curt Schilling's general jack-assery and politics aside, I still wouldn't vote him into the hall of fame. He was a good pitcher, even really good for a handful of seasons, but he was never great, in my opinion.
He had very similar overall numbers to guys like Kevin Brown, Orel Hershiser, and Bob Welch (who I think were all better than Schilling and are not in the HoF) and even guys like Tim Hudson, who wasn't necessarily better, but I don't think stands a snowball's chance in hell of getting into the HoF.
I think Schilling is on the bubble, but what puts him over the edge for me were his post seasons in both Arizona and Boston. Legendary. Plus, he was runner up 3 times for the Cy Young.
Bonds and Clemens should be in the HoF and should have been voted in on the first ballot. In my mind they are both HoFers. Steroids or not, Bonds is the greatest player in the history of the sport and no one comes close.
The fact that they're out and Ortiz is in is a fucking travesty. Bonds and Clemens didn't need PEDs to be HOFers. Ortiz did.
I mean how in the hell are Biggio and Bagwell in? They are best the equal of the pitchers you posted above, but really they're just PED guys.
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Bonds and Clemens should be in the HoF and should have been voted in on the first ballot. In my mind they are both HoFers. Steroids or not, Bonds is the greatest player in the history of the sport and no one comes close.
The fact that they're out and Ortiz is in is a fucking travesty. Bonds and Clemens didn't need PEDs to be HOFers. Ortiz did.
I mean how in the hell are Biggio and Bagwell in? They are best the equal of the pitchers you posted above, but really they're just PED guys.
On this I can agree.
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Does A-Rod belong in the HOF? :corn
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John Clayton the NFL writer is on the radio a lot here in Seattle. He is a member of the Writer's Wing of the NFL HoF and a current HoF voter. He has been talking recently about how the NFL HoF works. It is not based on individual ballots like MLB. The voters get in a room, or now on a Zoom call, and discuss each candidate. And while they may discuss their off-the-field behavior, they are not allowed to include anything off-the-field when casting their votes. That's the simplistic summary anyway. He went in to much more detail. I thought it was interesting, definitely more collaborative than the MLB HoF.
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Curt Schilling's general jack-assery and politics aside, I still wouldn't vote him into the hall of fame. He was a good pitcher, even really good for a handful of seasons, but he was never great, in my opinion.
He had very similar overall numbers to guys like Kevin Brown, Orel Hershiser, and Bob Welch (who I think were all better than Schilling and are not in the HoF) and even guys like Tim Hudson, who wasn't necessarily better, but I don't think stands a snowball's chance in hell of getting into the HoF.
I think Schilling is on the bubble, but what puts him over the edge for me were his post seasons in both Arizona and Boston. Legendary. Plus, he was runner up 3 times for the Cy Young.
And Philly. He was the 1993 NLCS MVP (in addition to his WS MVP with Arizona). Also, while you're not incorrect that some of his numbers are similar to Brown, Hershiser and Welch (he had from 700-1,100 more strikeouts than any of those guys), his numbers compare favorably to some undeniable HOFers, particularly John Smoltz:
Schilling: 216 wins over 20 seasons. Smoltz: 213 wins over 21 seasons (several of which were very limited action)
Schilling: 3.46 ERA. Smoltz: 3.33 ERA
Schilling: 3,116 K over 3,261 IP. Smoltz: 3,084 K over 3,473 IP
Schilling: 127 ERA+. Smoltz: 125 ERA+
Schilling's postseason numbers: 11-2, 2.23 ERA and 120K in 133.1 IP. Smoltz's postseason numbers: 15-4, 2.67 ERA and 199K in 209.0 IP (plus 4 saves)
Over his career, Smoltz's teams had a .526 winning percentage, while Schilling's had a .499 winning percentage.
Other than Smoltz having 154 saves and having played on the best regular season team throughout the '90s, they're essentially the same guy. His numbers are very comparable to Roy Halladay (although I don't think he should have gotten in because he had no significant postseason resume) and Mike Mussina (who also shouldn't be in because he was not a very good postseason pitcher on teams that didn't win in the postseason). Yet no one questioned Smoltz getting in.
The list of guys that make no sense to me includes Larry Walker, Tim Raines, Barry Larkin and Phil Rizzuto.
Does A-Rod belong in the HOF? :corn
In my view, he's in a different category than the other steroid guys because he tested positive -- twice -- AFTER the PED rules were put into place. That said, the games he played in were official games that counted, so I'd have a hard time leaving him out.
John Clayton the NFL writer is on the radio a lot here in Seattle. He is a member of the Writer's Wing of the NFL HoF and a current HoF voter. He has been talking recently about how the NFL HoF works. It is not based on individual ballots like MLB. The voters get in a room, or now on a Zoom call, and discuss each candidate. And while they may discuss their off-the-field behavior, they are not allowed to include anything off-the-field when casting their votes. That's the simplistic summary anyway. He went in to much more detail. I thought it was interesting, definitely more collaborative than the MLB HoF.
I didn't know about the process, but I did know that character was expressly not part of the NFL voting process. It's probably one reason why the annual debates about the baseball HOF don't plague the NFL.
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To show the absurdity of it this way, if alleged (or proven) PED users are being kept out of the Hall, do other players who benefited because of it get docked their team accomplishments as a result?
I will used Derek Jeter as an example. He won 5 rings, but won all of them playing with Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and/or Alex Rodriguez, all of whom are suspected or admitted PED users, so do some or all of Jeter's 5 rings get an asterisk?
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To show the absurdity of it this way, if alleged (or proven) PED users are being kept out of the Hall, do other players who benefited because of it get docked their team accomplishments as a result?
I will used Derek Jeter as an example. He won 5 rings, but won all of them playing with Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and/or Alex Rodriguez, all of whom are suspected or admitted PED users, so do some or all of Jeter's 5 rings get an asterisk?
Well, but Derek Jeter is a WINNAH!
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Looking at next year's ballot...the only first-timer who has ANY shot of getting any significant votes is Carlos Beltran. That may bode well for guys like Scott Rolen, Todd Helton and Billy Wagner, all of whom got more than 50% of the votes this year. I think, however, that Wagner's numbers will tail off. Helton is way more deserving than Rolen IMO, but he's got the whole Coors Field stigma to deal with.
After that, Adrian Beltre's a lock for 2024, but I don't think anyone else is. Ichiro Suzuki is a lock for 2025, but no one else, and I don't see any new guys making it in 2026 unless Pujols, Kershaw or Molina retires this offseason (although that might not make them eligible until 2027).
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Jeremy Giambi dead at 47. Wow!
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Jeremy Giambi dead at 47. Wow!
WTF???? Gerald Williams died Tuesday at 55 and now this? Sad and Scary. R.I.P.
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Jeremy Giambi dead at 47. Wow!
I really tried to come up with a joke about him not sliding, but I couldn't come up with anything good enough to justify how distasteful it would be.
The funny thing was that, on Monday, I was talking about baseball with a guy at my office, and Jason Giambi's name came up. He said he thought Jason had died, and I said I didn't recall that. We looked him up, and he's still very much alive. I then brought up the Jeremy Giambi/Derek Jeter play and lamented Jeremy's failure to slide. Then, when I saw yesterday that Jeremy had died, I sent the story to my friend and commented that it was creepy given our discussion two days earlier.
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Jason Giambi cause of death: Suicide by gunshot to the chest. Whatever he was struggling with won the battle and that breaks my heart.
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I was going to remark on the universal DH, and then I read this page about Giambi. What can I say.....?
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Nice write-up by the great Poz on the lockout:
https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/walker-player-ranger?utm_source=url
Some real nice points there, a few nuances that I wasn't aware of. As always, eff the owners.
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Nice write-up by the great Poz on the lockout:
https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/walker-player-ranger?utm_source=url
Some real nice points there, a few nuances that I wasn't aware of. As always, eff the owners.
That was a good write-up and got me to thinking how much evil geniuses the owners are. Turn the players' salaries against them so the fans will blame them and not the oligarchs that run sports franchises. I saw an interview with Dave Wannstedt and he said that there are only about 10 or 12 good franchises in the NFL which I suppose could translate into MLB as well.
This got me to thinking that some owners don't care about championships so if they lose money then they just write it off which reminded e of this gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkkhrAQyrAs
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If the reports coming out today are true, expect a lot of cancelled games this year.
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I wonder if this was the final straw that caused Jeter to leave the Marlins.
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Money, greed, and the absolute inability to work together/compromise on anything has ruined baseball. The owners don't care about the game of baseball at all, they only care about how much money it will make them and if the players association doesn't agree, then the owners are basically doing the whole taking the ball and going home routine. It's the equivalent of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. Only these guys are millionaires/billionaires. Just meet the demands of the players, have a full season of baseball and you will still line your pockets with more money than you will know what to do with... >:( >:(
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Money, greed, and the absolute inability to work together/compromise on anything has ruined baseball. The owners don't care about the game of baseball at all, they only care about how much money it will make them and if the players association doesn't agree, then the owners are basically doing the whole taking the ball and going home routine. It's the equivalent of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. Only these guys are millionaires/billionaires. Just meet the demands of the players, have a full season of baseball and you will still line your pockets with more money than you will know what to do with... >:( >:(
You're 100% right! :censored >:( I'd rather watch college baseball.
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Maybe a bit of schadenfreude, but I am hoping that the season is delayed till May/June, and once games start up, literally no one shows up to the stadiums. I know that only hurts the players, but that would be a sight to see, the fans saying collectively "piss off, we have other things we can spend our time and money on..."
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Players are going to play in other countries or retiring. Josh Reddick just signed to play 2022 in Mexico.
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Players are going to play in other countries or retiring. Josh Reddick just signed to play 2022 in Mexico.
The owners are going to screw around so much to try to figure out how to make as much money as possible, they are going to completely kill baseball. Then they will make no money. Jokes on them........ and all the fans of the sport :(
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I love baseball. I love coming home and unwinding at night with a game. Even if the Sox aren't on, I can sit through any national game. But WTF? Why should I care?
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I love baseball. I love coming home and unwinding at night with a game. Even if the Sox aren't on, I can sit through any national game. But WTF? Why should I care?
Because baseball is a great game!
But the oligarchs that control the game have done nothing to improve it and the TV ratings of the last 10 years prove this out as baseball is a slowly dying sport for TV.
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I love baseball. I love coming home and unwinding at night with a game. Even if the Sox aren't on, I can sit through any national game. But WTF? Why should I care?
Because baseball is a great game!
Yes, I get that.
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Baseball used to be a great game, but the way it is played now is so boring. 4-hour playoff games, stupid shifts, players too much preoccupied with hitting home runs, 9 pitching changes per team in playoff games, etc. I used to be a HUGE Cardinals fan, but now I cannot even name five players on the current roster. That is how much my interest in baseball has plummeted in the last decade.
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Kev, completely agree.
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It is, and always will be, a great game. Right now, and for the past 10+ years, it has been a horrible professional sport. And it isn't one or two things. It is suffering from death by 1,000 cuts, completely unaware, or caring, that it is bleeding out.
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It is, and always will be, a great game. Right now, and for the past 10+ years, it has been a horrible professional sport. And it isn't one or two things. It is suffering from death by 1,000 cuts, completely unaware, or caring, that it is bleeding out.
This is all true and the ironic part is they have been saying they want to recapture the younger audiences again by shortening seasons, innings, pitch clock, batter can't step out of the box, take away shifts for more offense etc... And then a lockout hits that has left players unsigned and uncertain, fans disgusted. The business end of baseball reared its ugly head. I absolutely love the game itself but it feels like its demise is coming. Sad.
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It is, and always will be, a great game. Right now, and for the past 10+ years, it has been a horrible professional sport. And it isn't one or two things. It is suffering from death by 1,000 cuts, completely unaware, or caring, that it is bleeding out.
This is all true and the ironic part is they have been saying they want to recapture the younger audiences again by shortening seasons, innings, pitch clock, batter can't step out of the box, take away shifts for more offense etc... And then a lockout hits that has left players unsigned and uncertain, fans disgusted. The business end of baseball reared its ugly head. I absolutely love the game itself but it feels like its demise is coming. Sad.
yep. I like many grew up playing baseball and used to love watching it. However, I'd say in the last 10 years I've steadily grown less interested in watching to the point now where I can honestly say it's been a solid 5 years at least since I've watched a full game. I live in a fantastic baseball city (St. Louis) where Cardinal opening day is basically a holiday and the true fans are just nuts. But, the game itself.....for me.....is incredibly slow and boring. It's painful to even try and watch a game. Especially when compared to a much more competitive and fast paced sport like Hockey. The arrogance of the 'modern day' player is a massive turn off along with the ridiculous amounts of money they make. For that type of money it should at least be entertaining but it's not. Throw in the greed of the owners and the sport is just one big 'turn off'. I respect those of you who still love it....what I'm saying is merely how I feel and I know it's not 'fact'....so, more power to you. I just can't do it.
I get that the nuances of baseball and the 'strategy' and all that are supposed to be what makes the game great and all....but man....it's a freaking chore to try and sit through one full inning for me. If a game is on at someone's house I go to I'll watch it....but if you said you'd give me $100 if I told you the last time I intentionally looked up a baseball game to watch it your money would be safe.
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Baseball used to be a great game, but the way it is played now is so boring. 4-hour playoff games, stupid shifts, players too much preoccupied with hitting home runs, 9 pitching changes per team in playoff games, etc. I used to be a HUGE Cardinals fan, but now I cannot even name five players on the current roster. That is how much my interest in baseball has plummeted in the last decade.
I turned on MLB Network Monday night, and Harold Reynolds did a breakdown of a couple at-bats from the 1983 World Series. Despite featuring several HOFers, it's a pretty obscure and not a very well-remembered Series (probably because the Orioles batted .213 and the Phillies .195), so I'm not sure why Reynolds picked that series or these particular at-bats. They were from game 5, and Charlie Hudson was pitching to Cal Ripken, Jr. and Eddie Murray in the top of the 4th. Reynolds put a pitch clock on Hudson. He delivered the majority of his 6 pitches to Ripken 12-15 seconds after delivering the prior pitch. After Ripken walked, and even with a runner on base and Eddie Murray arguing the called strike on the first pitch, he delivered his two pitches to Murray in about 20-22 seconds. This was a 2:21 game that featured a complete game shutout by Scott McGregor and four pitchers for the Phillies (but NO pitching changes during innings). The longest game of the 1983 Series was 2:50. By comparison, the 2019 World Series' shortest game was 3:19, and two of the seven games were over 4:00.
I don't personally have a huge problem with game lengths (although I sometimes struggle to stay up for the ends of games), but it's a big issue -- especially when you have kids who only want to consume games via highlights.
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LOCKOUT OVER!!! MLB SEASON STARTS APRIL 7!!! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
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LOCKOUT OVER!!! MLB SEASON STARTS APRIL 7!!! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
Also playing the full 162 games. Buckle up for free agent signing frenzy.
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Eh, I wish I could care. Since the Cubs are, at best, a decent AA team right now there is not much interest to watch. Plus, I just put a 6 month suspend on the TV service that I get the Cubs RSN from. Needed to cut some costs and that got the axe. Paying $80 a month for a service that I really don't use at all except for sports. I might not even turn it back on when football starts as I installed a long range antenna to get my locals over the air. I'm learning to live on streaming alone with no OTA type TV service.
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LOCKOUT OVER!!! MLB SEASON STARTS APRIL 7!!! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
AWESOME!!!
So...I haven't had time to look for all the details, but I think the following are true:
- Universal DH
- Larger bases
- Pitch clock (last numbers I heard were 14 and 19 seconds)
All correct? None of the rest of the stuff really concerns me, but I'm kind of excited about the pitch clock (notwithstanding my March 3 post). The issue, of course, will come when a pitcher doesn't pitch on time or a batter dicks (or, perhaps, "Nomars" would be a better word) around outside the box. Are the umpires really going to assess balls and strikes? The other thing they really ought to do is institute strict bans on managers leaving the dugout for an argument and players leaving the dugout for brawls. If the batter wants to charge the mound, then whatever ensues ought to be one-on-one. Players who leave their positions or the dugout to join get an AUTOMATIC one-game suspension with no right of appeal.
From a Dodgers perspective, does Kershaw return? I have no idea, but I really hope he either retires or returns to the Dodgers. I'd hate to see him in any other team's uniform. Do the Dodgers sign Carlos Correa? I don't think we need him, so I'd rather we don't do it. Do the Dodgers sign Freddie Freeman? This one I'd like to see happen. Freeman at first. Max Muncy or Gavin Lux at 2B/DH, Trea Turner at short and Justin Turner at 3B (for at least another season or two). And...the biggie...WTF with Trevor Bauer? Dodgers can't do anything until MLB takes him off "administrative leave." Personally, I want him back because he's good and that's really all that matters to me, but I completely sympathize with those who hope he crawls into a hole and dies.
Now I just need to figure out which road games I go to!
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Looks like they're banning the shift. I disagree with that. That's strategy. Players need to adjust to the shift instead of hitting into the teeth of it.
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Looks like they're banning the shift. I disagree with that. That's strategy. Players need to adjust to the shift instead of hitting into the teeth of it.
I'm actually glad they banned it. It never felt right to me. Was almost always a guaranteed out.
What I really hate is the NL getting the DH. I love the strategy that managers had to mess with to work around the pitcher.
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Looks like they're banning the shift. I disagree with that. That's strategy. Players need to adjust to the shift instead of hitting into the teeth of it.
I'm actually glad they banned it. It never felt right to me. Was almost always a guaranteed out.
What I really hate is the NL getting the DH. I love the strategy that managers had to mess with to work around the pitcher.
I also don't like the DH, but I came to terms with the reality a long time ago.
From what I've read since I posted earlier,* they did not ban the shift (yet). Rather, the new agreement gives MLB a "45-day window for the league to implement rule changes for 2023 that include a pitch clock, ban on shifts and larger bases." Assuming that's right, we won't be seeing any significant changes regarding the shift in 2022. While I agree that people should learn to hit around the shift, I also don't mind banning it. I like the idea of two infielders on each side of second base and all infielders must have at least one foot on the dirt. I don't need to see third basemen catching fly balls in medium deep right field.
However, the Manfred runner will be gone, as will game 163 tiebreakers. Rather, all playoff spots will be determined by tiebreaker formulas (like those used in the NHL, NFL and NBA). The game 163 playoff made sense when it determined the pennant winner or one of only two playoff teams in each league, but it's silly with six playoff teams.
* - https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029366-breaking-down-biggest-rule-changes-after-mlb-reaches-new-cba?fbclid=IwAR3stMtz6131S8jPjUOV3upxhZAA5loHuh0HMW1xXyUffV32qiGqnmW8Dg4
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Looks like they're banning the shift. I disagree with that. That's strategy. Players need to adjust to the shift instead of hitting into the teeth of it.
I'm actually glad they banned it. It never felt right to me. Was almost always a guaranteed out.
What I really hate is the NL getting the DH. I love the strategy that managers had to mess with to work around the pitcher.
I also don't like the DH, but I came to terms with the reality a long time ago.
From what I've read since I posted earlier,* they did not ban the shift (yet). Rather, the new agreement gives MLB a "45-day window for the league to implement rule changes for 2023 that include a pitch clock, ban on shifts and larger bases." Assuming that's right, we won't be seeing any significant changes regarding the shift in 2022. While I agree that people should learn to hit around the shift, I also don't mind banning it. I like the idea of two infielders on each side of second base and all infielders must have at least one foot on the dirt. I don't need to see third basemen catching fly balls in medium deep right field.
However, the Manfred runner will be gone, as will game 163 tiebreakers. Rather, all playoff spots will be determined by tiebreaker formulas (like those used in the NHL, NFL and NBA). The game 163 playoff made sense when it determined the pennant winner or one of only two playoff teams in each league, but it's silly with six playoff teams.
* - https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029366-breaking-down-biggest-rule-changes-after-mlb-reaches-new-cba?fbclid=IwAR3stMtz6131S8jPjUOV3upxhZAA5loHuh0HMW1xXyUffV32qiGqnmW8Dg4
The bolded part is exactly how they should implement the banning of the shift, if they ever do it. I'm not 100% against the shift, because I too think hitters should learn to hit around it. It also adds another layer of strategy.
Then again they are taking away a layer of strategy by adding the universal DH, oh well. I've mostly come to terms with it. I hope they never implement the "larger bases" and "pitch clock"
The biggest takeaway though is we get a full baseball season this year! The baseball owners almost screwed themselves over, glad somebody came to their senses...
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I may have the onset of Brewer Fever.
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I have no objection to the larger bases. Supposedly it's to reduce injuries. I'm not sure that's really a big problem or that it will have a significant impact, but I also don't see any negative in it.
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Even though I rarely watch baseball anymore, getting rid of the shift is a wise decision. Baseball is not supposed to be played that way.
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Even though I rarely watch baseball anymore, getting rid of the shift is a wise decision. Baseball is not supposed to be played that way.
If it wasn’t supposed to be played that way a rule would have been in place decades ago. There is no reason a defense shouldn’t be allowed to position themselves in a a way to prevent the offense from scoring. Too much emphasis on hitting home runs over the last 20 years has ruined the game more than the shift.
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Even though I rarely watch baseball anymore, getting rid of the shift is a wise decision. Baseball is not supposed to be played that way.
If it wasn’t supposed to be played that way a rule would have been in place decades ago. There is no reason a defense shouldn’t be allowed to position themselves in a a way to prevent the offense from scoring. Too much emphasis on hitting home runs over the last 20 years has ruined the game more than the shift.
I agree with the last part, but as far as the rule being in place decades, did teams employ the shift in such a drastic manner back then that they do now? I see telling a shortstop "you have to stay on your side of 2nd base until the pitch is released" as a similar sentiment to a goalie in hockey not being able to go into corners to handle the puck or lineman in football not being able to go down field on a pass play until the QB releases the ball. Employing the shift the way some teams do now seems to go against the very spirit of fair play. And I am not one of those old school fans who wants it like yesteryear (I think most of baseball's unwritten rules are STUPID and should be thrown in Lake Michigan), but I think outlawing the shift is a good start in making the game a tad less boring than it has gotten.
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Now can states get rid of toll booths?
#delusional
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Banning the shift and instituting pick clocks is like watching your house burn down and rushing in to make the beds.
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Banning the shift and instituting pick clocks is like watching your house burn down and rushing in to make the beds.
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
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Banning the shift and instituting pick clocks is like watching your house burn down and rushing in to make the beds.
So tell me why you feel like this? Because, baseball is the one sport economy fights change.
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LOCKOUT OVER!!! MLB SEASON STARTS APRIL 7!!! :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
AWESOME!!!
So...I haven't had time to look for all the details, but I think the following are true:
- Universal DH
- Larger bases
- Pitch clock (last numbers I heard were 14 and 19 seconds)
All correct? None of the rest of the stuff really concerns me, but I'm kind of excited about the pitch clock (notwithstanding my March 3 post). The issue, of course, will come when a pitcher doesn't pitch on time or a batter dicks (or, perhaps, "Nomars" would be a better word) around outside the box. Are the umpires really going to assess balls and strikes? The other thing they really ought to do is institute strict bans on managers leaving the dugout for an argument and players leaving the dugout for brawls. If the batter wants to charge the mound, then whatever ensues ought to be one-on-one. Players who leave their positions or the dugout to join get an AUTOMATIC one-game suspension with no right of appeal.
From a Dodgers perspective, does Kershaw return? I have no idea, but I really hope he either retires or returns to the Dodgers. I'd hate to see him in any other team's uniform. Do the Dodgers sign Carlos Correa? I don't think we need him, so I'd rather we don't do it. Do the Dodgers sign Freddie Freeman? This one I'd like to see happen. Freeman at first. Max Muncy or Gavin Lux at 2B/DH, Trea Turner at short and Justin Turner at 3B (for at least another season or two). And...the biggie...WTF with Trevor Bauer? Dodgers can't do anything until MLB takes him off "administrative leave." Personally, I want him back because he's good and that's really all that matters to me, but I completely sympathize with those who hope he crawls into a hole and dies.
Now I just need to figure out which road games I go to!
You just might get Freeman after all. Damn.
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Banning the shift and instituting pick clocks is like watching your house burn down and rushing in to make the beds.
So tell me why you feel like this? Because, baseball is the one sport economy fights change.
I could be wrong, but I had the sense MLB has issues that are much greater than these small rules adjustments on the field. As such these changes aren't going to do much to either help MLB economically or get fans back in the stands and watching on TV.
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I think those are essential. Fans are tired of the pace of play and the pitch count helps. The shift is to open up the offensive play. With them banning the spider tact, pitchers can't dominate those at the plate.
ML Baseball has many issues. This is a step in the right direction.
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I agree, definitely a step; I just don't know if it is more than a band-aid.
At first I was against banning the shift, but the more I read about it and saw proposals for how to handle, I can say I am on board. I would prefer to have pitchers hit in the NL, but that might be something I can acquiesce on.
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That's something that's ingrained in our DNA. But for players, that's a plus. The game is damaged. Something has to be changed.
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I don't think it is fair to switch the NL over to the DH in 2022 since those teams didn't have all offseason to build their rosters around knowing that would be the case, but it is what it is. Not like a league that used to decide home field advantage in the World Series by whichever league won the freaking All-Star game cares about what is fair. :lol :lol
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That I understand but it needed to change. Too bad the owners and players fuck themselves to not give themselves time to adept.
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NOT a fan of universal DH. At all.
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NOT a fan of universal DH. At all.
The DH is all I've really ever known but I have never liked the idea of pitchers hitting. It's romantic old school baseball but it seems like over time the pitchers are just going through the motion.
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NOT a fan of universal DH. At all.
The DH is all I've really ever known but I have never liked the idea of pitchers hitting. It's romantic old school baseball but it seems like over time the pitchers are just going through the motion.
I had this discussion with my wife last night. She's a marginal baseball fan at best, but her allegiance growing up (outside Albany, NY) was to the Red Sox, so the DH was normal for her, and she thought it was weird that NL pitchers batted. I'm not old enough to remember the time before the DH in the AL, but my brother, who is 22 years older than I am, always says, "they haven't played a real game of baseball in the American League since 1972." Growing up, I kind of liked the dichotomy of pitchers batting in the NL but not in the AL -- especially since there was no interleague play for the first 20 years that I followed baseball. I particularly liked the dichotomy in the World Series until 1986, when they alternated between AL rules and NL rules on an annual basis.
This morning I learned that the idea of a DH was suggested as early as 1906 by Connie Mack, who supposedly was exasperated by watching Eddie Plank and Chief Bender "flail" at pitches while batting.
Oh yeah...and also...
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/275803508_4995477157157525_7509540434432067362_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=fvVoaikU9J4AX_EiVf-&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT9NCVpv-M1_-EOsU6er7BAXtSn93fAsDLu9xNumqyPc_A&oe=6237696E)
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A day or two late with this, but Albert Pujols signed a one-year contract to return to the Cardinals.
I had kind of hoped that he might come back tot he Dodgers, but this is the right move. We'll see if he makes it through the entire season. He needs 17 HR to tie Alex Rodriguez and 21 to hit 700. I'd love to see him get both, but I'm not sure it's in the cards (pun intended) if he's only a pinch hitter and occasional starter.
Trivia time: who has the most HR and isn't in (or eligible for) the HOF and who isn't a "steroid guy"?
And in other news, MLB continues to sit on its thumbs with respect to Trevor Bauer. >:(
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A day or two late with this, but Albert Pujols signed a one-year contract to return to the Cardinals.
I had kind of hoped that he might come back tot he Dodgers, but this is the right move. We'll see if he makes it through the entire season. He needs 17 HR to tie Alex Rodriguez and 21 to hit 700. I'd love to see him get both, but I'm not sure it's in the cards (pun intended) if he's only a pinch hitter and occasional starter.
Trivia time: who has the most HR and isn't in (or eligible for) the HOF and who isn't a "steroid guy"?
And in other news, MLB continues to sit on its thumbs with respect to Trevor Bauer. >:(
As far as the homerun trivia, I think it's Gary Sheffield, but I don't remember if he was involved in the whole steroids thing or not.
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Thought it was McGriff. Didn't remember Sheffield eclipsing 500.
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A day or two late with this, but Albert Pujols signed a one-year contract to return to the Cardinals.
I had kind of hoped that he might come back tot he Dodgers, but this is the right move. We'll see if he makes it through the entire season. He needs 17 HR to tie Alex Rodriguez and 21 to hit 700. I'd love to see him get both, but I'm not sure it's in the cards (pun intended) if he's only a pinch hitter and occasional starter.
Trivia time: who has the most HR and isn't in (or eligible for) the HOF and who isn't a "steroid guy"?
And in other news, MLB continues to sit on its thumbs with respect to Trevor Bauer. >:(
As far as the homerun trivia, I think it's Gary Sheffield, but I don't remember if he was involved in the whole steroids thing or not.
Sheffield wasn't a steroid guy??
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Thought it was McGriff. Didn't remember Sheffield eclipsing 500.
McGriff is the winner. Sheffield had more HR, but he was implicated with Balco. The top HR hitters who aren't in the HOF are
Bonds - 762 (dropped off ballot after 2022)
Rodriguez - 696 (first became eligible in 2022)
Pujols - 679 (active player)
Sosa - 609 (dropped off ballot after 2022)
McGwire - 583 (dropped off ballot after 2016)
Palmiero - 569 (removed from ballot after 2014 for not getting at least 5% of the vote)
Ramirez - 555 (on ballot through 2026)
Sheffield - 509 (on ballot through 2024)
McGriff - 493 (dropped off ballot after 2019)
Beltre - 477 (eligible in 2024)
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Pujols being back might actually get me back to watching a little regular season baseball again...maybe.
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ANyone know - without looking it up - the first DH and the team?
Also, if you want to watch something sad and heartbreaking, watch the "30 For 30" about Doc Gooden and Daryl Strawberry (even though Judd Apatow is the director, it's still very good).
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ANyone know - without looking it up - the first DH and the team?
Also, if you want to watch something sad and heartbreaking, watch the "30 For 30" about Doc Gooden and Daryl Strawberry (even though Judd Apatow is the director, it's still very good).
For some reason Ken Griffey Sr. popped into my head, it really have no clue.
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ANyone know - without looking it up - the first DH and the team?
Ron Blomberg - Yankees
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ANyone know - without looking it up - the first DH and the team?
Also, if you want to watch something sad and heartbreaking, watch the "30 For 30" about Doc Gooden and Daryl Strawberry (even though Judd Apatow is the director, it's still very good).
For some reason Ken Griffey Sr. popped into my head, it really have no clue.
Griffey Sr. made his MLB debut in August 1973, which was more than halfway through the first season in which the DH was used. However, he played exclusively in the National League until 1990 and didn't play in a game in which the DH was used until 1976. The first DH for a National League team was Dan Driessen of the Reds in the 1976 World Series.*
* - No DH was used in the World Series from 1973-75. Starting in 1976, they alternated between NL and AL rules on an annual basis. Starting in 1986, they started using the DH in all games played in the AL team's stadium and not in games in the NL team's stadium
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ANyone know - without looking it up - the first DH and the team?
Also, if you want to watch something sad and heartbreaking, watch the "30 For 30" about Doc Gooden and Daryl Strawberry (even though Judd Apatow is the director, it's still very good).
For some reason Ken Griffey Sr. popped into my head, it really have no clue.
Griffey Sr. made his MLB debut in August 1973, which was more than halfway through the first season in which the DH was used. However, he played exclusively in the National League until 1990 and didn't play in a game in which the DH was used until 1976. The first DH for a National League team was Dan Driessen of the Reds in the 1976 World Series.*
* - No DH was used in the World Series from 1973-75. Starting in 1976, they alternated between NL and AL rules on an annual basis. Starting in 1986, they started using the DH in all games played in the AL team's stadium and not in games in the NL team's stadium
Correct on all counts.
I actually played "DH" a couple games for my high school baseball team. One of my friends tried to start calling me "Bloomberg" but it didn't stick thank god. :)
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Correct on all counts.
I actually played "DH" a couple games for my high school baseball team. One of my friends tried to start calling me "Bloomberg" but it didn't stick thank god. :)
LOL
For the record, I knew Blomberg was the first ever DH and I knew the progression of how the DH was used in the World Series, but I had to look up the specific dates and the bit about Driessen being the first NL DH.
By the way, the other DH in the game in the game in which Blomberg became the first DH to bat is a member of the Baseball HOF. Can you name him without looking it up?
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Correct on all counts.
I actually played "DH" a couple games for my high school baseball team. One of my friends tried to start calling me "Bloomberg" but it didn't stick thank god. :)
LOL
For the record, I knew Blomberg was the first ever DH and I knew the progression of how the DH was used in the World Series, but I had to look up the specific dates and the bit about Driessen being the first NL DH.
By the way, the other DH in the game in the game in which Blomberg became the first DH to bat is a member of the Baseball HOF. Can you name him without looking it up?
WOW, now THAT is a great question. I don't KNOW, but my guess will be... American League, Yankees playing either the Red Sox or the Orioles, and so... Carl Yastrzemski or Frank Robinson.
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I actually played "DH" a couple games for my high school baseball team.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E1obSJxXsAAEtcY.jpg)
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Correct on all counts.
I actually played "DH" a couple games for my high school baseball team. One of my friends tried to start calling me "Bloomberg" but it didn't stick thank god. :)
LOL
For the record, I knew Blomberg was the first ever DH and I knew the progression of how the DH was used in the World Series, but I had to look up the specific dates and the bit about Driessen being the first NL DH.
By the way, the other DH in the game in the game in which Blomberg became the first DH to bat is a member of the Baseball HOF. Can you name him without looking it up?
WOW, now THAT is a great question. I don't KNOW, but my guess will be... American League, Yankees playing either the Red Sox or the Orioles, and so... Carl Yastrzemski or Frank Robinson.
You're on the right track. Yaz was the starting 1B for the Sox in that game (which the Sox won 15-5, with Luis Tiant throwing a complete game despite surrendering 5 runs) and one of 4 HOF'ers in the Sox' starting lineup (the Yankees had one - Felipe Alou): Carlton Fisk (who went 4 for 4 with 2 HR and 6 RBI), Luis Aparico (in his 18th and final MLB season), and....
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Orlando Cepeda, who had a solid season, exclusively as a DH, hitting .289 with 20 HR and 86 RBI. I didn't know he played with the Sox (just for one season).
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My god.. what an opener for the Jays. Down 7-0 after four, and then storm back to outlast the Rangers in the the biggest Opening Day comeback in 72 years. An uncharacteristic bad start for Berrios (the shortest of his career only getting 1 out :omg:)... starting off the year with a 108 ERA (no decimal point in there!).
Dis gonna be a fun team to watch.
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Harold Reynolds just sent baseball analysis back 50 years by saying "Ohtani is great and all but he needs to win more". This isn't tennis a-hole, it's not his fault he's had mostly crappy teammates. What a joke.
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Harold Reynolds just sent baseball analysis back 50 years by saying "Ohtani is great and all but he needs to win more". This isn't tennis a-hole, it's not his fault he's had mostly crappy teammates. What a joke.
Did someone ask him his opinion on Mike Trout, who has one postseason hit to date?
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Harold Reynolds just sent baseball analysis back 50 years by saying "Ohtani is great and all but he needs to win more". This isn't tennis a-hole, it's not his fault he's had mostly crappy teammates. What a joke.
Did someone ask him his opinion on Mike Trout, who has one postseason hit to date?
:lol Right he must suck too.
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My god.. what an opener for the Jays. Down 7-0 after four, and then storm back to outlast the Rangers in the the biggest Opening Day comeback in 72 years. An uncharacteristic bad start for Berrios (the shortest of his career only getting 1 out :omg:)... starting off the year with a 108 ERA (no decimal point in there!).
Dis gonna be a fun team to watch.
The Rangers preseason expectations were met on opening day. The hitting certainly met expectations but unfortunately - so did the bullpen. :tdwn
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A rather historic moment in yesterdays game between the Padres and Giants.
Alyssa Nakken, a former college softball first baseman, who had become the first female full-time MLB coach a couple years ago, became the first woman to be an on-field coach in an MLB game when she replaced the Giants' regular first base coach, who was ejected following a Giants player stealing second base despite being up 10-1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZc1npP3KSw
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It's hilarious that people still get upset about someone stealing bases when up that many runs. If the losing team hasn't agreed to stop scoring, then STFU and get the hitters out and do not let them steal bases. Sport full of crybabies, I swear.
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I thought the clip was going to show how the coach got ejected, or why he got ejected.
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It's hilarious that people still get upset about someone stealing bases when up that many runs. If the losing team hasn't agreed to stop scoring, then STFU and get the hitters out and do not let them steal bases. Sport full of crybabies, I swear.
In a sport with no time limit and anything is possible I really hate the unwritten rules/honor code type bullshit when it comes to lopsided games. You play to win until the last out, case closed.
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I thought the clip was going to show how the coach got ejected, or why he got ejected.
The video of that is quite uninteresting. It wasn't a big argument, and the ump just kind of flicked his finger (i.e., no Earl Weaver style theatrics). And the "why" was never made particularly clear. It seemed to have something to do with the coach's response to the other team's whining about the SB.
It's hilarious that people still get upset about someone stealing bases when up that many runs. If the losing team hasn't agreed to stop scoring, then STFU and get the hitters out and do not let them steal bases. Sport full of crybabies, I swear.
In a sport with no time limit and anything is possible I really hate the unwritten rules/honor code type bullshit when it comes to lopsided games. You play to win until the last out, case closed.
Yes and yes.
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It's hilarious that people still get upset about someone stealing bases when up that many runs. If the losing team hasn't agreed to stop scoring, then STFU and get the hitters out and do not let them steal bases. Sport full of crybabies, I swear.
In a sport with no time limit and anything is possible I really hate the unwritten rules/honor code type bullshit when it comes to lopsided games. You play to win until the last out, case closed.
100% agree. Although I do believe you shouldn't try to show up the other team. In other words, don't be a dick when you are up by a lot of runs. Personally I like the way Duggar, Dubon, and Kapler handled the situations. They just went about their business of winning a ball game.
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Boy that Red Sox bullpen is a constant clown show.
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Boy that Red Sox bullpen is a constant clown show.
Oh shit! I flipped over after the Bruins game and it was 5-2. Been watching BST until I saw your post.
WTF??
As much as I love seeing the Red Sox rule, I do love a big time Red Sox crash.
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Watching BST and they're talking about the 3000 hit thingy.
Trout is 30, and has only 1400 hits, but HAS NEVER HAD A 200 HIT SEASON?
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Watching BST and they're talking about the 3000 hit thingy.
Trout is 30, and has only 1400 hits, but HAS NEVER HAD A 200 HIT SEASON?
He walks way too much to get a 200 hit season. Plus he was hurt most of last year and was hurt for a good portion of 2017 as well. And the shortened 2020 season did him no favors. But he's back to raking again this year and if he can stay healthy for the rest of his career he will be a no doubt hall of famer. Hell, he might already be...
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Watching BST and they're talking about the 3000 hit thingy.
Trout is 30, and has only 1400 hits, but HAS NEVER HAD A 200 HIT SEASON?
He walks way too much to get a 200 hit season.
Rickey Henderson and Carl Yastrzemski never had more than 200 hits in a season. However, both had 3,000+ career hits AND are in the top 10 on the all-time walk list. In fact, five of the top 20 all-time walk leaders had 3,000+ career hits::
2. Rickey Henderson (3,055 hits and 2,190 walks in 25 seasons - 1.395 hit-to-walk ratio - never more than 179 hits in a season)
6. Carl Yastrzemski (3,419 hits and 1,845 walks in 23 seasons - 1.853 HTW ratio - never more than 191 hits in a season)
13. Stan Musial (3,630 hits and 1,599 walks in 22 seasons - 2.270 HTW ratio - six 200+ hit seasons)
14. Pete Rose (4,256 hits and 1,566 walks in 24 seasons - 2.718 HTW ratio - ten 200+ hit seasons)
19. Eddie Collins (3,315 hits and 1,499 walks in 25 seasons - 2.211 HTW ratio - one 200+ hit season)
Trout's highest hit total was 190, in a year when he led the American League in walks with 110 (.432 OBP). He's got 1,436 hits and 873 walks in 5,719 plate appearances. That's a 1.645:1 hit to walk ratio, which is notably higher than that of Rickey Henderson and a little bit less than that of Yastrzemski.
Trout certainly CAN get to 3,000 hits and continue to walk a lot. But he'll have have to have another mostly healthy decade of continued excellence. He's under contract for eight seasons after 2022, so if he can continue to be productive when he's 37/38, it wouldn't surprise me for someone to give him another 2-3 year contract after that.
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Watching BST and they're talking about the 3000 hit thingy.
Trout is 30, and has only 1400 hits, but HAS NEVER HAD A 200 HIT SEASON?
He walks way too much to get a 200 hit season.
Rickey Henderson and Carl Yastrzemski never had more than 200 hits in a season. However, both had 3,000+ career hits AND are in the top 10 on the all-time walk list. In fact, five of the top 20 all-time walk leaders had 3,000+ career hits::
2. Rickey Henderson (3,055 hits and 2,190 walks in 25 seasons - 1.395 hit-to-walk ratio - never more than 179 hits in a season)
6. Carl Yastrzemski (3,419 hits and 1,845 walks in 23 seasons - 1.853 HTW ratio - never more than 191 hits in a season)
13. Stan Musial (3,630 hits and 1,599 walks in 22 seasons - 2.270 HTW ratio - six 200+ hit seasons)
14. Pete Rose (4,256 hits and 1,566 walks in 24 seasons - 2.718 HTW ratio - ten 200+ hit seasons)
19. Eddie Collins (3,315 hits and 1,499 walks in 25 seasons - 2.211 HTW ratio - one 200+ hit season)
Trout's highest hit total was 190, in a year when he led the American League in walks with 110 (.432 OBP). He's got 1,436 hits and 873 walks in 5,719 plate appearances. That's a 1.645:1 hit to walk ratio, which is notably higher than that of Rickey Henderson and a little bit less than that of Yastrzemski.
Trout certainly CAN get to 3,000 hits and continue to walk a lot. But he'll have have to have another mostly healthy decade of continued excellence. He's under contract for eight seasons after 2022, so if he can continue to be productive when he's 37/38, it wouldn't surprise me for someone to give him another 2-3 year contract after that.
Oh yeah, I don't doubt that he has the potential to get to 3000 hits, but it's rare for players these days to play for 20+ seasons, let alone be productive for that long. Unless your name is Albert Pujols or Bartolo Colon. And let's face it, Pujols hasn't really been good since his first year with the Angels. And granted Colon hasn't pitched in the Majors since '18, but I believe he's still kicking around in the Mexican league.
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I actually think it's pretty interesting that only 5 of the top 20 walk leaders had 3k hits.
And every time I look at Stan Musial's stats, I'm reminded of how criminally underrated he is.
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Has Nolan Arrenado always been a little bitch?
Just wondering.
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Has Nolan Arrenado always been a little bitch?
Just wondering.
I saw that yesterday and it seemed so out of character for him. Not sure what happened. He always seemed so calm and collected when he was with the Rockies.
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I haven't been paying much attention to the Mets, but I guess their batters have been getting hit a lot. The pitch to Arrenado wasn't anywhere near him, though. Very strange.
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Trevor Bauer suspended two years (not sure if that includes "time served" on "administrative leave" for most of the last year).
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2022-04-29-trevor-bauer-has-been-suspended-two-years-from-mlb/?fbclid=IwAR2vKJSXD6s8NOaWhRNK4pGmZveu4R1xxtbRtZ3o3hh-CYy04WUwEqfs-vo
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Trevor Bauer suspended two years (not sure if that includes "time served" on "administrative leave" for most of the last year).
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2022-04-29-trevor-bauer-has-been-suspended-two-years-from-mlb/?fbclid=IwAR2vKJSXD6s8NOaWhRNK4pGmZveu4R1xxtbRtZ3o3hh-CYy04WUwEqfs-vo
Good. Million dollar arm, two cent brain.
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Trevor Bauer suspended two years (not sure if that includes "time served" on "administrative leave" for most of the last year).
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2022-04-29-trevor-bauer-has-been-suspended-two-years-from-mlb/?fbclid=IwAR2vKJSXD6s8NOaWhRNK4pGmZveu4R1xxtbRtZ3o3hh-CYy04WUwEqfs-vo
The suspension doesn't begin until today, so no. No time served.
This is going to be an interesting one to watch going through the courts. I'm kind of torn on it from what I've read. Sounds like a real scumbag, but they're essentially dinging him 100 million for being a sexual weirdo. Can't really support that, either. Kind of hoping that by the end both sides lose.
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Trevor Bauer suspended two years (not sure if that includes "time served" on "administrative leave" for most of the last year).
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2022-04-29-trevor-bauer-has-been-suspended-two-years-from-mlb/?fbclid=IwAR2vKJSXD6s8NOaWhRNK4pGmZveu4R1xxtbRtZ3o3hh-CYy04WUwEqfs-vo
The suspension doesn't begin until today, so no. No time served.
This is going to be an interesting one to watch going through the courts. I'm kind of torn on it from what I've read. Sounds like a real scumbag, but they're essentially dinging him 100 million for being a sexual weirdo. Can't really support that, either. Kind of hoping that by the end both sides lose.
Lot of gray area. A two year suspension...based on these allegations seems a bit steep.
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Yeah...while I was at lunch, I saw that the "administrative leave" time doesn't count because it wasn't "disciplinary."
I wouldn't be surprised if they negotiate something for him to be suspended through the end of this season, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he fights this through to the bitter end.
By the way...if anyone wants an offer code to purchase $1,050 all-star game strips, let me know and I'll PM you the link and offer code I just got in the mail.
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Yeah...while I was at lunch, I saw that the "administrative leave" time doesn't count because it wasn't "disciplinary."
I wouldn't be surprised if they negotiate something for him to be suspended through the end of this season, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he fights this through to the bitter end.
By the way...if anyone wants an offer code to purchase $1,050 all-star game strips, let me know and I'll PM you the link and offer code I just got in the mail.
The impression I got was that they stuck it to him extra hard because he wouldn't, er, play ball. Previous suspensions have been far shorter because the player agreed to it and waived the right to appeal. I'm guessing this guy didn't want to shut up and eat his pine cone. I can certainly see him taking the Tom Brady approach and fighting it to the bitter end.
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Someone mentioned that the appeal will be a bit of uncharted territory because there's never before been an appeal of a personal conduct suspension (because they've all been negotiated suspensions), so there won't be any precedent.
I don't so much care either way. I'm just glad MLB finally made a decision, and the Dodgers don't have to pay the guy anymore.
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Wow, the Red Sox blow.
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
That's a standard inspection for foreign substances. It happens anywhere between once and thrice for starting pitchers and at the end of every inning (or upon removal from the game) for relievers. I haven't watched a full clip, but Bumgarner (who is and, for several years, has been THE most tight-ass, chappy guy in MLB) apparently had some beef with the home plate umpire. He then apparently said something that the first-base umpire (who did the inspection) deemed worthy of objection, and Bumgarner had to be restrained. Back in the day, he'd probably have been described as having 'roid rage, but no one thinks this is anything other than him being a massive chap-ass.
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
That's a standard inspection for foreign substances. It happens anywhere between once and thrice for starting pitchers and at the end of every inning (or upon removal from the game) for relievers. I haven't watched a full clip, but Bumgarner (who is and, for several years, has been THE most tight-ass, chappy guy in MLB) apparently had some beef with the home plate umpire. He then apparently said something that the first-base umpire (who did the inspection) deemed worthy of objection, and Bumgarner had to be restrained. Back in the day, he'd probably have been described as having 'roid rage, but no one thinks this is anything other than him being a massive chap-ass.
Including the prolonged eye contact? From the video I've seen he said something kind of trivial about the eye contact, the ump said something back, and then Bumgarner went off with a wonderfully defiant FU!. I'm not a baseball guy, but it really did seem like the 1b ump was trying to bait him, and succeeded.
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
That's a standard inspection for foreign substances. It happens anywhere between once and thrice for starting pitchers and at the end of every inning (or upon removal from the game) for relievers. I haven't watched a full clip, but Bumgarner (who is and, for several years, has been THE most tight-ass, chappy guy in MLB) apparently had some beef with the home plate umpire. He then apparently said something that the first-base umpire (who did the inspection) deemed worthy of objection, and Bumgarner had to be restrained. Back in the day, he'd probably have been described as having 'roid rage, but no one thinks this is anything other than him being a massive chap-ass.
Including the prolonged eye contact? From the video I've seen he said something kind of trivial about the eye contact, the ump said something back, and then Bumgarner went off with a wonderfully defiant FU!. I'm not a baseball guy, but it really did seem like the 1b ump was trying to bait him, and succeeded.
You are correct. Because of their union, these umps get away with way more than they should.
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
On the surface, baseball can appear to be a boring game. But it's not... if you can latch onto a team and follow its travails, the minutiae, strategy and tactics involved, it's completely engrossing. Of course, the game is the antithesis of something like hockey, which is a dizzying swirl of continuous action, but in between every pitch, there's a world of nuance. It's hard to pin down, but as one of my friends once said... "There's something about baseball..." I've heard it said that baseball is like watching paint dry, or like watching a chess match, and it certainly takes a degree of patience to watch a game take shape... the slow buildup and intermittent bursts of activity. But to me, there's nothing quite like it.
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
On the surface, baseball can appear to be a boring game. But it's not... if you can latch onto a team and follow its travails, the minutiae, strategy and tactics involved, it's completely engrossing. Of course, the game is the antithesis of something like hockey, which is a dizzying swirl of continuous action, but in between every pitch, there's a world of nuance. It's hard to pin down, but as one of my friends once said... "There's something about baseball..." I've heard it said that baseball is like watching paint dry, or like watching a chess match, and it certainly takes a degree of patience to watch a game take shape... the slow buildup and intermittent bursts of activity. But to me, there's nothing quite like it.
I actually agree with you on that. There's a lot to like about baseball. I used to enjoy going to games from time to time, though that's probably a done deal now as indoor baseball is an abomination. I've made the argument that it's a better game than basketball, actually, and I think it is. At the same time, a baseball team spends 3 weeks a year actually on the field, not counting Spring and post seasons. That's a helluva lot of time to spend as a viewer watching out for bits of nuance in 3 hour intervals.
One thing has always fascinated me about baseball. A team can play 8 innings and generally suck it up. They go into the 9th inning and then mount an epic comeback. You see that in other sports, but it seems to occur with some regularity in baseball. Presumably not being stalked by a ticking clock, but rather your own ineffectiveness is better for a person's motivation.
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Maybe I should start paying more attention to baseball. The game itself is kind of boring, but it seems to present some interesting side shows. I have no idea who this Bumgarner cat is, but the inspection that set him off really does come across as creepy AF. I'm guessing the umpire was trying to bait him, and he certainly came up with an innovate approach. At full speed it was probably less creepy, but would nevertheless have been an effort to stare him down, and that's not going to go over any better.
https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850 (https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1521908022267854850)
That's a standard inspection for foreign substances. It happens anywhere between once and thrice for starting pitchers and at the end of every inning (or upon removal from the game) for relievers. I haven't watched a full clip, but Bumgarner (who is and, for several years, has been THE most tight-ass, chappy guy in MLB) apparently had some beef with the home plate umpire. He then apparently said something that the first-base umpire (who did the inspection) deemed worthy of objection, and Bumgarner had to be restrained. Back in the day, he'd probably have been described as having 'roid rage, but no one thinks this is anything other than him being a massive chap-ass.
Including the prolonged eye contact? From the video I've seen he said something kind of trivial about the eye contact, the ump said something back, and then Bumgarner went off with a wonderfully defiant FU!. I'm not a baseball guy, but it really did seem like the 1b ump was trying to bait him, and succeeded.
Let's put this in context. For starters, as I mentioned, Bumgarner is the chappiest of chap-asses. Also, he went 2-0 to the leadoff batter before giving up a dinger on the third pitch. Over the course of the rest of the inning there was one pitch on the bottom edge of the zone that was called a ball. There was also a clear ball that was called a strike, but that wouldn't have meant shit to a guy like Bumgarner. There was also a clear ball that was called a ball, but Bumgarner thought it should've been a strike. So... through one inning, there were, in Bumgarner's estimation, two bad calls and he gave up a home run, so he's in a shitty mood (shittier than his normal mood). We've also got a relatively young home plate umpire, so Bumgarner has zero respect. Coming off the mound, he was jawing and gesticulating at the home plate umpire. The crew chief was the guy who did the inspection and ejection. Nothing wrong with the eye contact -- especially since Bumgarner was already giving the home plate umpire grief. NO ONE needs to "bait" Bumgarner. If anything, the crew chief arguably should have elected not to do the inspection at a time when Bumgarner was already peeved.
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Well, like I fool I gave up on the Mets in the 8th down 7-1 and switched over to watch the Rangers - Pens game. :facepalm:
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Well, like I fool I gave up on the Mets in the 8th down 7-1 and switched over to watch the Rangers - Pens game. :facepalm:
Don't be too hard on yourself. :lol
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Well, like I fool I gave up on the Mets in the 8th down 7-1 and switched over to watch the Rangers - Pens game. :facepalm:
Don't be too hard on yourself. :lol
What made it worse was that I was pulling for the Pens :\. Who I don’t see winning this series.
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So, ump apologizes.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-umpire-dan-bellino-apologizes-for-role-in-madison-bumgarner-incident-013253504.html
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Miggy Cabrera hit his 600th career double today.
.300 avg, 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 500 homers: Hank Aaron and Miggy, that’s it.
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Miggy Cabrera hit his 600th career double today.
.300 avg, 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 500 homers: Hank Aaron and Miggy, that’s it.
If Miggy and Pujols both retire after this season, which seems likely, they will definitely both be inducted into the HoF at the same time.
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Miggy Cabrera hit his 600th career double today.
.300 avg, 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 500 homers: Hank Aaron and Miggy, that’s it.
If Miggy and Pujols both retire after this season, which seems likely, they will definitely both be inducted into the HoF at the same time.
Obviously.
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So, ump apologizes.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-umpire-dan-bellino-apologizes-for-role-in-madison-bumgarner-incident-013253504.html
I hate stuff like this. This shouldn't be public. If he felt there was something for which he ought to apologize, he should have done it privately to Bumgarner (face-to-face, preferably).
Miggy Cabrera hit his 600th career double today.
.300 avg, 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 500 homers: Hank Aaron and Miggy, that’s it.
If Miggy and Pujols both retire after this season, which seems likely, they will definitely both be inducted into the HoF at the same time.
No question.
It's just baffling that the Tigers couldn't win a title with Cabrera, Verlander, Scherzer, Sanchez, et al.
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Miggy Cabrera hit his 600th career double today.
.300 avg, 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 500 homers: Hank Aaron and Miggy, that’s it.
If Miggy and Pujols both retire after this season, which seems likely, they will definitely both be inducted into the HoF at the same time.
No question.
It's just baffling that the Tigers couldn't win a title with Cabrera, Verlander, Scherzer, Sanchez, et al.
The Giants made sure of that. :biggrin:
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Absolutely freak and scary incident in the Dodgers win over the Angels last night. Dodgers were up 2-0 in the top of the 9th, and Mike Trout was batting with one out. On a 2-strike pitch, Trout got jammed on a high inside pitch and broke his bat. The ball ended up dropping between the infielder and outfielder, and Trout ended up on first. On Trout's follow through, the big piece of the bat spun behind him, and the broken end hit the home plate umpire in the face after passing between the bars of his face mask. Trout actually paused before running to check what had happened behind him (otherwise he might have had a double). Fortunately, it sounds like the umpire only suffered cuts near his eyes and no actual damage to the eyes.
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/288032118_10159888564368516_34649865925972868_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=lY_tiBORdEsAX_x22rv&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT8blXEjhPE-ePe4tdSfBWENm7v6mHvEW8f8wNZNrULxNQ&oe=62AFBEE5)
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I heard about the ump getting hit with Trout's bat, but I assumed it was a follow through. WOW What a picture!
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Right?!
Apparently, it got him on the nose and near the eye. He left the game under his own power, and the second base umpire/crew chief took over behind the plate.
(https://thespun.com/.image/t_share/MTkwMjE3MzcwNTIwNzkwMTY5/los-angeles-dodgers-defeat-the-los-angeles-angels-2-0-during-a-mlb-baseball-game-at-dodger-stadium.jpg)
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Astros have two immaculate innings with two separate pitchers against the same three batters…..
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2022/06/15/astros-pitchers-luis-garcia-phil-maton-immaculate-inning-same-game/50376297/
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That'd be cool if it weren't the Astros.
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Wow Ohtani continues to be ridiculous. Now up to 28 consecutive scoreless innings with 40 punch-outs, going 5-0 in the process. :metal
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(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dlex6f4anbY/maxresdefault.jpg)
Seriously...the guy is 8-4 with a 2.44 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. The rest of the team is 30-41 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. They have a starting rotation that has been mostly intact the entire season, and which includes Ohtani and Noah Syndergaard, and yet they're 7 games under .500 in 4th place. Trout's having a typical Trout season, Ohtani is likely to start the ASG as DH. They've even gotten a breakout year from Taylor Ward. But Anthony Rendon is going to miss the remainder of the season AGAIN, and is rapidly becoming one of the worst free agent signings since...ummm...the Angels signed Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols (in fairness to Pujols, signing him was fine, and he had a few good seasons with the Angels, but that 10-year contract was just an awful thing).
The organization is just inept as fuck. Mike Trout is now in his 11th season as a full-time player (including 2021 when he missed most of the season to injury), and he's played in THREE playoff games. He continues to profess that he wants to stay in Anaheim (where he's signed for eight more seasons after this one), but his great career is going to be wasted if he does (and it's going to be even worse if, as is being discussed, the Angels trade Ohtani).
On the other hand, I quite enjoy scoring cheap tickets for games played 10 minutes from where I work in a stadium whose parking situation is 100x better than Dodger Stadium.
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That is so true pg.
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Mike Trout is a once in a generation player and his talent is going to waste in the Angels organization. Too bad he doesn't want to play for a team that wants to be competitive. I'd give up the farm to have him as the Giants center fielder.
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On the other hand, I quite enjoy scoring cheap tickets for games played 10 minutes from where I work in a stadium whose parking situation is 100x better than Dodger Stadium.
When we went out there to go to Disneyland in 2015, we thought we'd see a game in Anaheim. But the Angels were out of town, so I asked my wife, what about seeing the Dodgers and she was cool with that.
I must say that going to Dodger Stadium that day was a tremendous experience. So glad we didn't have to settle for going to Anaheim Stadium (although I'd still love to see a game there).
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On the other hand, I quite enjoy scoring cheap tickets for games played 10 minutes from where I work in a stadium whose parking situation is 100x better than Dodger Stadium.
When we went out there to go to Disneyland in 2015, we thought we'd see a game in Anaheim. But the Angels were out of town, so I asked my wife, what about seeing the Dodgers and she was cool with that.
I must say that going to Dodger Stadium that day was a tremendous experience. So glad we didn't have to settle for going to Anaheim Stadium (although I'd still love to see a game there).
I'd love to see a game in every stadium. I've only been to Candlestick, AT&T Park (aka Oracle Park), Safeco (or whatever they're calling these days), and Petco. Oh, and I've also been to Tropicana Field.....what a dump :lol
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Mike Trout is a once in a generation player and his talent is going to waste in the Angels organization. Too bad he doesn't want to play for a team that wants to be competitive.
I see what he's trying to do. He wants to be a guy who spends his whole career with the same team, and that's something I really admire. Guys like Ripken, Biggio and Helton all got/get "bonus points" from me for doing that. Trout desperately wants to win...with the Angels...and I think the Angels want to win. I just think Moreno is a terrible owner, and he's hiring guys who can't get the job done (they've also had more than their fair share of bad luck with injuries).
On the other hand, I quite enjoy scoring cheap tickets for games played 10 minutes from where I work in a stadium whose parking situation is 100x better than Dodger Stadium.
When we went out there to go to Disneyland in 2015, we thought we'd see a game in Anaheim. But the Angels were out of town, so I asked my wife, what about seeing the Dodgers and she was cool with that.
I must say that going to Dodger Stadium that day was a tremendous experience. So glad we didn't have to settle for going to Anaheim Stadium (although I'd still love to see a game there).
It's got to be different for someone visiting as opposed to someone who's lived here his whole life. I don't remember ANYTHING about my first Dodger game as a kid, but I do remember not being able to find the car in the parking lot and crying...and, on subsequent visits, sitting in the car for an hour and not moving an inch trying to get out of the parking lot...and not being able to get into the parking lot and missing the first FOUR innings when the Red Sox played at Dodger stadium about 10 years ago. I'd MUCH rather go to a Dodger game, but the location of the stadium and getting into and out of the place is a HUGE disincentive for me and a lot of folks (to say nothing about parking costing 3x as much as it does in Anaheim because the corrupt former owner of the Dodgers still owns the parking lots).
I'd love to see a game in every stadium. I've only been to Candlestick, AT&T Park (aka Oracle Park), Safeco (or whatever they're calling these days), and Petco. Oh, and I've also been to Tropicana Field.....what a dump :lol
I've listed mine before, but...
Dodger Stadium
Anaheim Stadium (Angels)
Candlestick Park (the original)
AT&T Park (or whatever the current home of the Giants is called)
Petco Park (Padres)
Coors Field (Rockies)
Chase Field (D-Backs)
Fenway Park
Yankee Stadium (the new one)
Citi Field (Mets)
Camden Yards (Orioles)
Nationals Park
And...after next Thursday...Wrigley Field!
That'll leave me with 19 to go.
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Mike Trout is a once in a generation player and his talent is going to waste in the Angels organization. Too bad he doesn't want to play for a team that wants to be competitive.
I see what he's trying to do. He wants to be a guy who spends his whole career with the same team, and that's something I really admire. Guys like Ripken, Biggio and Helton all got/get "bonus points" from me for doing that. Trout desperately wants to win...with the Angels...and I think the Angels want to win. I just think Moreno is a terrible owner, and he's hiring guys who can't get the job done (they've also had more than their fair share of bad luck with injuries).
On the other hand, I quite enjoy scoring cheap tickets for games played 10 minutes from where I work in a stadium whose parking situation is 100x better than Dodger Stadium.
When we went out there to go to Disneyland in 2015, we thought we'd see a game in Anaheim. But the Angels were out of town, so I asked my wife, what about seeing the Dodgers and she was cool with that.
I must say that going to Dodger Stadium that day was a tremendous experience. So glad we didn't have to settle for going to Anaheim Stadium (although I'd still love to see a game there).
It's got to be different for someone visiting as opposed to someone who's lived here his whole life. I don't remember ANYTHING about my first Dodger game as a kid, but I do remember not being able to find the car in the parking lot and crying...and, on subsequent visits, sitting in the car for an hour and not moving an inch trying to get out of the parking lot...and not being able to get into the parking lot and missing the first FOUR innings when the Red Sox played at Dodger stadium about 10 years ago. I'd MUCH rather go to a Dodger game, but the location of the stadium and getting into and out of the place is a HUGE disincentive for me and a lot of folks (to say nothing about parking costing 3x as much as it does in Anaheim because the corrupt former owner of the Dodgers still owns the parking lots).
I'd love to see a game in every stadium. I've only been to Candlestick, AT&T Park (aka Oracle Park), Safeco (or whatever they're calling these days), and Petco. Oh, and I've also been to Tropicana Field.....what a dump :lol
I've listed mine before, but...
Dodger Stadium
Anaheim Stadium (Angels)
Candlestick Park (the original)
AT&T Park (or whatever the current home of the Giants is called)
Petco Park (Padres)
Coors Field (Rockies)
Chase Field (D-Backs)
Fenway Park
Yankee Stadium (the new one)
Citi Field (Mets)
Camden Yards (Orioles)
Nationals Park
And...after next Thursday...Wrigley Field!
That'll leave me with 19 to go.
I totally forgot I went to Coors field in 2019.
And I agree with the sentiment of Trout sticking with one team and trying to win. At the same time I think he absolutely deserves a world series win and I just don't see it happening with the Angels, for all the reasons you stated.
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On the other hand, I quite enjoy scoring cheap tickets for games played 10 minutes from where I work in a stadium whose parking situation is 100x better than Dodger Stadium.
When we went out there to go to Disneyland in 2015, we thought we'd see a game in Anaheim. But the Angels were out of town, so I asked my wife, what about seeing the Dodgers and she was cool with that.
I must say that going to Dodger Stadium that day was a tremendous experience. So glad we didn't have to settle for going to Anaheim Stadium (although I'd still love to see a game there).
It's got to be different for someone visiting as opposed to someone who's lived here his whole life. I don't remember ANYTHING about my first Dodger game as a kid, but I do remember not being able to find the car in the parking lot and crying...and, on subsequent visits, sitting in the car for an hour and not moving an inch trying to get out of the parking lot...and not being able to get into the parking lot and missing the first FOUR innings when the Red Sox played at Dodger stadium about 10 years ago. I'd MUCH rather go to a Dodger game, but the location of the stadium and getting into and out of the place is a HUGE disincentive for me and a lot of folks (to say nothing about parking costing 3x as much as it does in Anaheim because the corrupt former owner of the Dodgers still owns the parking lots).
Yeah, I'm not on a baseball pilgrimage but when we go on vacation, if it's a sports city, we try and get to a game.
My wife is cool with it as long as I don't spend a ton of money on the tickets and we don't have to stay for the whole game.
In that last few years, we've seen games in LA (Dodgers), Denver, San Fran, and San Diego. Years ago, we saw the Diamondbacks during their inaugural season, and we've been to Camden.
We went to San Antonio a couple of months ago, but that trip was originally planned for January. We had tix to go to a Spurs game.
We've seen the Bruins twice in Tampa, and on Long Island, and have taken in a Magic game in Orlando.
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Yeah, I'm not on a baseball pilgrimage but when we go on vacation, if it's a sports city, we try and get to a game.
My wife is cool with it as long as I don't spend a ton of money on the tickets and we don't have to stay for the whole game.
That's why I don't take my wife and daughter to baseball games anymore. I just cannot take the nagging, "when can we leave?" The only exception was when I took my daughter to NYC and Boston a few years ago. I told her the price of the trip was that we were going to a Red Sox game (she was a freshman at the time, so I wasn't quite comfortable leaving her in the hotel room). She said, "fine, as long as I don't have to pay attention." Fortunately, I was able to get what I thought were really good seats for a price which I'd have been ok with for just one seat.
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Yeah, I'm not on a baseball pilgrimage but when we go on vacation, if it's a sports city, we try and get to a game.
My wife is cool with it as long as I don't spend a ton of money on the tickets and we don't have to stay for the whole game.
That's why I don't take my wife and daughter to baseball games anymore. I just cannot take the nagging, "when can we leave?"
Yeah, but we're on a family vacation. The baseball experience isn't really important to me anyway. To me, it's visiting these different stadiums and seeing some action and getting a nice family pic. It's understood that we're generally out of there by the 6th inning. I have no problem with that. My family is humoring me. My wife and kids are totally cool about it. There's no nagging.
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That's fair, Tim, especially when the understanding is there going in.
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My wife loves baseball as much as I do. We go to a lot of minor league games as well.
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My wife loves baseball as much as I do. We go to a lot of minor league games as well.
Yeah, I catch a number of Reno Aces games each year, since I live fairly close to Reno. It's always fun to bring the wife and make a day out of it.
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My wife loves baseball as much as I do. We go to a lot of minor league games as well.
In 2018, my son and I went to NY and went to Yankees and Mets game. We also took the Staten Island Ferry and went to a Staten Island Yankees game. I thought it was a really cool ballpark.
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/35973628_10212797425351032_4239881187922804736_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=JwQButTIJiAAX-vTwsx&tn=ZfSsT23eKKrFQwef&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT8LF2UvJzEHzCss8ryQ2HqdgRyk9KkwyHXG8SjKYMP_xQ&oe=62ECD81F)
(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/35838307_10212797425991048_1575576226750267392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=iIAzXi05z5AAX-lmyio&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=00_AT-jfY4lVHqw8lBbYuR2j47JRP0Gj-fETPMiMEmVojEEuQ&oe=62ED14AF)
We've also been to see the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers Single A) and Sacramento River Cats (at the time, A's AAA).
My wife loves baseball as much as I do. We go to a lot of minor league games as well.
Yeah, I catch a number of Reno Aces games each year, since I live fairly close to Reno. It's always fun to bring the wife and make a day out of it.
A friend of mine was recently hired as the backup PA announcer for the Aces!
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pg1067
That's very very cool!!!! I enjoy going to Scranton to see the Railriders (Yankees AAA). Friendly and beautiful environment. I'm a Yankee fan but going to Yankee stadium literally sucks. The workers are all miserable and god forbid you try to get a pregame closer look at the field they treat you like a criminal. I watch those games from my comfy chair.
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Typical Sox/Yanks. Tonight's game is 3 hours old, and we're still in the 6th!
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Typical Sox/Yanks. Tonight's game is 3 hours old, and we're still in the 6th!
Lol! I'm watching.... Can you guess my favorite play of the game? :lol
(https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAZnnyd.img?w=612&h=408&m=6)
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Then you must've loved the Little Leaguer the Sox called up to play First last night! :lol
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So It's Sox/Yanks this weekend and I know these are big games, but as usual,, this is what I hate, and it happened a couple of weeks ago for the Cards/Cubs.
I hate when the Saturday Night Fox game of the week is the SAME matchup as the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
I would really like to see different teams.
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So It's Sox/Yanks this weekend and I know these are big games, but as usual,, this is what I hate, and it happened a couple of weeks ago for the Cards/Cubs.
I hate when the Saturday Night Fox game of the week is the SAME matchup as the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
I would really like to see different teams.
Yup! For me, I like my announcers anyway. I like Matty V, never liked Joe Buck. True story.... I always felt he called Yanks Sox games favoring the Sox or any other team Yanks play when he calls them. I called him out on Twitter years back, he did respond saying its not true, yada yada..... A few weeks later I'm in a hotel in NYC and he walks in standing next to me, I said "hey Joe, its "TomYanks" from Twitter!!!, he says noooo wayyyyy?!?!" It was hilarious and he turned out to be a totally cool dude. I will find the pic of us and post it here.
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So It's Sox/Yanks this weekend and I know these are big games, but as usual,, this is what I hate, and it happened a couple of weeks ago for the Cards/Cubs.
I hate when the Saturday Night Fox game of the week is the SAME matchup as the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
I would really like to see different teams.
Yup! For me, I like my announcers anyway. I like Matty V, never liked Joe Buck. True story.... I always felt he called Yanks Sox games favoring the Sox or any other team Yanks play when he calls them. I called him out on Twitter years back, he did respond saying its not true, yada yada..... A few weeks later I'm in a hotel in NYC and he walks in standing next to me, I said "hey Joe, its "TomYanks" from Twitter!!!, he says noooo wayyyyy?!?!" It was hilarious and he turned out to be a totally cool dude. I will find the pic of us and post it here.
I never got the impression from Joe Buck that he was ever favoring the Sox.
And hell yes...PIC!!
I also love Matty V.
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pg1067
That's very very cool!!!! I enjoy going to Scranton to see the Railriders (Yankees AAA). Friendly and beautiful environment. I'm a Yankee fan but going to Yankee stadium literally sucks. The workers are all miserable and god forbid you try to get a pregame closer look at the field they treat you like a criminal. I watch those games from my comfy chair.
Excluding the original Candlestick, new Yankee Stadium has been the least impressive stadium I've been to. Very sterile.
Typical Sox/Yanks. Tonight's game is 3 hours old, and we're still in the 6th!
I'm watching the Dodgers and Cubs. Dodgers gave up 5 runs in the first and are now leading 9-8 in the top of the 4th. Took about an hour and a half to play the first three innings.
What do you guys think of Joe Davis (if you've heard him)? He's done some of the Fox Saturday games and will be taking over for Buck for the ASG and World Series. He's the guy who took over the Dodgers gig when Vin Scully retired.
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Never expected the Sox to make that comeback without Devers in the lineup. You never know in this sport.
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Never expected the Sox to make that comeback without Devers in the lineup. You never know in this sport.
I know! I think LeMahieu took a shot of Nyquil before the game blowing those fly balls >:(
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I'm trying to make sense of the all-star rosters.
Nine guys were voted in from each league (excluding starting pitcher and including DH).
Bryce Harper, who was voted in as the starting DH, is injured, and one of the NL's position player reserves was named to replace him, so the NL has one fewer position player reserve than the AL. Not sure what that's all about, but I guess things will shake out over the next few days.
Also, it looks like the AL has one extra pitcher, but Shohei Ohtani is listed as a pitcher, in addition to being the starting DH.
I think it's funny that each league has one "legacy selection" on the roster. The NL took Pujols, and the AL took Cabrera. Maybe they each get a pinch hit at some point?
A lot of the discussion around here has to do with the starting pitcher. On merit, it should be Tony Gonsolin (Dodgers) or Sandy Alcantara (Marlins). However, there's been a lot of talk recently about having Clayton Kershaw start because the game's at Dodger Stadium (and this might be his last ASG). Kershaw has pitched well this year, but he missed several weeks because of injury, so he's not really deserving.
I gave a moment's thought to picking up a couple of decent seats for the HR Derby for $375 each, but I can't imagine what a nightmare it will be getting in and out of that parking lot. I'll leave work a little early and watch it from the comfort of my couch.
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Oh jeez, getting in and out of Dodger Stadium during all-star weekend would be the stuff of nightmares. :lol
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The Red Sox, defensively, are a damn Little League team.
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The Red Sox, defensively, are a damn Little League team.
Cordero has directly caused the loss of several games with his horrendous defense. Cora has to make a change.
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The Red Sox, defensively, are a damn Little League team.
Cordero has directly caused the loss of several games with his horrendous defense. Cora has to make a change.
The guy is a trainwreck.
Oh,and what a pussy on the mound. After Strahm throws the ball away, now he has to walk off the field with an "injury", as if that was the reason he threw the ball away.
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The Rays have been giving them fits since 1997.
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Yankees got back Tyler Wade today. Personally, I'm very happy about this.
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So...the reason I'm in Chicago is a work conference. The conference finished in the morning today, and the organizers had planned a trip to Wrigley for the Cubs game this afternoon. Unfortunately, it's been raining most of the day, so the game got postponed. Sucks for them....but not me! I wanted Friday afternoon free and went to the game last night! What an awesome place! Loved it (even though the Mets spanked the Cubs hard)! AND, even though the Cubs stink this year, the damn place was 90+% full.
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/293406525_10222986556832951_5928629331093065133_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=_dAoL2aMVIoAX_9i4bG&_nc_oc=AQmD9mw7rZWYx-HKV60GyOwpQxOhLQCw-vj9iKHNJjKH3jIIhHJxax6FJQ5UrgzluRo&tn=6SbsvnXSt74MFmJE&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT8iATP2mS4nopYPQs9Mpf2gbXcBDkmYYNDGzOtWrPt4MA&oe=62D67D85)
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/293235374_10222986653075357_5744890773056943596_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p720x720&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=bzePgbcWZQMAX_e-i4k&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT8FLTYU22Lmr25XlAWNaNrreCeFG2DJelRCt9DrLBLPDA&oe=62D5D0C0)
(https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/293427184_10222986653995380_3111162758534253570_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=WEnNeg1MoGoAX9mp4FC&_nc_oc=AQlFD_I9aeTTbTQGSQDtJGanEEXQ9pyz5PeQWv6hjtQcvB_Fd84Ts5v3102Dhp7EXxY&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT85MJ4SMsV2QeYsF2ApwobJhXz1zC0_OR2Imik1zwty3w&oe=62D645CD)
(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/293052580_10222987020804550_2713199968798150569_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=JcPWTwOfVboAX-TC8D2&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=00_AT-rWyNWAga51U9jIg9GTRIpOcJrQe8DjJo4AjVIX4p6SA&oe=62D6F17A)
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Awesome pics!!
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Meet your 2022 Boston Red Sox..
(https://www.orangeobserver.com/sites/default/files/DSC_0310.jpg)
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Meet your 2022 Boston Red Sox..
(https://www.orangeobserver.com/sites/default/files/DSC_0310.jpg)
That looks about right. Although it's been about the same for the Giants this year too.
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They keep beating the Yankees no matter who they run out on the field.
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Someone break up the Mariners! Will this be the year the longest playoff drought in professional sports ends?!?
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A couple tidbits from over the weekend.
First, someone from Fox is a monumental dumbass:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FX1kdi_UEAITv0R?format=jpg&name=small)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/07/16/fox-superimposes-yankees-red-sox-logos-9-11-memorial/10080231002/
My son showed this to me, and I initially thought it was someone making a fake, but it was real. SMH....
Second, I thought this was an interesting graphic. I don't know who created it, but it gets updated and posted fairly regularly on a very active group on Reddit, and I've never seen it questioned or exposed as being wrong, so I'm assuming it's pretty accurate:
(https://preview.redd.it/5bsgsaleu5c91.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=52f58ee90594322fedab3ef2777487db1fdf6f11)
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Brewers send Josh Hader to the Padres. Brewer Nation is upset but I’m more than okay with it.
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Brewers send Josh Hader to the Padres. Brewer Nation is upset but I’m more than okay with it.
I'm gonna guess it was one of those situations where he initially baffled everyone until they figured out that 85% of his pitches didn't end up in the strike zone. About right? did they get something decent in return?
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Brewers send Josh Hader to the Padres. Brewer Nation is upset but I’m more than okay with it.
I'm gonna guess it was one of those situations where he initially baffled everyone until they figured out that 85% of his pitches didn't end up in the strike zone. About right? did they get something decent in return?
Money, plain and simple. Hader is FA after ‘23, Brewers need to invest in their starting pitching, which is their strength. Life of small market baseball.
Padres gave up their closer, Taylor Rogers, pitcher Dinelson Lamet, and two prospects.
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The Red Sox fucking suck!
First off, they blow. Chaim Bloom GTFO!
They just traded my favorite player on the team to the fucking Asstros.
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All I can say about the trade deadline is, I hope the Giants don't trade Rodon and I hope they put something together to land Soto. Mostly because they need some superstar talent since Posey retired, but partly because the Dodgers shouldn't get him.
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The Red Sox fucking suck!
First off, they blow. Chaim Bloom GTFO!
They just traded my favorite player on the team to the fucking Asstros.
Christian Vasquez tormented the Yankees on both sides of the ball. I don't understand why they traded him. I also can't believe Mancini is also an Astro now.
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The Red Sox fucking suck!
First off, they blow. Chaim Bloom GTFO!
They just traded my favorite player on the team to the fucking Asstros.
?? I know what "GTFO" is, but....
All I can say about the trade deadline is, I hope the Giants don't trade Rodon and I hope they put something together to land Soto. Mostly because they need some superstar talent since Posey retired, but partly because the Dodgers shouldn't get him.
First, I have no interest in the Dodgers getting Soto. To the extent that the Dodgers need to do anything, getting another outfielder is NOT it (especially one who is a defensive liability). Also, while I'm a big believer in trading prospects (i.e., people who've never accomplished and may never accomplish anything at the Major League level) for proven superstars, I don't think Soto's increased value to the Dodgers could possibly justify what we'd have to give up to get him.
Second, I don't understand what Washington's rush is to ditch the guy. He's under team control for the next three seasons after this one. Maybe it's just that cutting bait means they can get more in return, but it just seems strange.
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Well...the Soto deal apparently has been done (per JP Morosi).
Padres get Soto and Josh Bell.
Nats get Eric Hosmer (1B), MacKenzie Gore (LHP), C.J. Abrams (SS), Robert Hassell III (OF and Padres #1 prospect), James Wood (OF and Padres #3 prospect), and Jarlin Susana (RHP and Padres #14 prospect).
https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-padres-trade
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Hosmer is coming to Boston. Apparently he rejected the trade to the Nats.
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Hosmer is coming to Boston. Apparently he rejected the trade to the Nats.
Hosmer is nice pick up. Plays hard and good clubhouse guy.
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The Red Sox fucking suck!
First off, they blow. Chaim Bloom GTFO!
They just traded my favorite player on the team to the fucking Asstros.
?? I know what "GTFO" is, but....
All I can say about the trade deadline is, I hope the Giants don't trade Rodon and I hope they put something together to land Soto. Mostly because they need some superstar talent since Posey retired, but partly because the Dodgers shouldn't get him.
First, I have no interest in the Dodgers getting Soto. To the extent that the Dodgers need to do anything, getting another outfielder is NOT it (especially one who is a defensive liability). Also, while I'm a big believer in trading prospects (i.e., people who've never accomplished and may never accomplish anything at the Major League level) for proven superstars, I don't think Soto's increased value to the Dodgers could possibly justify what we'd have to give up to get him.
Second, I don't understand what Washington's rush is to ditch the guy. He's under team control for the next three seasons after this one. Maybe it's just that cutting bait means they can get more in return, but it just seems strange.
Enjoy Joey Gallo. :biggrin:
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Trading anything other than a bucket of gum for Gallo might be the most baffling move Andrew Friedman has made in his tenure with the Dodgers.
And the Soto deal seems still to be going forward, but they'll have to work out something to replace Hosmer in the package.
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RIP Vin Scully.
Not sure if there was a more distinguished voice in baseball than his. A true legend.
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Wow that’s a huge loss. He called games managed by Connie Mack who was born during the Lincoln administration.
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The Red Sox fucking suck!
First off, they blow. Chaim Bloom GTFO!
They just traded my favorite player on the team to the fucking Asstros.
Here in Baltimore, the O's traded cancer survivor and the face of the franchise, Trey Mancini, to the A**tros. For four prospects. Yesterday, they traded their All Star closer Jorge Lopez to the Twins for prospects. This from an organization that has had five straight losing seasons, three straight 100+ noncovid losing seasons. This year they're above .500 with a legitimate chance for a wild card. Since calling up #1 pick from a few years ago, Adley Rutschman, they've been on a roll. A double gut punch to those faithful fans here who've stuck with this dysfunctional family run organization for decades.
Great, get some prospects, so that when some of the current players really hit their stride, they'll trade them to. They're still paying the price for competing against themselves for re-signing Chris Davis to an overblown contract that they have years to pay off.
RIP Vin Scully.
Not sure if there was a more distinguished voice in baseball than his. A true legend.
Ernie Harwell, Jack Buck, Bob Prince, Bob Uecker, Dick Enberg, Chuck Thompson, Marty Brenneman to name a few from that era who were special to their fan base. And he kept on long after most of those passed away. Many a MLB Saturday Game of the Week and the postseason games where he was a joy for me to listen to.
They could paint a picture of what was going on, tell the great stories, without babbling on and on and interfering with the game.
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I was watching the Dodger game last night. I was about 10 minutes or so behind, and I had gotten up to do some dishes, so I couldn't hear the announcers. At one point, I turned off the water and heard Joe Davis say something about "the memory of Vin" (or something like that). I made a bee-line for the TV and saw the graphic they had put up in the corner of the screen: Vin Scully- 1927-2022. I immediately rewound to the initial announcement. I basically watched the rest of the game in stunned silence with tears streaming down my face.
Although he's been retired for nearly six years, Vin Scully had been a very real and tangible part of my life as long as I can remember. My father was born in Brooklyn in 1921, and his father was also born in Brooklyn in 1880. Between the two of them, they saw the Dodgers (even before they were the Dodgers) play at ever venue they called home. According to my brother (who was 6 at the time), my father came perilously close to putting his foot through the TV when Bobby Thompson hit his homer in the 1951 NL tiebreaker series.
The details of this are a bit fuzzy because most of my immediate family members are gone, but sometime towards the end of the 1950s, my father decided to move our family from New York to southern California. I wasn't yet around, but all of my siblings were born in New York. They moved out here and then moved back and moved out here a second time. As I understand it, this craziness happened within a span of 5-6 years. The family story/joke is that my father moved the family in order to follow the Dodgers.
I came along in 1967, and my father died shortly after I turned 7 in 1974. Nearly every memory I have of him relates to baseball -- him buying me my first glove and bat and the final one: watching the Dodgers in the 1974 World Series. While I don't really remember anything about the Series (other than what I've read in more recent years), I have a very distinct memory of sitting in the room with my father watching the game. I was almost literally born to be a Dodgers fan and "bleed Blue."
Because I was so young when my father died, Vin Scully became something of a surrogate. I had a clock radio in my room and would turn on Dodger games and listen to Vin (along with Jerry Doggett) teach me about baseball. It seems weird to write it, but Dodger fans developed an almost familial bond with Vin Scully and, to me, he was a sort of surrogate father. Anyone who listened to enough of Vin's broadcasts knows that talked about far more than baseball. He told stories and made the past seem present. He taught generations to be good humans.
Although Vin is synonymous with the Dodgers, he was, for several years, one of CBS's lead football play-by-play commentators, working with folks like Paul Hornung, Jim Brown and John Madden. He called "The Catch" by Dwight Clark in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. He also called tennis and golf. He called countless national baseball broadcasts, including more than two dozen World Series (covering a span of over 40 years) and many more championship series and all-star games. He remains the youngest person to have called a World Series -- he was 25 when he called the 1953 World Series for NBC television.
Deaths of folks I don't know personally have never hit me hard. Chris Squire and Neil Peart were tough, but Vin is something else entirely, and I think it's going to take a few days for me to move past this.
Wow that’s a huge loss. He called games managed by Connie Mack who was born during the Lincoln administration.
Although I've seen the same comment published elsewhere, it's not quite accurate. Mack's last season as manager - 1950 - was also Vin's first season calling games for the Dodgers. However, Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics and, since the Dodgers were in the National League and the Athletics in the American League, Vin wouldn't have had occasion to call a game managed by Mack. That said, the fact that a guy who died yesterday had a career that overlapped a guy born when Lincoln was president is just crazy!
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Great post, Paul.
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Local radio station KGO just had Giants announcer Mike Krukow on to tribute Vin, just an amazing life. Even as a Giants fan, I deeply respect his body of work and contributions to the game.
He also called The Catch in '82,so there's that too...
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The Giants ran a nice graphic on the scoreboard after yesterday's game, and there's a plaque in the visitor's press box commemorating Vin's last game called at AT&T. Even though we hate each other, there's a LOT of respect running between the two organizations.
I remember Krukow as a pitcher with a bunch of mostly terrible Cubs teams. Looks like he had a really good season with the Giants in '86. One postseaon game in a 12+ year career (didn't quite hang on for the '89 WS run). Obviously not as many opportunities back then, but that's tough.
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The Giants ran a nice graphic on the scoreboard after yesterday's game, and there's a plaque in the visitor's press box commemorating Vin's last game called at AT&T. Even though we hate each other, there's a LOT of respect running between the two organizations.
I remember Krukow as a pitcher with a bunch of mostly terrible Cubs teams. Looks like he had a really good season with the Giants in '86. One postseaon game in a 12+ year career (didn't quite hang on for the '89 WS run). Obviously not as many opportunities back then, but that's tough.
Yup, in the end there is respect. I even remember it running fairly deep when Lasorda passed, not quite the level that Vin will get, but it definitely was present.
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Nice tribute to Vin Scully in San Fran tonight.
I loved the day we spent at that ballpark.
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Maybe it's about time MLB starts forcing the home team to forfeit the game if their fans keep throwing stuff on the field and at players.
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Maybe it's about time MLB starts forcing the home team to forfeit the game if their fans keep throwing stuff on the field and at players.
I agree! I'm a Yankee fan, but going to games literally sucks. The fans can't hold their booze and honestly even the sober ones can be flat out abusive. I stopped going to Yankee Stadium.
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Maybe it's about time MLB starts forcing the home team to forfeit the game if their fans keep throwing stuff on the field and at players.
I don't disagree, but what did I miss?
And I've said it before and I'll say it again: Leave your position to join a brawl? Automatic 5 game suspension. Leave the bullpen to join a brawl? Automatic 5 game suspension. Leave the dugout to join a brawl? Automatic 5 game suspension. Gonna lose your next 5 games because you literally had to bring up your entire AAA roster while everyone is suspended? Too bad.
I'm looking forward to all the ejections next year when pitchers can't figure out how to comply with a pitch clock and then lose their shit when the umpires call automatic balls.
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Also...
If the Dodgers play .500 baseball the rest of the season, they'll finish at 102-60, and the Padres and Giants would have go 41-9 and 48-5, respectively, in order to catch the Dodgers.
Also also, Manny "Fucking" Machado continues to confirm that he's one of the biggest douchebags in baseball.
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Also...
If the Dodgers play .500 baseball the rest of the season, they'll finish at 102-60, and the Padres and Giants would have go 41-9 and 48-5, respectively, in order to catch the Dodgers.
Also also, Manny "Fucking" Machado continues to confirm that he's one of the biggest douchebags in baseball.
He really is :lol
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Maybe it's about time MLB starts forcing the home team to forfeit the game if their fans keep throwing stuff on the field and at players.
I don't disagree, but what did I miss?
Giants-Padres game last night. Safe call at home was overturned and the Padres fans started throwing stuff at Mike Yastrzemski and all over the field. There was like a 10 minute delay to get all the crap off the field. It was one of those calls that no matter what the ruling, someone was going to be mad. I honestly think they got the call right, but I may be biased since the call favored the Giants. :dunno:
Also also, Manny "Fucking" Machado continues to confirm that he's one of the biggest douchebags in baseball.
Yeah, I really hate Manny Machado. No hustle, gets mad at the drop of a hat, throws tantrums on the field when things don't go his way, yells at pitchers when they strike him out, etc etc. Reminds me a bit of Nyjer Morgan. Glad he's been out of the game for 10 years now.
Also...
If the Dodgers play .500 baseball the rest of the season, they'll finish at 102-60, and the Padres and Giants would have go 41-9 and 48-5, respectively, in order to catch the Dodgers.
Yeah the Dodgers have been every bit as good as they were last year, only this year they don't have the Giants to keep them in check, so they may end with a better record than last year. Being a Giants fan, I have to automatically hate the Dodgers, but I've been impressed with the pace they've kept all year. Imagine if Bellinger and Muncy were anywhere near their potential this year. I honestly think Bellinger has just flamed out. I suppose he could turn it around, but I think the Dodger hitting instructors have been doing him a disservice. Or he hasn't been listening to them. :dunno: No idea what's wrong with Muncy this year.
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Reminds me a bit of Nyjer Morgan. Glad he's been out of the game for 10 years now.
Hmmm...all I remember is that he was fast AF.
Imagine if Bellinger and Muncy were anywhere near their potential this year. I honestly think Bellinger has just flamed out. I suppose he could turn it around, but I think the Dodger hitting instructors have been doing him a disservice. Or he hasn't been listening to them. :dunno: No idea what's wrong with Muncy this year.
My son argued at the time - and still argues - that Bellinger didn't deserve the MVP in 2019 and that he only won it because the almighty "they" didn't want to have Yelich as a back-to-back winner. He also seized on the literal definition of "most valuable" - i.e., Yelich was more valuable because taking him off the Brewers would have had a huge impact, while taking Bellinger off the Dodgers wouldn't have had a big impact. He now cites Bellinger's multi-year slump as confirmation. In any event, I'm not sure which of the two options you mentioned is true, but I'm inclined to think it's the latter. I'm just hoping he takes some lessons from Freddy Freeman, but Bellinger's saving grace is that, IMO, there isn't a better defensive centerfielder in the NL and maybe all of MLB.
As for Muncy, I think he could have done with more recovery time from the injury he suffered at the end of last year. He's been showing signs over the past week-plus of pulling out of it, so I'm hopeful.
What I'm most encouraged about is that Dustin May has one more AAA rehab start and, assuming all continues to look and feel good, he's supposed to rejoin the team later this month. Likewise, Brustar Graterol and Blake Treinen are set to return within the next couple of weeks. Really hoping that Treinen's presence will minimize the need for Craig "Gas-on-the-Fire" Kimbrel.
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Awful news of Tim Lincecum losing his wife at the age of 38 to cancer. She was fucking beautiful.
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Really??? That's horrible!!! We need some positive news....... Ummmm???? :huh:
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Well Tim, I'm prepared to see Eovaldi carve up the Yankees line up tonight. :sad:
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Anyone watch the Field of Dreams game yesterday?
Cubs beat the Reds in really cool throwback uniforms, but I hate that they did it on a Thursday, so I didn't get to see any of the pregame stuff. John Smoltz did the broadcast despite his father having died earlier in the day (he said his father would have been livid had he not done it).
And then there was this...
(https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-11-at-8.05.23-PM.png?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
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Anyone watch the Field of Dreams game yesterday?
Cubs beat the Reds in really cool throwback uniforms, but I hate that they did it on a Thursday, so I didn't get to see any of the pregame stuff. John Smoltz did the broadcast despite his father having died earlier in the day (he said his father would have been livid had he not done it).
And then there was this...
(https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-11-at-8.05.23-PM.png?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
I totally forgot! Unfuckingreal!!! Damn it!!! >:(
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Well Tim, I'm prepared to see Eovaldi carve up the Yankees line up tonight. :sad:
I believe you'll be sorely disappointed. I mean, Eovaldi may do ok, but once he's gone, the game is yours.
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Clay Holmes, Are you FUCKING kidding me!!!!! :censored >:(:censored :censored >:(
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I figured Eovalsi would keep them close and then the Sox' pen would blow it, but they hung in there. That dude Holmes was throwing gas!
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Holmes was an all star this year and was unstoppable for most of the year. He stole Chapman's closer role but has been off lately. Sox can still get a WC spot so it was a good win for them.
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The Harry Caray thing wasn't as weird for me as it could have been. After all, the guy was a caricature even when he was alive. But then I thought about how horrified I'd be if they tried that shit with Vin Scully. Just no.
Had a near perfect game in Tampa today. The Rays' starter gave up a leadoff double in the top of the 9th. Then the guy took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. So the manager lifted the starter...even though his pitch count was at 87. For god's sake...let the guy get the complete game!
And wow...I'm shocked to see that the Yankees and Red Sox will be the Sunday Night Baseball game. 4:00 game time, so I assume they'll be done sometime around 8:30. And they're doing the Michael Kay/Alex Rodriguez alternate broadcast. Yeah...I'm sure that won't be completely unlistenable.
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And wow...I'm shocked to see that the Yankees and Red Sox will be the Sunday Night Baseball game. 4:00 game time, so I assume they'll be done sometime around 8:30. And they're doing the Michael Kay/Alex Rodriguez alternate broadcast. Yeah...I'm sure that won't be completely unlistenable.
I wish it started at 4:00 here.
And this was my bitch a few weeks ago. Fox also had Sox/Yanks last night. I'd hate to be in another market getting stuck having to always watch the same two teams both nights.
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ESPN apparently thinks it's still 2007.
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And they're doing the Michael Kay/Alex Rodriguez alternate broadcast. Yeah...I'm sure that won't be completely unlistenable.
For someone who played baseball as long as Alex Rodriguez did, he sure sounds completely stupid when it comes to being a baseball broadcaster...
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Listening to David Cone add nothing reminds me of how good Curt Schilling was on these broadcasts.
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Was that Yankees Red Sox game was sponsored by NyQuil??? I tuned in to the Kay-Rod show and if anyone saw it what did you think of Jeters appearance? Was it obvious that he can't stand Alex? I respect Derek and his years as a player but lighten the fuck up man. Alex was trying to suck his dick and Derek wasn't biting (see what I did there?). Awkward to say the least. Overall a totally shit night in Yankee land.
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I hear Michael Kay every so often when MLB Network shows a Yankees game on a weekend afternoon, and I think he's pretty good. But you'd have to pay me a pretty good amount of money to consume anything in which Alex Rodrigueez is involved. He is downright awful.
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Good on the ump for calling Rizzo for leaning into that pitch.
I loved when Pedro used to protect Wakefield. If a guy let Wakefield's knuckleball hit him, Pedro would usually drill him the next opportunity.
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Yankees are pathetic.
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A lot of football neanderthals like to criticize baseball as a wimpy sport - well the Dodgers currently have 11 pitchers on the injured list. There's a high degree of injury risk in this game! Just ask all the superstars like Trout, Harper, etc etc who are currently out.
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A lot of football neanderthals like to criticize baseball as a wimpy sport - well the Dodgers currently have 11 pitchers on the injured list. There's a high degree of injury risk in this game! Just ask all the superstars like Trout, Harper, etc etc who are currently out.
I think the ire of "football neanderthals" is typically directed at soccer. That said, baseball involves a LOT of short, HIGH torque maneuvers (i.e., swinging a bat and pitching). Those things carry high injury potential. It's just that most baseball injuries are of the non-contact variety.
Good on the ump for calling Rizzo for leaning into that pitch.
As much as it pains me to say it, I agree with Rizzo. At the time the pitch was released, Rizzo had his foot six inches off the ground in preparation to stride toward the pitcher. After the pitch was released, the foot was on its way down, and that wasn't something that could have been changed. Ryan Yarbrough is 6'5" and, conservatively, releases the ball 56 feet from the plate. The pitch looked to have been a slider, so let's say it was going 85mph, so that's .45 seconds from release to the plate. By the time Rizzo's foot landed, the ball was at least halfway to the plate, which means he had maybe .25 seconds to do something. He had ZERO chance of avoiding that ball.
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So Tatis Jr has been suspended for PEDs. What an idiot. Then his dad tries to explain it away by giving excuses.....it's a banned substance, I don't care what it's being used for. If you test positive for any banned substance, you have no one to blame but yourself.
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Here's the thing...I believe Tatis that the substance in question was an ingredient in something that he used for a legit reason and that he didn't know it was in there.
My problem is that no one making big-4 money should be putting ANYTHING in his body without getting the thumbs up from someone who knows the banned substance list inside and out. It's just too important. And I don't know what his dad said, but when family members (even those who are MLB record holders) start talking, it's usually bad.
By the way, I had a dream last night that I was watching a baseball game and a brawl broke out and the guy who was at-bat (tall, skinny guy, so maybe Cody Bellinger) actually clocked one of the umpires with a punch. Unfortunately, I woke up before learning how long of a suspension he got. :lol
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By the way, I had a dream last night that I was watching a baseball game and a brawl broke out and the guy who was at-bat (tall, skinny guy, so maybe Cody Bellinger) actually clocked one of the umpires with a punch. Unfortunately, I woke up before learning how long of a suspension he got. :lol
:rollin
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Josh Hader has been a mess in San Diego, maybe the Brewers weren’t so dumb after all.
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So I just checked today's updated stats. Ohtani is pitching .600 ball for a .433 team, ranking 4th in strikeouts and 6th in ERA. Batting-wise, he's 2nd in Total Bases, 3rd in Homers and Runs Created, 4th in Slugging and Extra Base Hits, 5th in OPS+ and RBIs. You get the idea. Even more impressive overall than last year. The most amazing player ever, which doesn't mean best ever of course.
Putting it in perspective, he's hitting like an average season for Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and pitching like an average season for Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (based on their career OPS+ and ERA+).
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So I just checked today's updated stats. Ohtani is pitching .600 ball for a .433 team, ranking 4th in strikeouts and 6th in ERA. Batting-wise, he's 2nd in Total Bases, 3rd in Homers and Runs Created, 4th in Slugging and Extra Base Hits, 5th in OPS+ and RBIs. You get the idea. Even more impressive overall than last year. The most amazing player ever, which doesn't mean best ever of course.
Putting it in perspective, he's hitting like an average season for Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and pitching like an average season for Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (based on their career OPS+ and ERA+).
Impressive, but he's not the AL MVP. The Angels would probably better without him.
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The Yankees have a losing record during Judge’s red-hot 2nd half. So . . . ?
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So I just checked today's updated stats. Ohtani is pitching .600 ball for a .433 team, ranking 4th in strikeouts and 6th in ERA. Batting-wise, he's 2nd in Total Bases, 3rd in Homers and Runs Created, 4th in Slugging and Extra Base Hits, 5th in OPS+ and RBIs. You get the idea. Even more impressive overall than last year. The most amazing player ever, which doesn't mean best ever of course.
Putting it in perspective, he's hitting like an average season for Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and pitching like an average season for Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (based on their career OPS+ and ERA+).
Impressive, but he's not the AL MVP. The Angels would probably better without him.
How would they be better without him?
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The Yankees have a losing record during Judge’s red-hot 2nd half. So . . . ?
Alternatively, Judge is probably the reason they're in first place right now.
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So I just checked today's updated stats. Ohtani is pitching .600 ball for a .433 team, ranking 4th in strikeouts and 6th in ERA. Batting-wise, he's 2nd in Total Bases, 3rd in Homers and Runs Created, 4th in Slugging and Extra Base Hits, 5th in OPS+ and RBIs. You get the idea. Even more impressive overall than last year. The most amazing player ever, which doesn't mean best ever of course.
Putting it in perspective, he's hitting like an average season for Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and pitching like an average season for Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (based on their career OPS+ and ERA+).
Impressive, but he's not the AL MVP. The Angels would probably better without him.
How would they be better without him?
Admittedly, my comment was a bit of hyperbole. The more accurate point was that the Angels would probably be in the same position (4th place in the division and 21 "games under .500") without him. And, if the rest of the team weren't sitting around marveling at him, they might do something on their own.
The Yankees have a losing record during Judge’s red-hot 2nd half. So . . . ?
Alternatively, Judge is probably the reason they're in first place right now.
Exactly. Obviously, there are two camps with the MVP: those who think it should go to the most outstanding player - regardless of how much impact he does or doesn't have on his team - and those who focus is on how valuable the player is to his team. I tend to be in the latter camp and think that Judge has been much more important to the Yankees than Ohtani has been to the Angels.
In other news, my son and I made what's becoming an annual trip out to Phoenix to watch the Dodgers play the D-backs. We were treated to a briskly played game (2:37 game time) and a 6-0 Dodgers win. The stadium was probably 2/3 full, and I'd bet that 75% of the crowd were Dodger fans. I just wish there were more things to do in Phoenix that didn't involve being outside. On the other hand, we got to go to Fuddruckers for the first time since they closed the last SoCal store in 2019 or early 2020.
The Dodgers clinched the NL west the day after we were there and they're the only team to have clinched a playoff birth. Looking at the standings on ESPN:
The Yankees have a 6 game lead in the AL east, and ESPN says they have a 99.9+% chance of making the playoffs. Same with the Trashtros in the AL west. The Indians Guardians are up by 4 in the AL central. For the three wild cards, the Jays, Rays and Mariners are all listed with a 95+% chance of making the playoffs (although the Orioles are only 4 games back of the Rays), so it looks like the 6 AL teams are pretty well set, with only the order TBD.
In the NL, the Mets and Braves are separated in the NL east by only half a game, while the Cardinals have a comfortable 8-game lead in the Central. Whichever of the Mets or Braves that doesn't win the east will get a wild card, and Philly seems to have another spot locked up. The Padres and Brewers are separated by 2 games for the final wild card spot. The Braves and Mets play in the second to last series of the year, so that could be for all the marbles. In the meantime, the Braves have six games against the Nats and seven against the Phillies. The Mets seem to have an easier schedule, with nine games against the Pirates/A's/Marlins (three of the six teams who have been officially eliminated from playoff contention) and a 3-game series against the Brewers being their only games against a good team.
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Albert Pujols stands 2 HR away from 700 for his career. Cards are playing the Dodgers this weekend, and my son and I have tickets for Saturday's game. While we'll be sitting along the first base line (and, thus, have no chance of being near any HR), I'm hoping we get to see a bit of history in addition to getting the bobblehead that prompted me to buy the tickets in the first place. Of course, if he hits #699 tonight or tomorrow, the Saturday game is going to be packed, which kinda sucks, but oh well.
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Albert Pujols stands 2 HR away from 700 for his career. Cards are playing the Dodgers this weekend, and my son and I have tickets for Saturday's game. While we'll be sitting along the first base line (and, thus, have no chance of being near any HR), I'm hoping we get to see a bit of history in addition to getting the bobblehead that prompted me to buy the tickets in the first place. Of course, if he hits #699 tonight or tomorrow, the Saturday game is going to be packed, which kinda sucks, but oh well.
I am selfishly hoping he saves 700 for next week at home, but have fun!
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I started watching the Sox-Yanks game and fucking Fox...all they did was gab on and on about Roger Maris. I don't fucking care.
That shit ass broadcast literally forced me to figure out how to get the damn football game on my TV. :lol
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I started watching the Sox-Yanks game and fucking Fox...all they did was gab on and on about Roger Maris. I don't fucking care.
That shit ass broadcast literally forced me to figure out how to get the damn football game on my TV. :lol
It wasn't that bad man. Just bitter huh? :biggrin:
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Pujols hit 699 AND 700 last night in LA!
Legend. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Watched a clip of 700 this morning. Made me smile just seeing how happy he looked running the bases.
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Albert Pujols stands 2 HR away from 700 for his career. Cards are playing the Dodgers this weekend, and my son and I have tickets for Saturday's game. While we'll be sitting along the first base line (and, thus, have no chance of being near any HR), I'm hoping we get to see a bit of history in addition to getting the bobblehead that prompted me to buy the tickets in the first place. Of course, if he hits #699 tonight or tomorrow, the Saturday game is going to be packed, which kinda sucks, but oh well.
I am selfishly hoping he saves 700 for next week at home, but have fun!
Yeah...that was quick. Hopefully it thins the herd a bit for the game tonight.
Watched a clip of 700 this morning. Made me smile just seeing how happy he looked running the bases.
I'm guessing a lot of it was that he was happy to have it over. Took him a few games to get #699, but then there was ZERO wait/angst over getting #700.
Apparently the guy who caught ball #700 left the game almost immediately and is keeping the ball. Supposedly he turned down several offers made by the Cardinals. He hasn't revealed publicly whether he's going to try and sell it. Contrast this with the guy who caught #699 and immediately handed it over in exchange for the opportunity to meet Pujols.
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I can't say I blame the guy. Number 700 is likely worth a lot of money.
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The Judge 72 HR ball if he ever hits it will be about 3 million. A wealthy collector already said he would pay it.
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I can't say I blame the guy. Number 700 is likely worth a lot of money.
I guess, but I absolutely don't get it. It's no different than #697, 698 and 699 (only three prior players ever did it), but I don't live in that world.
The Judge 72 HR ball if he ever hits it will be about 3 million. A wealthy collector already said he would pay it.
72? You mean 62, which he almost certainly will hit? The number I heard was $2M, but who knows. Either way, it's absolute insanity for a ball that's only a team/AL record but more than 10 off from the all-time record.
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I can't say I blame the guy. Number 700 is likely worth a lot of money.
I guess, but I absolutely don't get it. It's no different than #697, 698 and 699 (only three prior players ever did it), but I don't live in that world.
The Judge 72 HR ball if he ever hits it will be about 3 million. A wealthy collector already said he would pay it.
72? You mean 62, which he almost certainly will hit? The number I heard was $2M, but who knows. Either way, it's absolute insanity for a ball that's only a team/AL record but more than 10 off from the all-time record.
Yes sorry 62, I'm shot. If he hits 72 that would be impressive.
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Love this comment from Posnanski:
Only baseball could turn what should be a celebration of Aaron Judge's wonderful season into an excuse to bash some of the greatest and most thrilling players who ever played the game.
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Kind of an amusing interview on Dan Patrick's show this morning. Apparently, the Blue Jays' bullpen coach caught the ball. And he's also married to one of my alternative universe wives, Sara Walsh. Dan had both of them on the show talking about her tweets in the wake of him simply handing over the ball to someone with the Yankees.
Sometimes I think no one hates successful baseball players more than baseball fans. If you must hate on Judge, do it for the right reason: he plays for the Yankees. :biggrin:
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Kind of an amusing interview on Dan Patrick's show this morning. Apparently, the Blue Jays' bullpen coach caught the ball. And he's also married to one of my alternative universe wives, Sara Walsh. Dan had both of them on the show talking about her tweets in the wake of him simply handing over the ball to someone with the Yankees.
Sometimes I think no one hates successful baseball players more than baseball fans. If you must hate on Judge, do it for the right reason: he plays for the Yankees. :biggrin:
And that would be the only legitimate reason to hate on him. Other than that he seems like a good dude.
In a related matter, I read an article about how 3 top MLB analysts are saying the Giants are a likely landing spot for Judge this offseason. As much as I would like that, it will take a ridiculous contract to sign him and I just don't think Farhan Zaidi would pull the trigger on a 10 year contract on a 30 year old player. It's just not how he does business.
The Giants post-game analysts were also talking about potential lineups for next season and who the Giants were likely to keep and who they may sign.
If I were Farhan, this is what I'd shoot for:
C - Joey Bart
1b - Brandon Belt (assuming he doesn't retire, if he does I suppose Lamonte Wade or sign
2b - Thairo Estrada
3b - Wilmer Flores (he's already been re-signed)
SS - Brandon Crawford
LF - Joc Pederson
CF - They'd have to go internally here and stick with Austin Slater or Mike Yastrzemski, since there isn't anything in the free agent market this offseason. They could trade for someone, but they'd have to give up top prospects
RF - Aaron Judge
DH - Could platoon JD Davis and Jason Vosler (who has impressed me in a small sample size this year), or they could take a chance on Jorge Soler, he'd be cheap.
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Kind of an amusing interview on Dan Patrick's show this morning. Apparently, the Blue Jays' bullpen coach caught the ball. And he's also married to one of my alternative universe wives, Sara Walsh. Dan had both of them on the show talking about her tweets in the wake of him simply handing over the ball to someone with the Yankees.
Sometimes I think no one hates successful baseball players more than baseball fans. If you must hate on Judge, do it for the right reason: he plays for the Yankees. :biggrin:
And that would be the only legitimate reason to hate on him. Other than that he seems like a good dude.
Yeah...it's a very inconvenient trait of his (I joke, of course, and agree that he seems like one of the good ones).
In a related matter, I read an article about how 3 top MLB analysts are saying the Giants are a likely landing spot for Judge this offseason. As much as I would like that, it will take a ridiculous contract to sign him and I just don't think Farhan Zaidi would pull the trigger on a 10 year contract on a 30 year old player. It's just not how he does business.
The Giants post-game analysts were also talking about potential lineups for next season and who the Giants were likely to keep and who they may sign.
If I were Farhan, this is what I'd shoot for:
C - Joey Bart
1b - Brandon Belt (assuming he doesn't retire, if he does I suppose Lamonte Wade or sign
2b - Thairo Estrada
3b - Wilmer Flores (he's already been re-signed)
SS - Brandon Crawford
LF - Joc Pederson
CF - They'd have to go internally here and stick with Austin Slater or Mike Yastrzemski, since there isn't anything in the free agent market this offseason. They could trade for someone, but they'd have to give up top prospects
RF - Aaron Judge
DH - Could platoon JD Davis and Jason Vosler (who has impressed me in a small sample size this year), or they could take a chance on Jorge Soler, he'd be cheap.
I can't tell if this is legit or it's just an easy thing to say because he grew up in central Cal and rooted for the Giants.
And isn't Brandon Crawford about ready to hang it up? He's another guy I hate but who appears to be a good guy.
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Kind of an amusing interview on Dan Patrick's show this morning. Apparently, the Blue Jays' bullpen coach caught the ball. And he's also married to one of my alternative universe wives, Sara Walsh. Dan had both of them on the show talking about her tweets in the wake of him simply handing over the ball to someone with the Yankees.
Sometimes I think no one hates successful baseball players more than baseball fans. If you must hate on Judge, do it for the right reason: he plays for the Yankees. :biggrin:
And that would be the only legitimate reason to hate on him. Other than that he seems like a good dude.
Yeah...it's a very inconvenient trait of his (I joke, of course, and agree that he seems like one of the good ones).
In a related matter, I read an article about how 3 top MLB analysts are saying the Giants are a likely landing spot for Judge this offseason. As much as I would like that, it will take a ridiculous contract to sign him and I just don't think Farhan Zaidi would pull the trigger on a 10 year contract on a 30 year old player. It's just not how he does business.
The Giants post-game analysts were also talking about potential lineups for next season and who the Giants were likely to keep and who they may sign.
If I were Farhan, this is what I'd shoot for:
C - Joey Bart
1b - Brandon Belt (assuming he doesn't retire, if he does I suppose Lamonte Wade or sign
2b - Thairo Estrada
3b - Wilmer Flores (he's already been re-signed)
SS - Brandon Crawford
LF - Joc Pederson
CF - They'd have to go internally here and stick with Austin Slater or Mike Yastrzemski, since there isn't anything in the free agent market this offseason. They could trade for someone, but they'd have to give up top prospects
RF - Aaron Judge
DH - Could platoon JD Davis and Jason Vosler (who has impressed me in a small sample size this year), or they could take a chance on Jorge Soler, he'd be cheap.
I can't tell if this is legit or it's just an easy thing to say because he grew up in central Cal and rooted for the Giants.
And isn't Brandon Crawford about ready to hang it up? He's another guy I hate but who appears to be a good guy.
Crawford has one more year on his contract and then I imagine he will think about retirement. Especially if his buddy Brandon Belt retires this offseason. It will truly be a new era for the Giants once that happens, already no more Madbum, no more Posey, and then the Brandons will be gone and so no more players will remain from the 2010's world series teams.
And as far as Judge signing with the Giants. I have no idea how likely it is. I figure he will just resign with the Yankees, but I do think the Giants will make an offer.
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Phillies get swept by the Cubs opening the door for the Brewers to get the last wild card and the Crew are like, nah we don’t want it.
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Phillies get swept by the Cubs opening the door for the Brewers to get the last wild card and the Crew are like, nah we don’t want it.
Tee times. Gotta get the hell out of Milwaukee and back to the sunshine before the weather turns. Priorities. :lol
Judge hit 61 while I was at a bar having a drink before the Porcupine Tree show on Wednesday. The whole crowd there erupted when he did it. So cool to see history. But...61 was in game 155. Was hoping it was in gm 154 to be equal to games played by Ruth. But hey, I'm glad he got it. Now just one more and I'll be a happy fan.
And cheers to Judge and his agent. That massive contract this offseason. Going on record now...going to be 7 years, 280 million. My Lord...
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Four teams fighting for two spots in the National League (although the Giants would need both the Phillies and Brewers to have a complete meltdown over the last week).
I'd love to see the Orioles make it in the AL.
Dodgers' magic number is 1 to clinch home field throughout the playoffs.
It's weird the way the playoff brackets will work out this year. The NL East winner (Mets currently have a 1 game lead on the Braves) will likely play the winner of the Cardinals v. Phillies/Brewers wild card series, while the Dodgers will likely get the winner of the series between (probably) the Padres and whichever team doesn't win the NL East. HUGE incentive to win the NL East (along with the bye in the WC round), and a bit of a disadvantage for the Dodgers (simply because the #2 NL East team will be perceived to be much stronger than the Cards/Phils/Brewers).
In the AL, Astros and Yankees get the byes. Cleveland will get whichever of the Rays/Mariners/Orioles get the #3 WC spot, and Toronto will probably be the #1 WC team and will host #2, which means you're probably looking at the Jays at Astros and Cleveland at Yankees for the Division round.
Judge hit 61 while I was at a bar having a drink before the Porcupine Tree show on Wednesday. The whole crowd there erupted when he did it. So cool to see history. But...61 was in game 155. Was hoping it was in gm 154 to be equal to games played by Ruth. But hey, I'm glad he got it. Now just one more and I'll be a happy fan.
If it's any consolation, Ruth only played 151 games in 1927, and Judge got #61 in his 151st game played this season.
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The Mariners made the playoffs, for the first time since 2001! I am so glad we are no longer the answer to the trivia question of who has the longest current playoff drought in the 4 major American sports (now it's the Sacramento Kings at 16 seasons).
Of course the Mariners still have the distinction of being the only currently active MLB team to never make it to the World Series.
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Congrats to the Mariners. I don't know what they have for pitching, but I have a feeling that it won't be another 21 years before the next playoff appearance.
The Dodgers have now clinched home field throughout the playoffs.
The 1-3 slots in the AL are locked: (1) Houston; (2) Yankees; (3) Cleveland. Wild card slots are close to being locked. The Jays will be either #1 or #2. The Mariners could finish in any of the three spots, and the Rays will be either #2 or #3.
In the NL, The Dodgers are locked at #1, and the Cards are locked at #3. The Braves beat the Mets yesterday, so they are now the #2 division seed. One more game between the two today (ESPN game of the week at 7EDT). Whichever team doesn't win the division will be WC1 and host a series against either the Padres, the Phillies or the Brewers.
It'll be interesting to see how how things play out with the byes. The last regular season games are on October 5, and the WC series will all be October 7-9 (or just 7-8). The division series will all start on October 11, which means the four top two teams will have five off days between games. They'll be able to have their pitchers well-rested and in the order they want, but will they be rusty? The wild card winners will be rolling, but their pitchers may be pretty spent - especially if they have bullpen or extra inning games (no Manfred runners in the playoffs).
EDIT: Braves are about to sweep the Mets and take a 2 game lead with each team having 3 to play.
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Pujols hit a HR in his first ever AB at Busch Stadium in 2001.
He hit a HR today in last ever AB (in the regular season) at Busch Stadium.
What a legend.
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Pujols hit a HR in his first ever AB at Busch Stadium in 2001.
He hit a HR today in last ever AB (in the regular season) at Busch Stadium.
What a legend.
I'm glad that he got a positive last year and a half of his career after all those years of (well-paid) exile in the Anaheim Gulag. If you had made a bet before the 2012 season that, over the life of Pujols' contract, the Angels would have two ROYs and four MVPs but only three winning seasons, make the playoffs only once and go 0-3 in those games, you'd have made a shitload of money.
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Pujols hit a HR in his first ever AB at Busch Stadium in 2001.
He hit a HR today in last ever AB (in the regular season) at Busch Stadium.
What a legend.
Hopefully this link works. It's Wainwright, Pujols and Molina all being pulled from the game together. Cool moment.
https://fb.watch/fW01u4X-ao/
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Well, Aaron Judge has 4 games, roughly 16 at bats to reach 62 home runs which would crown him the American league leader as well as Yankees single season home run leader. Personally I don't see it happening but its baseball so who knows. Bottom line is he's had an amazing season but it raises the question if the Yankees should give him what he's asking contract wise. My answer is simple, NO. He will be 31 years old next season and to give him 400 plus million dollars is just flat out irresponsible. I can't see him wearing another uniform and all of us fans want him to stay but how many great seasons does he have left? Paying players on past accomplishments is insane. I hope the Yankees and Judge come to a reasonable agreement, if not, I'm sure another team will overpay him.
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The Yankees have four games (including (a doubleheader) against the Rangers. The Rangers obviously have nothing to lose, so I'd hope they'll pitch to him. Wouldn't surprise me if he gets it in the second game of the DH tomorrow or the final game of the season after the Rangers pitching staff has been hammered over the first three games.
As far as going forward, the big question is how willing is he to take a "discount" (more in terms of years than dollars per season) to remain a Yankee. I googled to see who his agent is and discovered it's actually a guy to whom I have a vague connection. He's represented by PSI Sports and, more specifically, Page Odle and David Matranga. David Matranga had 7 MLB at bats in 2003 & 2005 with the Angels and Astros. His only career hit was a HR in his first career at bat. We have a handful of signed cards from his minor league and college career because my wife worked with his mother (and I believe met him a couple times). Not that that really has anything to do with Judge. Anyway, he's not rep'd by a guy like Scott Boras, so I doubt he'll just run wherever he can get the most money. If he's smart (as he seems to be), he'll likely realize that staying with the Yankees will be better for him in the long run.
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Pujols hit a HR in his first ever AB at Busch Stadium in 2001.
He hit a HR today in last ever AB (in the regular season) at Busch Stadium.
What a legend.
Hopefully this link works. It's Wainwright, Pujols and Molina all being pulled from the game together. Cool moment.
https://fb.watch/fW01u4X-ao/
Yep, great stuff. Wainwright is obviously not a HOFer, but he is a god here in St. Louis, so it was great to see him get the moment with the two 1st ballot HOFers. :tup :tup
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Pujols hit a HR in his first ever AB at Busch Stadium in 2001.
He hit a HR today in last ever AB (in the regular season) at Busch Stadium.
What a legend.
Hopefully this link works. It's Wainwright, Pujols and Molina all being pulled from the game together. Cool moment.
https://fb.watch/fW01u4X-ao/
Yep, great stuff. Wainwright is obviously not a HOFer, but he is a god here in St. Louis, so it was great to see him get the moment with the two 1st ballot HOFers. :tup :tup
I don't know anymore. His numbers are comparable to Roy Halladay (who I don't think should have been elected but was). Pitchers seem to be getting in left and right with numbers that wouldn't have gotten them a sniff 20+ years ago.
I said to more than one person that, if I had caught Pujols #700, my ask would have been (1) meet Pujols; (2) signed Pujols bat; (3) a few signed Pujols balls (one of which I'd keep and the rest I'd distribute to friends); and (4) a ball signed by Pujols, Molina and Wainwright.
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Rangers are pitching to Judge as they said they would. Lets see what happens. I remember when Mark Mcgwire hit his 70th HR and the team offered him some goodies for it but the fan wanted to additionally meet Mark, he said no (like an asshole). The fan then sold the ball for 3 mil.
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Aaron Judge seems like a really good kid. It's hard not to like him. He seems really respectful to all that's going on around him. I can't believe he's 30, tbh. Seems and looks a lot younger.
I have no idea what the $$ is going to be, but he's in such great shape, I don't think the "over 30" long term deal applies to him, in terms of years. I think he easily has 6 great years left in him with 2 or 3 good ones to follow. I think he performs very well for another 8 years or so.
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I just heard the Mariners might not host a playoff game this year. Which made me think "eh... what...?"
I just looked at the schedule. I had no idea the WC games were all played in the higher seed's park. So after finally making the playoffs for the first time in 21 years and having something to root for, Mariner fans might miss out on rooting for their team in their home park in the playoffs. :facepalm:
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I just heard the Mariners might not host a playoff game this year. Which made me think "eh... what...?"
I just looked at the schedule. I had no idea the WC games were all played in the higher seed's park. So after finally making the playoffs for the first time in 21 years and having something to root for, Mariner fans might miss out on rooting for their team in their home park in the playoffs. :facepalm:
Under the old format, the second wild card team didn't get a home game either. Obviously, it's a little difference for a one game deal, but it really doesn't make a lot of sense to have travel in a three-game series -- especially when it's something like the Mariners against the Jays. They're starting the playoffs late because of the lockout and, with the expanded playoffs, we're guaranteed to have at least one World Series game in November and possibly have it go as late as November 5. I'm still an advocate for cutting the regular season down to 144 (or so) games, but I'm sure that'll never happen. Just imagine if there's an early blizzard in the northeast that forces World Series games to be postponed for several days (but I digress).
My postseason predictions:
ALWC
Tampa Bay @ Cleveland
Seattle @ Toronto
NLWC
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
San Diego @ NYM
ALDS
Cleveland @ NYY
Seattle @ Houston
NLDS
NYM @ Los Angeles
St. Louis @ Atlanta
ALCS
NYY @ Houston
NLCS
Atlanta @ Los Angeles
WS
NYY @ Los Angeles
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You predict the Yankees getting past the Astros? Wow! I hope you're right.
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The best time of the year!
FOUR playoff baseball games at least today, tomorrow and next Tuesday (and maybe also on Sunday).
Holy shit! The Rays and Cleveland game has already started?! It's 9:30 in the morning (12:30 in Cleveland)!
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The best time of the year!
FOUR playoff baseball games at least today, tomorrow and next Tuesday (and maybe also on Sunday).
Holy shit! The Rays and Cleveland game has already started?! It's 9:30 in the morning (12:30 in Cleveland)!
Game went fast, too. 2 hours, and 17 minutes. That's only six minutes longer than The Astonishing!
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The best time of the year!
FOUR playoff baseball games at least today, tomorrow and next Tuesday (and maybe also on Sunday).
Holy shit! The Rays and Cleveland game has already started?! It's 9:30 in the morning (12:30 in Cleveland)!
Game went fast, too. 2 hours, and 17 minutes. That's only six minutes longer than The Astonishing!
No doubt far more entertaining.
Cards gave up two hits through 8 innings and are now crapping the bed in the 9th.
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Incredible start to the playoffs.
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The Indians game was ridiculous.
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GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!! I was out doing some running around when I briefly caught the M's game at Costco when we were down 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th. I figured the game would most likely come back to Seattle for Game 3 (EDIT - just discovered that the WC is all in one ball park…that’s dumb), and I walked away from the TV to do the rest of my running around.
Now I discover that not only did Toronto go up 8-1 as soon as I walked away from the TV, but then the M's came screamin back and won the game 10-9!!! HOLY CRAP!! Sounds like I missed one of the biggest games in Mariner's history!!!
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Wow. That's crazy. I gave up on that game at 8-1.
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GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!! I was out doing some running around when I briefly caught the M's game at Costco when we were down 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th. I figured the game would most likely come back to Seattle for Game 3 (EDIT - just discovered that the WC is all in one ball park…that’s dumb), and I walked away from the TV to do the rest of my running around.
Now I discover that not only did Toronto go up 8-1 as soon as I walked away from the TV, but then the M's came screamin back and won the game 10-9!!! HOLY CRAP!! Sounds like I missed one of the biggest games in Mariner's history!!!
With due respect to a fellow local, the "biggest games in Mariners history" list is a short one.
That being said... IT IS ON HERE IN SEATTLE! GO MARINERS!
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Man, the sports gods really hate Toronto, don't they? :lol :lol :lol
The Cardinals get knocked out with two straight home losses, but I think most fans still consider this season one they will look back on fondly simply due to the return of Pujols and his race to get and finally achieve 700.
See ya in the HOF in five years, Albert and Yadi. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Pujols? Definitely. Molina? I could see him taking a bit longer. I don't personally view him as a HOF player although he has been a very very good player.
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Pujols? Definitely. Molina? I could see him taking a bit longer. I don't personally view him as a HOF player although he has been a very very good player.
Anyone that doesn't put Molina on their ballot simply has a prejudice against catchers. I am not saying Jorge Posada is a HOFer, but he literally fell off the ballot for so few votes. Jason Varitek literally received just one vote.
I'd put both in, honestly.
As far as Molina, I'd think the 8 Gold Gloves could help separate him. Although I think Gold Gloves can also be won on reputation, but he's been the premier catcher of his generation.
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Never underestimate the stupidity of voters. Jim Edmonds won 8 (count 'em, 8!!) Gold Gloves and didn't get enough votes in his first year of eligibility to remain on the ballot, so voters in general do not seem to care all that much about defense, but it is a bit different for catchers.
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Never underestimate the stupidity of voters. Jim Edmonds won 8 (count 'em, 8!!) Gold Gloves and didn't get enough votes in his first year of eligibility to remain on the ballot, so voters in general do not seem to care all that much about defense, but it is a bit different for catchers.
Not really. What other catchers have gotten in recently. Ivan Roidrigues?
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GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!! I was out doing some running around when I briefly caught the M's game at Costco when we were down 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th. I figured the game would most likely come back to Seattle for Game 3 (EDIT - just discovered that the WC is all in one ball park…that’s dumb), and I walked away from the TV to do the rest of my running around.
Now I discover that not only did Toronto go up 8-1 as soon as I walked away from the TV, but then the M's came screamin back and won the game 10-9!!! HOLY CRAP!! Sounds like I missed one of the biggest games in Mariner's history!!!
With due respect to a fellow local, the "biggest games in Mariners history" list is a short one.
That being said... IT IS ON HERE IN SEATTLE! GO MARINERS!
Come on…I can think of 5-6 games in the ‘95 season alone that would be on that list!
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Never underestimate the stupidity of voters. Jim Edmonds won 8 (count 'em, 8!!) Gold Gloves and didn't get enough votes in his first year of eligibility to remain on the ballot, so voters in general do not seem to care all that much about defense, but it is a bit different for catchers.
Not really. What other catchers have gotten in recently. Ivan Roidrigues?
Not sure, to be honest.
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Piazza got in in 2016.
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Piazza getting in right away was a good example of the voters caring about offense and not defense. He was a catcher who won a grand total of ZERO Gold Gloves. Zero.
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All bout them dingers, baby.
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GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!! I was out doing some running around when I briefly caught the M's game at Costco when we were down 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th. I figured the game would most likely come back to Seattle for Game 3 (EDIT - just discovered that the WC is all in one ball park…that’s dumb), and I walked away from the TV to do the rest of my running around.
Now I discover that not only did Toronto go up 8-1 as soon as I walked away from the TV, but then the M's came screamin back and won the game 10-9!!! HOLY CRAP!! Sounds like I missed one of the biggest games in Mariner's history!!!
With due respect to a fellow local, the "biggest games in Mariners history" list is a short one.
That being said... IT IS ON HERE IN SEATTLE! GO MARINERS!
Come on…I can think of 5-6 games in the ‘95 season alone that would be on that list!
Right, 27 years ago. :biggrin: But yes, I know, I was there (or... here...) in 95. I've also been here in the vast wasteland since then. I was at Fred Meyer yesterday and saw two elderly people going through the racks of Mariner t-shirts. It shouldn't have caught my eye, but it did considering the timing. That's what a fun, likable, winning team can do. It brought a smile to my face.
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Pujols? Definitely. Molina? I could see him taking a bit longer. I don't personally view him as a HOF player although he has been a very very good player.
Anyone that doesn't put Molina on their ballot simply has a prejudice against catchers. I am not saying Jorge Posada is a HOFer, but he literally fell off the ballot for so few votes. Jason Varitek literally received just one vote.
I'd put both in, honestly.
As far as Molina, I'd think the 8 Gold Gloves could help separate him. Although I think Gold Gloves can also be won on reputation, but he's been the premier catcher of his generation.
As far as defense goes, both Posada and Varitek were well below average. Offensively they were both decent but not great. Neither are HoF worthy in my opinion.
Molina was probably the best defensive catcher of this generation. That alone should put him in the HoF. His offensive numbers, outside of his peak years from 2011-2013, are not great. The problem is most HoF voters don't seem to care about defensive metrics.
The best overall catcher of this generation is Buster Posey. You can call me biased, but if you look at defense, the only reason he didn't get more gold gloves was because he played in the same league as Molina. Then offensively he added more value to his team in the 12 years he played than Molina did in his 19 years, or Posada did in 17 years.
As far as Piazza goes, he was a liability at catcher. He was always well below average in throwing runners out and in defensive runs saved. He was a heck of a batter though.
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The Indians game was ridiculous.
Right?! My son and I went to a preseason hockey game, and I saw at one point that the Jays were up 8-1. The game ended and we drove home, and I turned it on and the Mariners had just taken the lead 10-9. I let out an audible "holy shit!"
Seriously weak efforts from the Rays and Cards (too bad for Pujols and Molina). HUGE game from the Mets yesterday. Really glad that's the one series going 3 games.
With due respect to a fellow local, the "biggest games in Mariners history" list is a short one.
:lol :lol
Pujols? Definitely. Molina? I could see him taking a bit longer. I don't personally view him as a HOF player although he has been a very very good player.
Anyone that doesn't put Molina on their ballot simply has a prejudice against catchers. I am not saying Jorge Posada is a HOFer, but he literally fell off the ballot for so few votes. Jason Varitek literally received just one vote.
I'd put both in, honestly.
As far as Molina, I'd think the 8 Gold Gloves could help separate him. Although I think Gold Gloves can also be won on reputation, but he's been the premier catcher of his generation.
Molina is a no-brainer, but I can't go there with either Posada or Varitek.
Never underestimate the stupidity of voters. Jim Edmonds won 8 (count 'em, 8!!) Gold Gloves and didn't get enough votes in his first year of eligibility to remain on the ballot, so voters in general do not seem to care all that much about defense, but it is a bit different for catchers.
Not really. What other catchers have gotten in recently. Ivan Roidrigues?
There are only 19 catchers in the HOF, which is the second lowest of any position (there are only 17 3Bs). The only catchers to play since 1970 in the HOF are Johnny Bench (1989), Gary Carter (2003), Carlton Fisk (2000), Mike Piazza (2016), Ivan Rodriguez (2017), and Ted Simmons (2020). I think Simmons getting in (via the veterans committee) was a bit of a joke, but putting him in but not putting Molina in would be a travesty of epic proportions.
Molina was probably the best defensive catcher of this generation. That alone should put him in the HoF. His offensive numbers, outside of his peak years from 2011-2013, are not great. The problem is most HoF voters don't seem to care about defensive metrics.
It wasn't just probable. There's no question Molina was the best defensive catcher of his generation (and maybe ever). The stolen base has been in decline for may years, but Molina completely removed it from his opponents' arsenal. Not only that, but his ability to handle the pitching staff was unparalleled. If ever there was a player who was a coach on the field, it was Molina.
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There's no question Molina was the best defensive catcher of his generation (and maybe ever). The stolen base has been in decline for may years, but Molina completely removed it from his opponents' arsenal. Not only that, but his ability to handle the pitching staff was unparalleled. If ever there was a player who was a coach on the field, it was Molina.
Agreed. The list of pitchers who were really good to great for the Cardinals and then not nearly as good on other teams in his era is not short. He knew how to call a game as good as any catcher ever, and teams were literally scared to try and steal bases on him for a decade.
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There's no question Molina was the best defensive catcher of his generation (and maybe ever). The stolen base has been in decline for may years, but Molina completely removed it from his opponents' arsenal. Not only that, but his ability to handle the pitching staff was unparalleled. If ever there was a player who was a coach on the field, it was Molina.
Agreed. The list of pitchers who were really good to great for the Cardinals and then not nearly as good on other teams in his era is not short. He knew how to call a game as good as any catcher ever, and teams were literally scared to try and steal bases on him for a decade.
Is that Molina or the Cards Orgainization's secret training sauce??
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Ok I'm definitely coming around on Molina. I didn't realize he threw out like 40% of runners. Dude was a damn sniper.
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Molina was also awesome at picking guys off 1st base. He and Pujols used to have a secret signal where if the runner cheated too much off first during the pitch, as soon as Molina caught the ball, he would fire it to first. I lost track of how many guys he picked off like that. And I suspect many runners were hesitant to take too big of a lead because of it.
In the meantime, the Mets are getting clowned at home tonight, which resulted in a desperate move by their manager. Oof.
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Mets just didn't want it bad enough but I'm used to their seasons ending like a wet fart. I don't think they'd make it passed the Dodgers but at least they got one win.
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There was a total of 4 runs scored in 24 innings in the Rays-Guardians series. The Guardians will need a lot more than three runs against the Yankees.
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The Phillies bitch-slapped the Braves, and the Mariners are (hopefully) about to close out the Astros in game 1. Hope that trend doesn't continue with the Padres and Dodgers!
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The Phillies bitch-slapped the Braves, and the Mariners are (hopefully) about to close out the Astros in game 1. Hope that trend doesn't continue with the Padres and Dodgers!
FUCK! That's an absolute killer for the Mariners, and I don't expect they'll bounce back.
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Not gonna lie. That one really hurt.
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Was listening to this live on the radio. When Ray was called in, they went to a break so I switched over to the other local channel, and they were all questioning the move to Ray. I switched back to to hear the HR, then switched back again. There was a lag, and it was disheartening to hear the guys just fall silent when they saw what I had heard 10 seconds previously. Up 4-0, then 6-2... this did hurt.
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The Phillies bitch-slapped the Braves, and the Mariners are (hopefully) about to close out the Astros in game 1. Hope that trend doesn't continue with the Padres and Dodgers!
FUCK! That's an absolute killer for the Mariners, and I don't expect they'll bounce back.
Luis Castillo needs to be dominant and you never know. Sadly Padres look lost so far.
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The Phillies bitch-slapped the Braves, and the Mariners are (hopefully) about to close out the Astros in game 1. Hope that trend doesn't continue with the Padres and Dodgers!
FUCK! That's an absolute killer for the Mariners, and I don't expect they'll bounce back.
Luis Castillo needs to be dominant and you never know. Sadly Padres look lost so far.
Frankly, scoring three off Urias was a hell of an accomplishment. He hadn't given up more than 2 runs in any start since mid-July. But the Dodger showed off why they'll be so formidable. We have several dominant starters who CAN go more than five innings, but we also have a near endless stream of solid to excellent bullpen guys. Graterol only threw one pitch yesterday, so he'll be good to go today, and neither Blake Treinen nor Tommy Kahnle even got into the game. Even Chris Martin could probably throw an inning after only throwing 11 pitches yesterday. And, on top of them, we have starters, Dustin May and Andrew Heaney, who are likely bullpen guys in this series (of course, May is coming off an injury and didn't get any game action before the end of the regular season).
Today's game is crucial. Yu Darvish gives the Dodgers problems, BUT our lineup is patient enough that we usually manage to get him out of the game on pitch count after 5 or 6 innings.
By the way...I nailed both ALWC series but missed both series in the NL. The Phillies v. Braves matchup is interesting. The Phils bitch-slapped the Braves through the first 4.5 innings. The Braves made a mighty comeback in the 9th. I just hope the series goes the full 5 games.
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You have to feel for the Mariners. Personally, hating the Cheatstros as I do, I hope they find a way to rally and get gm 2. Castillo is a beast, so anything is possible. I really like the Mariners as a team. They may be overmatched by the Cheatstros though.
Yanks took care of business, even with Judge whiffing 3x. Here's hoping Nasty Nestor can shut them down in gm 2, and wrap this up pretty quick, hopefully with a sweet in three games, or at the most, four.
I find the Padres-Dodgers series to be the most compelling of all of them right now. We'll see who out duels who in gm 2. Feeling like Darvish will get the win and tie this thing up at 1.
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Now that Mariner fans have had a day to digest this, we can realize we haven't been punched in the gut like this decades, because we haven't been in a position to be punched in the gut like this for decades.
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I know the reasons (TV, ratings, blah blah), but having an off day on Monday for everyone and then two of the series having an off day again today after Game 1 yesterday is just flat out stupid.
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I know the reasons (TV, ratings, blah blah), but having an off day on Monday for everyone and then two of the series having an off day again today after Game 1 yesterday is just flat out stupid.
And the weather isn't supposed to be good here in NY for game 2 (weather was perfect for off day today) so I'm prepared for a Friday game 2. Ridiculous.
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What they usually do in the division series is have one league start on day 1 and the other on day 2, with both leagues following the 2-travel day-2-travel day-1 format (although sometimes they will have no off day between games 4 and 5). Not sure why they screwed with that this year.
Having the off day in the two AL series between games 1 and 2 is just bizarre (especially since the Yankees and Astros had almost a week off before game 1). They've already postponed the NY-CLE game to tomorrow, so they get two days off between games 1 and 2, and there's only one game today, and it starts at 12:30 Pacific time. And then we get all four series with no off days between games 3-4-5 (Friday through Monday). Just weird.
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This Mariners game! I don't even know what the right emoji is!
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WHAT. A. FREAKING. GAME.
Still 0-0 in the 12th. I’m out and about listening to it on the radio but I can’t pull myself away from it. Waiting for my wife to get out of the grocery store right now so that I can turn it on the TV as soon as we get home
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Good lord!
Edit... Well crap.
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So, the NLCS will have two teams that didn't even win 90 games, while the 111-win Dodgers, 101-win Mets, and 101-win Braves are all out.
MLB has truly now become just like the NHL to where the regular season really doesn't matter all that much.
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I don't even know what to say about the Dodgers.
We had 3 guys who performed decently at the plate (Trea Turner, Freeman and Muncy). Everyone else was hot garbage. Can't hit with RISP. Can't hit the other way. Swinging for the fences when all we needed was a lousy single. Yesterday's loss was on the bullpen, but the series loss is squarely on the offense. Not even sure how this gets fixed.
Ugh....
Go Cleveland. Go Phillies.
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How about the Guardians!! That was one hell of a comeback against the Yankees last night. Here’s hoping they can close them out tonight.
Man, the Dodgers are kind of the 21st century version of the 90’s Atlanta Braves.
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Yeah...I caught the end of the Cleveland game. That was awesome.
And yeah....
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So, the NLCS will have two teams that didn't even win 90 games, while the 111-win Dodgers, 101-win Mets, and 101-win Braves are all out.
MLB has truly now become just like the NHL to where the regular season really doesn't matter all that much.
I don't understand. If the Phillies and Padres lost, the season would've mattered...more?
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So, the NLCS will have two teams that didn't even win 90 games, while the 111-win Dodgers, 101-win Mets, and 101-win Braves are all out.
MLB has truly now become just like the NHL to where the regular season really doesn't matter all that much.
I don't understand. If the Phillies and Padres lost, the season would've mattered...more?
More teams in the playoffs mean the best teams (over the course of a 6-month season) are less likely to dominate in October like many years ago. Don't get me wrong, this is more fun, and I still relish the 83-win Cardinals winning it all in '06, so no complaints outta me.
How about the Guardians!! That was one hell of a comeback against the Yankees last night. Here’s hoping they can close them out tonight.
Man, the Dodgers are kind of the 21st century version of the 90’s Atlanta Braves.
It's crazy to think that that Braves team only won one WS, and that is the case with the Dodgers who have been one of the top teams in the league every year now for a decade and have just 1 ring to show for it.
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So, the NLCS will have two teams that didn't even win 90 games, while the 111-win Dodgers, 101-win Mets, and 101-win Braves are all out.
MLB has truly now become just like the NHL to where the regular season really doesn't matter all that much.
I don't understand. If the Phillies and Padres lost, the season would've mattered...more?
More teams in the playoffs mean the best teams (over the course of a 6-month season) are less likely to dominate in October like many years ago. Don't get me wrong, this is more fun, and I still relish the 83-win Cardinals winning it all in '06, so no complaints outta me.
Well...it sounded like you were complaining.
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F Cleveland.
Go Yanks, although based on what I've seen this series, I'm not confident they come away with the win tonight. Hope so. I wasn't sold on Cole beating them last night, and after he let up that homer, I thought that was it. But to his credit, he settled down and then dominated for the rest of his stint.
The Dodgers...lol. That team, man...retaining Dave Roberts was dumb. They win IN SPITE of the man.
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A Yankees fan that doesn't like Dave Roberts... ::)
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A Yankees fan that doesn't like Dave Roberts... ::)
:lol
He's a moron and you know it.
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A Yankees fan that doesn't like Dave Roberts... ::)
:lol
He's a moron and you know it.
He gift wrapped Game 5 for the Sox in 2018.
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I'm waiting for the delayed start to the Yankee game! Jamo starting this one and I'm sure everyone but Cole are in play. Yanks need to strike first!!! Keep Kwan off the bases as well. I feel good going into this.
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Which may not start until????
Frickin TV. All division series should have started last Tuesday with the one day off Thursday.
And both LCS should have started tomorrow
Oh well
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Which may not start until????
Frickin TV. All division series should have started last Tuesday with the one day off Thursday.
And both LCS should have started tomorrow
Oh well
Still waiting! All stadiums should have a retractable roof.On a side note the Yankees organization needs to just STOP with this no beard mustache only and hair length bullshit. Its not the 50's anymore, let players focus on their game rather than worry about shaving. :tdwn
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Yanks were really irresponsible last night. Partying like they won something. The goal is winning the WS. If they had a day off, that would be one thing. But they play tonight against Houston. Unreal. If they get blown out tonight against Verlander, I wouldn't be surprised at all. So dumb. Save the partying until you actually do something.
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Yanks were really irresponsible last night. Partying like they won something.
All teams do it now. It is ridiculous though, I agree.
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All teams do it now. It is ridiculous though, I agree.
I don't care if they celebrate. Just not when you have a game the next day. That seems really irresponsible.
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Damn Dodgers. All that money and talent and can't last one series. 10 straight postseasons, 9 have failed. It's comical and predictable at this point. :censored :loser:
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Damn Dodgers. All that money and talent and can't last one series. 10 straight postseasons, 9 have failed. It's comical and predictable at this point. :censored :loser:
They might be the most mismanaged team in baseball.
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Damn Dodgers. All that money and talent and can't last one series. 10 straight postseasons, 9 have failed. It's comical and predictable at this point. :censored :loser:
21st century version of the 90's Atlanta Braves.
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The Yankees look like they're taking Benadryl before these last few games. They're fried. :| :-[
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Carpenter's at bat to end that game was a joke. It felt like I was watching another Dodger game.
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The Yankees look like they're taking Benadryl before these last few games. They're fried. :| :-[
I'm not surprised. Judge carried them from like July onwards. Now that he's slumping a bit, they can't do a damn thing. And the Yankees are only built to win one way - power. If they can't hit dingers, they won't win. It's one of the reasons I'm so upset with Cashman. He tried to address it (getting Bader, bringing up Peraza and Cabrera), and D.J.'s injury isn't his fault. BUT, this should have been addressed a couple seasons ago. He stuck with Sanchez for how many years when we all knew he was trash. (Seriously, what did Sanchez have on Cashman, or my seriously, is Cash's ego so big he couldn't admit it sooner and dump the guy?) Mistake after mistake. He never addressed the need for a big time closer. It was only a matter of time that the league realized that Clay Holmes is hittable. He played in the National League, and when you trade between leagues, the players usually do better before the rest of that league catches up. Cash should have traded Chapman three years ago. We all saw a few years back that he was relying on secondary pitches. Should have gotten rid of him while he still had value.
I'm sorry, but while the Yankees had another good season, and I'm thankful for that, I'm old school. You play and expect to be the absolute best every year. Otherwise, what's the point? I've been a diehard since I was old enough to know what baseball was. My first game was 1979 at the old stadium, but the first one I remember was 1984 (saw Dave Winfield having a smoke in one of the side tunnels and he waved at me - ha ha). Like thousands, I've been through it all with this team. But the buck stops with Cashman. A new line of thinking is necessary. He's been the GM since...1998, I believe. Great career, and I am absolutely appreciative of what he's done. But he's clearly built this team to survive on power and has not addressed its bullpen. It's time for new blood.
If the Yankees sign Aaron Judge this offseason and do it "responsibly" with say a six-year, 240 million deal, then you HAVE to find a trade partner for guys like Stanton, Hicks, etc. Reinvest that money into players who can play small ball and the bullpen. Cashman overpaid for Cole, who frankly, IMO, is not worth anywhere near what he provides.
Big moves are necessary. We'll see if the Steinbrenner family ponies up and does it.
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Yanks were really irresponsible last night. Partying like they won something. The goal is winning the WS. If they had a day off, that would be one thing. But they play tonight against Houston. Unreal. If they get blown out tonight against Verlander, I wouldn't be surprised at all. So dumb. Save the partying until you actually do something.
I had this same thought when the Mets clinched their playoff spot. Not a pennant, not a division title, just a playoff spot. Then they turned around and blew the crucial series against the Braves. It seemed very premature and silly.
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Carpenter's at bat to end that game was a joke. It felt like I was watching another Dodger game.
Pretty sure He's struck out every at bat since coming back. Not feeling good about this series.
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Hope the Yankees (like the Dodgers...) enjoy their participation trophy.
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Hope the Yankees (like the Dodgers...) enjoy their participation trophy.
They look like zombies. I barely consider what they are doing participation. Boone is a moron.
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Really looking forward to this series! I really want Harper to get his ring but would be OK with Dusty finally getting one as a manager. But man, Harper was clutch in ALL THREE rounds so far. He is locked in.
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Easily rooting for the Phillies.
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Easily rooting for the Phillies.
+1
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Easily rooting for the Phillies.
Same. While I have some fondness for Dusty Baker as a former Dodger, I cannot countenance the Astros winning. The Phillies have been playing out of their minds, and I hope the layoff between series doesn't hurt them.
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As a Mets fan I hope the Phillies crash and burn but deep down I know they probably won't.
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I don't know how big a Phillies v. Astros World Series is in the grand scheme of things, but I feel like MLB has lost serious momentum with this massive layoff since the end of the two LCS.
Same thing happened in 2014, when the Royals swept the Orioles in the ALCS and the Giants beat the Cards in 5 games in the NLCS. The World Series started 5 days after the last NLCS game.
By the way, 2014 and 2022 are the only times since the LCS went to 7 games (starting in 1985) that the two teams who lost in the LCS combined for only 1 win (and there has never been a year when both LCS were sweeps).
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Yeah I hate the wait to. Unfortunately things like TV schedules and revenue take precedent.
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Game 1 tonight...finally!
Needless to say, it's super important that Philly come out strong. They won the first game on the road in each of the prior series, and that propelled them to victory in the series.
Maybe the only positive thing about the long layoff is that both teams can set their rotations to exactly what they want, so we should get each team's best.
Go Phillies!
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Go Phillies, indeed!!!!
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Phillies in 6. Astros didn't exactly light up the scoreboard last 2 series. Yanks were toasted.
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ROOT FOR THE ASTROS!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/philadelphia-phillies-world-series-houston-astros-financial-crisis-recession-11666879792
It started with the old Philadelphia Athletics (before they left town). Their 1929 championship preceded the stock crash and Great Depression. In 1980, the Phillies won their first World Series, and a recession raged right through 1983, when the team again got to the final round and lost. The Phils won the World Series a second time in 2008, and boom: a home-run financial crisis.
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This was the last World Series matchup I wanted this season. My least favorite sports city (well tied with Boston) against a team that I don’t think is quite deserving of forgiveness for what their cheating yet.
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I guess Mariners vs Padres would have had appeal, 2 franchises that have never won.
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I usually dig having a new team win, but the possibility of the Padres winning would have been on the same level as the possibility of the Astros winning. This iteration of the Padres is absolutely intolerable.
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I usually dig having a new team win, but the possibility of the Padres winning would have been on the same level as the possibility of the Astros winning. This iteration of the Padres is absolutely intolerable.
Well, you wouldn't be able to take satisfaction that Tatis Jr. would have nothing to do with it?
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I usually dig having a new team win, but the possibility of the Padres winning would have been on the same level as the possibility of the Astros winning. This iteration of the Padres is absolutely intolerable.
Well, you wouldn't be able to take satisfaction that Tatis Jr. would have nothing to do with it?
Fuck Tatis. He made the Padres look like shit. Kids looked up to him and he's a fraud. Its terrible. These massive contracts are a joke.
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What's Judge going to sign for?
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What's Judge going to sign for?
Hopefully another team. :lol How many good years does he have left? 5 if he's lucky. Its flat out irresponsible to give him big money and a lot of years. I'm glad he didn't take the offer the Yankees originally made, that was too much. This sport needs to wake the fuck up.
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What's Judge going to sign for?
Hopefully another team. :lol How many good years does he have left? 5 if he's lucky. Its flat out irresponsible to give him big money and a lot of years. I'm glad he didn't take the offer the Yankees originally made, that was too much. This sport needs to wake the fuck up.
Yeah, he's what, 31 already? He's built like a brick shithouse, and this was a career year. Someone is going to be duped .
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What's Judge going to sign for?
Hopefully another team. :lol How many good years does he have left? 5 if he's lucky. Its flat out irresponsible to give him big money and a lot of years. I'm glad he didn't take the offer the Yankees originally made, that was too much. This sport needs to wake the fuck up.
Yeah, he's what, 31 already? He's built like a brick shithouse, and this was a career year. Someone is going to be duped .
He'll be 31 when 2023 season starts.
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I usually dig having a new team win, but the possibility of the Padres winning would have been on the same level as the possibility of the Astros winning. This iteration of the Padres is absolutely intolerable.
Well, you wouldn't be able to take satisfaction that Tatis Jr. would have nothing to do with it?
I dislike Machado a lot more than I dislike Tatis. Also not a fan of Darvish and a few of the "lesser" players on the roster.
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Machado is not a winning player.
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The rain in Philly ruined a Sports Equinox (a day in which a game from the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL are played).
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The rain in Philly ruined a Sports Equinox (a day in which a game from the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL are played).
Hmmm...never gave that much thought. I guess that really only happens on in October since the NFL is done before baseball starts.
On that subject, what are the only days GUARANTEED to have none of the four major North American pro sports leagues playing (barring something like COVID)?
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As a kid I always remembered that the day after the MLB All-Star game is a dead day in the sports world.
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Yup...and the day before the ASG.
Once the Stanley Cup and NBA finals are done in early/mid-June, baseball is the only game in town for the next 2 1/2 months. Of course, there's the HR derby the day before the ASG, but I don't think that counts.
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I went to a bar with a friend from work and watched the first half or so of the game last night. No volume, and we were only half paying attention. I got home and turned the game on but it was 5-0, so I only half paid attention. Finally, around the 8th inning, I became aware that the Phillies were getting no-hit. I kinda feel like the combined no-hitter is BS.
Hope the Phillies bounce back tonight!
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Well...that was a dismal finish to a generally shitty postseason. Time to focus on hockey and football.
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Well...that was a dismal finish to a generally shitty postseason. Time to focus on hockey and football.
Now it's time to watch all offseason every sports writer and insider claim how it's a sure thing the Giants will sign Aaron Judge, only to have the Yankees resign him for 10 years. :tdwn
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I hope the Giants sign Judge. For what he's looking for it would be completely idiotic to resign him.
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As Mets fan I'm beyond thrilled the Phillies lost.
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As a Phillies fan, I'm glad the Mets didn't even get past the wild card round
;D
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Happy for Verlander. And Dusty Baker.
Extremely happy for Trey Mancini. The former Oriole had a rough postseason, then made one of the two sterling defensive plays in Game 5. He finally ended his 0 for the playoffs with a single in his first AB last night. Only playing because Houston's starting 1B was injured.
And, the cancer survivor will always be in the highlight reel, as he was the first to hug Kyle Tucker after the final out.
https://www.mlb.com/video/astros-win-the-world-series
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Happy for Verlander. And Dusty Baker.
Extremely happy for Trey Mancini. The former Oriole had a rough postseason, then made one of the two sterling defensive plays in Game 5. He finally ended his 0 for the playoffs with a single in his first AB last night. Only playing because Houston's starting 1B was injured.
And, the cancer survivor will always be in the highlight reel, as he was the first to hug Kyle Tucker after the final out.
https://www.mlb.com/video/astros-win-the-world-series
Perfectly said! As a Yankee fan I still always pulled for Mancini even when we played the O's, not only because he's a survivor/warrior, but seems to be an extremely nice guy. Same for Dusty. :heart
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I'm happy for Cristian Vasquez. He was my favorite guy on the Sox when they traded him to Houston.
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I'm very happy the Yankees resigned Anthony Rizzo for 3 years. 2 years guaranteed at 17 mil a year with a club option for a 3rd.
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I'm very happy the Yankees resigned Anthony Rizzo for 3 years. 2 years guaranteed at 17 mil a year with a club option for a 3rd.
That's a reasonable contract and a good signing.
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I'm very happy the Yankees resigned Anthony Rizzo for 3 years. 2 years guaranteed at 17 mil a year with a club option for a 3rd.
That's a reasonable contract and a good signing.
Absolutely! Now lets see what happens with Judge.
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Aaron Judge to stay with the Yankees, 9-year $360M :eek
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Baseball is broken.
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I dunno...the fact that he stayed with the Yankees instead of taking an extra year at the same annual number from the Padres says something (although it would be poetic justice for the Yankees to lose a big name free agent to was is, for all intents and purposes, a small-market team).
Dodgers cut bait with Codey Bellinger and he signed with the Cubs.
The Rangers are becoming interesting.
The Dodgers haven't done jack shit other than to bring back Clayton Kershaw for another year (a good thing). Hard to complain with Betts and Freeman at the top of the lineup, and Will Smith is a top 5 offensive catcher, but the cupboard's pretty thin after that. Our infield will be Freeman, Max Muncy and Gavin Lux, but I don't think anyone is afraid of Muncy or Lux. And right now, our top 2 outfielders other than Betts are Chris Taylor and his 32.3% strikeout rate as a Dodger and Clay Thompson's brother. Ain't no one gonna cry for us, but I'm thinking 2023 might the first season since 2012 with no playoff baseball in Socal (which does not include SD).
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Context before I comment on Judge:
I'm a lifelong local Yankees fan. First game I remember being at was 1984 against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Apparently I was there in 78 or 79, and was brought up to the broadcast booth, where both Bill White and Phil Rizzuto signed a ball for me (which I subsequently, stupidly, played with in the early 80s and lost). Cut my teeth in the 80s with the bad Yankees teams. (I remember Mel Hall hitting a grand slam against the Red Sox on Labor Day to beat them, which was like the highlight of like three seasons total - lol.) Mattingly was my guy. Grew up as an adult in the same age bracket as Jeter, who became my favorite player. Season ticket holder (partial) in 1997. And out here in Cali now, I go to a couple of games whenever the Bombers are in town.
So I'm not a fake fan who knows zero about their history, nor am I a fan based on the big run in the mid-to-late 90s. I lived through all those losses in the 80s and early 90s.
Now that's out of the way, I am happy. Happy for the Yankees, happy for the fanbase, and just happy in general. It would have seemed wrong if Judge left the team after such a historic season. Is it an overpay of mammoth proportions? Absolutely. You don't pay a guy 40 mil a season for his age 31 to age 39 seasons. Particularly a big guy, where history suggests that bat speed slows down significantly in the mid-30s. But I feel the Yankees had no choice. They'd be raked over coals for letting Judge go/if Judge decided to leave. I fully expect Judge to be named Yankees captain (first since Jeter) and it's really fitting. I like the way he's even-keeled, is a leader, and a great face for the franchise.
But it stands to reason that this contract will ultimately continue to destroy MLB baseball finances. It's not my money, nor anyone else's here. But going to games is going to skyrocket further, as younger guys who come up look to pass that 40 mil AAV. The next guy of huge significance I can think of is Juan Soto. And if Soto has a monster year in San Diego this upcoming season (45 homers, domination, etc.), I can easily see him signing an even longer deal (given how much younger he is than Judge) for a bigger AAV. The Judge deal will have a huge ripple effect.
Now, had Judge left and went to the Giants or even San Diego, I wouldn't be one of the meatball Yankees fans that got mad at him. Him leaving wouldn't be about money. I was confident that the Yankees would pay him the same or more than anyone else. So it would come down to where he wants to play. I would never be mad if he went to San Francisco. That was his boyhood team growing up. I mean, it'd be like me playing for Orioles, and then having a chance to leave and go play for the Yankees once I hit free agency. Even if the O's offered more, there's no way I wouldn't. Plus, he has family in the Central Valley (for those non-Northern Californians, Judge grew up in Linden, California, which isn't the Bay Area at all - at least a couple hours inland. It's a rural town in the middle of nowhere). His parents still live there. So I would have understood. I would have been bummed, but I wouldn't have been one of those pompous idiot Yankees fans that burned his jersey and criticized him. (I would have, if he would have gone to Boston though. ha ha ha ha.)
So as a lifelong Yankees diehard and a lover of the team's history, I'm thrilled. But the game needs to do something about these contracts. A HARD CAP is needed. It is spiraling out of control. I know that the players union will fight that tooth and nail. But to save the game from itself, it is very, very needed. As is a salary FLOOR. Teams like Kansas City and Pittsburgh take all this luxury tax and pocket it, putting shit out on the field. That's wrong.
One of the first answers is getting rid of Manfred, and as much as it pains me to say it - installing Theo Epstein. The guy is (this is making me throw up in my mouth a bit) brilliant and perfect for the position. He knows what needs to be done, and can navigate the waters. I just hope the cap and floor happen soon.
Anyway, happy day for this Yankees fan.
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(https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/318723114_1352702085563429_2902418189672655575_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=9fMxboaSQOUAX9f7L7c&tn=ZfSsT23eKKrFQwef&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAsRv0n8KidG4cP8LOszAdSrOTGI-2PiDq3VVOpmfYXdw&oe=6396B272)
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:rollin
Let's be real though. Bartolo was 3 bills, minimum. And still is, wherever he is pitching in independent ball these days. :lol
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Im a Yankee fan and I think that contract is flat out irresponsible. If he has 4 good years I'd be pleasantly surprised. We need pitching. But its not my money.
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*sigh* The Giants losing out on another big name free agent. Same old Giants front office not able to close a deal. All I can say is they better sign Correa, Rodon, and Senga. They should also probably go after Nimmo. The Giants have tons of money they could spend. It will be a huge slap in the face of the fanbase if they come out of the offseason signing a bunch of nobody's again.
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As a 55 year Mets fan, I'm disgusted with this offseason!
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Man the Sox losing Bogie SUCKS. Such a class act and steady, reliable player. I guess that means he moves to the outfield or DH with Tatis at short and Machado at 3rd in San Diego?
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Can't Machado opt out, of did I hear that correctly?
Might they try and move on from Tatis?
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Surprising to see the Padres sign Bogaerts. He's an upgrade from Ha-Seong Kim, but Kim is going to be an excellent MLB shortstop. I'd love to see the Dodgers pick him up, but it would have to be an indirect acquisition. Tatis is light years behind Kim and Bogaerts at SS and is going to move to centerfield. Either 2023 is going to be the Padres' year (at least as far as the division goes) or they're going to completely implode.
Machado can opt out after the 2023 season.
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There's no doubt the Yankees will be sucking wind on the back end of Judge's contract, but for the immediate future he's actually worth a bit more. I saw at least one reputable analytics site estimate that his production this year was worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $92MM. So he'll be a bargain for a few years and then an albatross for a few years and we just have to hope the former outweighs the latter.
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Jeez, the deal for Bogaerts is more insane that the Judge deal. 11 year contract for someone who is already 30 years old? Is it going to take a 15 year contract to sign Correa now? :tdwn
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And the Mets just signed Senga.......Seriously, the Giants have more money to spend than any other team right now and they've done exactly nothing to bolster the roster, all the while all the best free agents are all being signed by other teams. I've been patient with Farhan Zaidi's approach to running the team, but he is way too gun shy to go after big time free agents and I'm losing faith in him. He can't close the big deals. The last big time free agent acquisition the Giants made was Bonds. The only other big time stars they've had have been home grown and there's only been 2 in recent memory, Buster Posey and Will Clark. The fans have already expressed their displeasure with the lowest attendance since AT&T Park opened (not counting the 2021 covid season). With Posey gone and the team dwelling in mediocrity, attendance will be even lower next year without a superstar (or 3) to put butts in seats.
Missing out on Judge was a huge blow. Then Nimmo, then Senga. Then Bogaerts signing with the Padres makes them the most dangerous team in the NL West (assuming the Padres can find one more decent starting pitcher). The Giants will finish in 4th place in the division next year (and under .500), mark my words.
If by some miracle Farhan can find the stones to offer Correa an 11 year 350 million deal, that won't be enough to make a difference. Correa isn't what I would call a superstar. He's above average at hitting and a great defender, but that's it. They better offer Rodon a big contract so the Yankees don't take him too. And they should definitely make a trade offer for Bryan Reynolds. That might be enough to put the Giants in playoff contention next year. Maybe....
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Who the heck is Senga?
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The latest big name Japanese player.
As a Mets fan I'm just in awe of all the spending. It's so strange to have an owner that really does not give a shit about money and is all about stacking the team. I don't want to sound spoiled but I do think we're one impact bat short of being completely solid on paper although we have a couple of rookies that looks promising.
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It's looking more and more likely the Giants won't get Correa or Rodon. What the hell are they doing? They talked up a big game for the offseason, with the #1 priority being to sign a "superstar" caliber player. The upper management pitches to these players must be terrible or something, because no big name player wants to sign with them... It's been this way ever since Farhan came aboard.
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..........................nevermind. I guess the only way the Giants could get anyone to sign is to give them a ridiculous contract....13 years?!?! No opt out, no trade clause...
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Right. These huge contracts almost always become an albatross.
With the Redsox not paying Bogearts...I have no problem with that in the end, but they fucked that up early, lowballing at every chance. But at the end of the day, they had their price and you had to respect that. Of course I have my price when it comes to buying tickets.
What fumes people around here is that everything around Fenway is so monetized. The prices are fucking outrageous.
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Right. These huge contracts almost always become an albatross.
Not only that.....but my pet peeve about it all is yeah....some of these players are pretty good.....but they are not nearly as 'great' as they are pimped out to be. Tatis Jr., Machado, Correra....Story.....ANY of these pitchers who are getting these huge deals.....they're just good players. It's baffling to me how Soto and these above average players are touted as 'superstars' when they aren't
Good for them I guess on getting paid but my oh my how standards have fallen.
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"Correa has a possible chronic condition?! SIGN HIM FOR 12 YEARS!" - Steve Cohen
It is so funny watching the second class baseball citizens of New York try (and fail) to build a sustainable winning franchise. At least the effort is there. Oh, the Muts. Always entertaining.
:lol
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Any word on what the condition is? Wondering what type of bullet the Giants dodged.
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If this tweet is to be believed it was an old potential injury concern prior to him playing. Seems like a strange reason to back off but there may be more behind it.
https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1605606867467526144?t=hDBz6CRSIIyT82aJo2nqFA&s=19
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If this tweet is to be believed it was an old potential injury concern prior to him playing. Seems like a strange reason to back off but there may be more behind it.
https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1605606867467526144?t=hDBz6CRSIIyT82aJo2nqFA&s=19
Yeah, that alone seems a pretty thin reason. Wonder if they had buyer's remorse or something?
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The Giants backing off Correa should be taken seriously as they desperately wanted a big name there. Cohen can at the very least can sell his jersey..... :loser: :lol
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Well that's a blow to the Giants. They will be competing for last place with the Rockies this year. In the long run it may be a dodged bullet....but at this point who knows. The Giants fans at large won't be happy though. I expect attendance to plummet even farther this year.
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Well that's a blow to the Giants. They will be competing for last place with the Rockies this year. In the long run it may be a dodged bullet....but at this point who knows. The Giants fans at large won't be happy though. I expect attendance to plummet even farther this year.
Won't say I'm dissapointed, but going 0/2 in signing big names isn't a good look for the upcoming season.
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I think the Giants backing out is a blessing in disguise. Correa isn't a great look. He cheated, he's overpaid (by a lot) for his production, injured all the time, etc.
Sit on it, try again next winter. It'll be rough again this year, but having Correa is just throwing money at a name to say you did something. They were smart to pull back.
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He's actually been surprisingly durable the last three seasons but I get the hesitation. It's wierd to say but even as a Met fan if he doesn't work out oh well we have more options.
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Well that's a blow to the Giants. They will be competing for last place with the Rockies this year. In the long run it may be a dodged bullet....but at this point who knows. The Giants fans at large won't be happy though. I expect attendance to plummet even farther this year.
Won't say I'm dissapointed, but going 0/2 in signing big names isn't a good look for the upcoming season.
Indeed! I think the Giants should go after Conforto for a 2 year contract. He could be an inexpensive risk with a lot of upside.
And here's hoping Crawford can produce the way he did in '21, because his '21 was arguably better than any season Correa has had. And as good as Correa is at defense I still think Crawford is better, although he is getting older.
The Giants also need Bart to step up the way we've been hoping for since they signed him. His problem is he looked like a right handed Cody Bellinger last year.
We also need to dump LaStella, he is useless. DeSclafani has also been useless. Granted he was hurt, but I'm not banking on him having a turn-around season.
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Boy, how about that Brewers signing….
*insert cricket noises here*
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And here's hoping Crawford can produce the way he did in '21, because his '21 was arguably better than any season Correa has had. And as good as Correa is at defense I still think Crawford is better, although he is getting older.
Crawford's '21 slash line was about 20% better than Correa's career AVERAGE, and his power numbers were basically identical to Correa's career 162-game average numbers.* And, if WAR means anything to you, Correa's career WAR over 8 seasons (39.5) is better than Crawford's career WAR over 50% more seasons (30.8). I do agree that Crawford is the better defender at shortstop (time will tell whether Correa is any good at 3B), and Crawford is hated by Dodger fans. If you're hated and somewhat feared by the fans of your team's primary rival, you're obviously doing something right!
* - Crawford played 138 games in '21, so I normalized his power numbers over 162 games.
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Well, I'm ok with the Giants signing Taylor Rogers and Michael Conforto. Especially since there is literally no one better on the free agent market right now. I still predict attendance will be at an all time low again this coming season.
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:lol Now the Mets have concerns over Correa's health.
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:lol Now the Mets have concerns over Correa's health.
Just saw that...was talking with my dad, I guess the concerns aren't enough for short term contracts, but when it comes to dropping 300 million over ten plus years it's a whole different approach. Seems it's something that showed up in a x-ray from a minor league injury.
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This whole Carlos Correa thing is getting ridiculous. Now the Mets are rumored to be backing out of the deal....possibly. If that happens, I don't think anyone is going to touch him for more than a 2 or 3 year deal. The Giants should jump back on board at that point :biggrin:
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Looks like the Twins are getting Correa back on a 6 year deal now. What a bizarre situation. I'm really curious to hear what info comes out. Is the bone around the plate starting to degrade? What could they have seen to lead them to believe that a long term contract was a bad idea for a guy with an old surgery that hasn't caused him to miss a day since it happened?
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I heard the Mets new offer was 8 years 210 mil.
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I heard the Mets new offer was 8 years 210 mil.
I'm seeing 6 years $157 million with the requirement to pass a physical every off-season to guarantee the next year.
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I heard the Mets new offer was 8 years 210 mil.
I'm seeing 6 years $157 million with the requirement to pass a physical every off-season to guarantee the next year.
Really? Ok, my source was a Mets fan. Thanks for the correct info.
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I heard the Mets new offer was 8 years 210 mil.
I'm seeing 6 years $157 million with the requirement to pass a physical every off-season to guarantee the next year.
Really? Ok, my source was a Mets fan. Thanks for the correct info.
I can't guarantee it's accurate, but here's where I saw it.
https://elitesportsny.com/2023/01/10/mets-reported-revised-contract-offer-to-carlos-correa-sounds-ridiculous/
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The whole thing is crazy stupid. The Giants brought up an issue with the physical and immediately Correa pivots to the Mets. They are given nearly 3 weeks after they bring up the same issue to work out a deal. Just kind of shows that Correa didn't really want to play for the Giants and was just looking for a big payday.
I hope he gets hurt in the first season of his new contract.....I kid. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but the whole thing is dumb. :\
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The whole thing is crazy stupid. The Giants brought up an issue with the physical and immediately Correa pivots to the Mets. They are given nearly 3 weeks after they bring up the same issue to work out a deal. Just kind of shows that Correa didn't really want to play for the Giants and was just looking for a big payday.
I hope he gets hurt in the first season of his new contract.....I kid. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but the whole thing is dumb. :\
First of all, I never fault a player for taking the highest offer. If I was offered three jobs with identical duties, it's extremely likely I take the offer with the highest money. I'm guessing he moved on from the Giants because he hoped the Mets wouldn't have the same issue. When they did, reality set in that he probably wasn't getting a 10+ year deal anymore so it made sense to give the Mets some time to figure things out. When he still didn't like what he was getting from them (a terrible offer really if the link I posted above is accurate) he moved back to the Twins who he enjoyed playing for last season. I've to imagine his agent reached back to the Giants to see if there was interest in a new deal, but I thought I read the Giants were no longer interested.
I'm still very curious what the physical showed that scared them off. The old injury and surgery were not a surprise to these teams. He still has to pass a physical with the Twins as well, so the whole thing could completely fall apart again if something has changed greatly in the last year.
Very bizarre.
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Man...the Baseball HOF is becoming watered down and, at the same time, way too exclusive.
Scott Rolen gets in? Who the heck ever truly feared Scott Rolen? Can anyone think of a single memorable hit he got or play he made?
And he gets in with .281/.364/.460/.855, 316 HR and 1287 RBI, but Jeff Kent doesn't get in (and falls off the ballot) with .290/.356/.500/.855, 377 RBI and 1518 RBI (4 of those key numbers are better for Kent, and one is the same, but Kent gets 116 fewer votes???).
It's even more egregious with Todd Helton. Every one of his slash line and power numbers was SIGNIFICANTLY better than Helton. Yeah, yeah, he played his entire career at Coors Field, but guess what? His PARK ADJUSTED OPS+ is 9% better than Rolen's.
Ridiculous.
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Helton was a roid monger too, right?
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pg0167, no offense, but that is a bad take. A very bad one.
There is more to baseball than offense. There is this thing called defense, and Rolen was an incredible third baseman (8 Gold Gloves, and even then it feels like it should have been more!).
As for his offense, I would say his HR in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS off Clemens that gave the Cardinals the lead they never relinquished was pretty memorable. I get that it didn't happen in Boston, NY or LA, so it doesn't get talked about or replayed 391 times a year, but it was a helluva moment. (note: this is not implying that this was his only memorable moment, merely pointing out the most obvious one)
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I agree about defense, but being a stellar defender, along with those numbers, doesn't make for an HOFer in my mind. Also, given that Don Mattingly is on the outside looking in, it's somewhat clear that defense is not super important to HOF voters (unless you're Ozzie Smith).
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Honestly until the all time Hits leader and all time home run leader are rightfully voted in....the Baseball HOF will continue to hold little credibility.
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Honestly until the all time Hits leader and all time home run leader are rightfully voted in....the Baseball HOF will continue to hold little credibility.
Agree. I think I made a big stink about that last year when Bonds and Clemens dropped off the ballot.
On a somewhat amusing note, I saw a post on Facebook "reminding" the HOF that there's a 3B who, unlike Rolen, won 4 batting titles AND who 900 fewer times than Rolen: Bill Madlock. I about did a spit take before laughing heartily about that. While I don't think Rolen is deserving, he's at least close, but Madlock (whom I quite liked growing up since the Pirates were my secondary team) isn't even close to Rolen (his BA and K numbers are the ONLY things he has on Rolen, and Madlock was a below average defender).
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Honestly I don't think either Rolen or Kent deserve to be in the HoF. Helton probably should be. He is very close.
As for who definitely should be in? Bonds, Rose, and Clemons. I sort of get why Rose isn't in, seeing as he is a PR nightmare and an all around douche canoe (I met him once at a signing in a sports memorabilia store and he was just an absolute turd to everyone). At the same time, the HoF isn't about how nice of a person you were/are (I mean Ty Cobb is in, among other notoriously unlikable players), but it's about how good you were at playing the game of baseball, period.
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Debating who should be in the MLB HoF is one of the most fascinating and, at the same time, ridiculously stupid topics.
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Debating who should be in the MLB HoF is one of the most fascinating and, at the same time, ridiculously stupid topics.
:neverusethis:
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I wasn't trying to pick on anyone here with my comment. Even as a lapsed MLB fan, I still find the topic fascinating. But then I realize how deep in the weeds one can get with all the stats available to us, and then factoring in the mysteries of what goes on in all the voters' heads and how they evaluate potential inductees.
At the same time, the HoF isn't about how nice of a person you were/are...
Not specifically, but:
BBWAA RULES FOR ELECTION
5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.
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By the way...
pg0167, no offense, but that is a bad take. A very bad one.
How exactly was my take a "very bad one"? Was it incomplete because I didn't mention Rolen's defense? Sure, but that doesn't change my ultimate conclusion.
Is it a "bad take" because I talked about Scott Rolen never being a particularly feared opponent who has few memorable hits/plays? I don't see how those things aren't relevant. A HOFer is someone is (or should be) someone that opponents have to plan for. He should be the sort of guy who seemingly always came through in the clutch and who had memorable moments. Maybe you disagree, but that doesn't make my take a bad one.
As for my comparisons of Rolen to Helton and Kent, I absolutely and unquestionably accurately summarized the relevant numbers. Are there other numbers that expand the story? Maybe. I don't know, but if so, then what are those numbers?
Keep in mind that we're talking about a guy who, in his first year of eligibility, only 10% of voters thought was HOF worthy. Now, only five years later, 250 guys who previously didn't think he was worthy suddenly think he is? I heard more than one baseball "expert" making some of the same points, so....
Debating who should be in the MLB HoF is one of the most fascinating and, at the same time, ridiculously stupid topics.
If you think that (and I don't disagree at all), I encourage you to check out the discussion over the past several days in the NFL thread. :lol
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Kent never even won a single Gold Glove, and Helton won three, so both have a massive deficit to Rolen when it comes to defense. I guarantee teams game planned for Rolen's defense since he gobbled up everything hit his way. Plus, in the case of Helton, his numbers were inflated a bit by playing in Colorado. How many All-Star games you make can always be a little dicey, but Rolen made 7 to 5 for both Kent and Helton.
As for voters, MLB HoF voters are historically the biggest nimrods in the sports media. Not even factoring their arrogance when it comes to selective morality and outrage ("Hey, we will put in this guy who probably did steroids, but leave out these other three."), the idea that someone only gets 20% one year and then gets 75% years later makes zero sense, but they flaunt their power and love to make deserving players wait simply because they can. The MLB Hof is a mockery already anyway.
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Kent never even won a single Gold Glove, and Helton won three, so both have a massive deficit to Rolen when it comes to defense. I guarantee teams game planned for Rolen's defense since he gobbled up everything hit his way. Plus, in the case of Helton, his numbers were inflated a bit by playing in Colorado. How many All-Star games you make can always be a little dicey, but Rolen made 7 to 5 for both Kent and Helton.
As for voters, MLB HoF voters are historically the biggest nimrods in the sports media. Not even factoring their arrogance when it comes to selective morality and outrage ("Hey, we will put in this guy who probably did steroids, but leave out these other three."), the idea that someone only gets 20% one year and then gets 75% years later makes zero sense, but they flaunt their power and love to make deserving players wait simply because they can. The MLB Hof is a mockery already anyway.
Kind of like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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I'm not sure how you game plan for a strong defensive infielder. Don't bunt down the 3B line? OK, but no one's been bunting much since the turn of the century anyway. No one flooded their lineup with lefthanded pull hitters to avoid Rolen.
Kent's defense was worse than Rolen's, but his offense was much better, and the dude even won an MVP (and finished in the top 10 in voting three other times, compared to once for Rolen). Kent was also significantly better in the postseason (the 2006 WS being the notable exception). Helton was also a better offensive player than Rolen, even when you adjust for the Coors Field factor. Keep in mind that I'm not really convinced that ANY of these guys truly belongs in, but there's no principled explanation for putting Rolen in but excluding Helton and Kent. Helton got 71% of the votes this year, so he'll make it within the next 2 years, but Kent's off the regular ballot now. He'll get in the first time whatever committee considers him (unless his surliness gets held against him).
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Bottom line is the HOF is shot. Its an insult to the true greats. Think of a slam dunk HOF'er, lets say Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan, Ken Griffey Jr. (And there plenty more). I would say it can't even be debated why they are there. If you need to debate this hard if a player should be there, they shouldn't be there. The HOF is now a watered down joke.
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To me, if they're not a first ballot HOFer, they likely shouldn't be there. Certainly not people who took decades to make it.
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To me, if they're not a first ballot HOFer, they likely shouldn't be there. Certainly not people who took decades to make it.
Exactly. You said what I meant, straight to the point! :tup
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The problem there is that voters are nimrods, so players who should have been 1st balloters were not. Plus, the media holds a grudge. I guarantee that Kent's surliness that pg1067 mentioned is held against him. Same for Barry Bonds, who was always an a-hole to the media. Meanwhile, Ortiz, a freaking DH, gets in on the first ballot because the media loves "Big Papi" and his smile. Albert Belle is another whose bad attitude worked against him. For him to get so little support and then fall off the ballot after only two years of consideration was a joke, and it shows what morons the voters are.
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The problem there is that voters are nimrods, so players who should have been 1st balloters were not. Plus, the media holds a grudge. I guarantee that Kent's surliness that pg1067 mentioned is held against him. Same for Barry Bonds, who was always an a-hole to the media. Meanwhile, Ortiz, a freaking DH, gets in on the first ballot because the media loves "Big Papi" and his smile. Albert Belle is another whose bad attitude worked against him. For him to get so little support and then fall off the ballot after only two years of consideration was a joke, and it shows what morons the voters are.
You're exactly right! If a specific voter had a personal issue with a player it sways them. Curt Schilling is considered one of the biggest assholes but was one of the best pitchers in the game. And the all time hits leader Pete Rose should be there, STOP already. A lot if not most of the greats were far from angels. Between the lines should be all that matters, but that's only me.
*** As far as Ortiz, he just flat out raked. I'm a Yankee fan and he crushed us. The pitcher could throw over to first base and he would find a way to put it in play. :lol
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I have zero sympathy for Rose. While his actions after he retired technically should not have mattered, he bet on baseball and then lied about it for years. He made his own bed.
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I have zero sympathy for Rose. While his actions after he retired technically should not have mattered, he bet on baseball and then lied about it for years. He made his own bed.
I get it and agree but the fucker flat out raked. Everyone knows it. Honestly he doesn't need the hof, at this point it would only be a formality.
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The baseball hall of fame has become the baseball hall of very good.
It's all about money. Revenue generation by enshrining people. Scott Rolen is only in because other borderline guys have gotten in. Yet, there are others such as Dale Murphy, who are in a similar category. And then poor Fred McGriff, who finally got in from a Vets Committee nod, who SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOTED IN regularly. I'm glad for the folks that have been honored. But the whole thing has become a sham.
The Hall should be reserved for the very best to ever play the game. Not guys who were just very good in their era. As a baseball devotee, as much as I enjoy going to the Hall, I shake my head at a lot of guys who have been enshrined the last 20 years. It's going to be beyond dumb when they put in Yadier Molina. Check the comps. That guy should have his number retired by the Cardinals, but in no way is he one of the best players to play the game. But he'll be enshrined. Mark my words. it's just plain dumb what the Hall is doing from a pure baseball history standpoint. It's a total sham.
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The baseball hall of fame has become the baseball hall of very good.
It's all about money. Revenue generation by enshrining people. Scott Rolen is only in because other borderline guys have gotten in. Yet, there are others such as Dale Murphy, who are in a similar category. And then poor Fred McGriff, who finally got in from a Vets Committee nod, who SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOTED IN regularly. I'm glad for the folks that have been honored. But the whole thing has become a sham.
The Hall should be reserved for the very best to ever play the game. Not guys who were just very good in their era. As a baseball devotee, as much as I enjoy going to the Hall, I shake my head at a lot of guys who have been enshrined the last 20 years. It's going to be beyond dumb when they put in Yadier Molina. Check the comps. That guy should have his number retired by the Cardinals, but in no way is he one of the best players to play the game. But he'll be enshrined. Mark my words. it's just plain dumb what the Hall is doing from a pure baseball history standpoint. It's a total sham.
How do you stand on Miggy?
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The fact that Hank Aaron was not a unanimous selection tells me everything about HOF voters. When he retired, he was 1st in HR, RBI, Total Bases, Extra Base Hits, 2nd in hits, and THAT didn't get him a unanimous selection. In fact, he's still the leader in RBI, Total Bases and Extra Base Hits!! FFS, Babe Ruth was left off of 11 ballots in the year of his induction!!!! The only unanimous selection? Mariano Rivera.
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I am not touching the Yadi Molinda slander (yes, I am calling it slander), considering he is an obvious Hall of Famer.
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I am not touching the Yadi Molinda slander (yes, I am calling it slander), considering he is an obvious Hall of Famer.
Yeah....arguably the best pure catcher to ever play the game. He was essentially an on field pitching coach along with being the benchmark for what defensive catchers should strive to be. Any argument against him is just tomfoolery.
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I am not touching the Yadi Molinda slander (yes, I am calling it slander), considering he is an obvious Hall of Famer.
Yeah....arguably the best pure catcher to ever play the game. He was essentially an on field pitching coach along with being the benchmark for what defensive catchers should strive to be. Any argument against him is just tomfoolery.
You could make the argument that if Ozzie Smith is in, Yadi should be in. I mean Yadi is to catchers what Smith was to shortstops and Yadi was a better hitter than Smith. The same argument could be made for Buster Posey. He wasn't quite as good defensively as Yadi (although close), he was a much better hitter.
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I am not touching the Yadi Molinda slander (yes, I am calling it slander), considering he is an obvious Hall of Famer.
Yeah....arguably the best pure catcher to ever play the game. He was essentially an on field pitching coach along with being the benchmark for what defensive catchers should strive to be. Any argument against him is just tomfoolery.
You could make the argument that if Ozzie Smith is in, Yadi should be in. I mean Yadi is to catchers what Smith was to shortstops and Yadi was a better hitter than Smith. The same argument could be made for Buster Posey. He wasn't quite as good defensively as Yadi (although close), he was a much better hitter.
The difference between Yadi and all other really good catchers....including your Pudge's and Posey's and what not....is yes, those guys were good and were better at some stuff here and there but Yadi was the complete package AND he was the BEST at managing his pitchers on and off the field.
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The problem there is that voters are nimrods, so players who should have been 1st balloters were not. Plus, the media holds a grudge. I guarantee that Kent's surliness that pg1067 mentioned is held against him. Same for Barry Bonds, who was always an a-hole to the media. Meanwhile, Ortiz, a freaking DH, gets in on the first ballot because the media loves "Big Papi" and his smile. Albert Belle is another whose bad attitude worked against him. For him to get so little support and then fall off the ballot after only two years of consideration was a joke, and it shows what morons the voters are.
I agree with all that.
Take a look at the 1998 AL MVP voting. Belle's numbers that year: .328/.399/.655/1.055 (the SLG and OPS led the league, 49 HR and 152 RBI (and, by the way, he played 163 regular season games). His OPS+ was a staggering 172 (led the league by a wide margin). And he struck out less than 90 times. Did he win the MVP? Nope. OK...second, then? Nope. Not even close. Dude cam in EIGHTH and didn't receive a single first place vote. Juan Gonzalez, who had 5 more RBI than Belle but was otherwise an inferior hitter (and an equally bad defender), won with 21/28 first place votes (the other 7 going to Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter). Perhaps Fernando Vina was tabulating the ballots.
I have zero sympathy for Rose. While his actions after he retired technically should not have mattered, he bet on baseball and then lied about it for years. He made his own bed.
To me, it's less about sympathy for Rose as it is credibility of the HOF (which I suppose is a lost cause at this point, but still). Whether he gets in while he's still alive or posthumously, he needs to be there.
The Hall should be reserved for the very best to ever play the game. Not guys who were just very good in their era.
I gotta disagree with that. The game has changed. Are we going to say that no modern pitcher deserves to get in (other than Nolan Ryan) because they don't have 4,000+ strikeouts or 400+ wins? And that the guys who played pre-WWII were better hitters because they routinely hit .400+? The era in which they played has to mean something.
It's going to be beyond dumb when they put in Yadier Molina. Check the comps. That guy should have his number retired by the Cardinals, but in no way is he one of the best players to play the game. But he'll be enshrined. Mark my words. it's just plain dumb what the Hall is doing from a pure baseball history standpoint. It's a total sham.
I have to disagree with that as well. Clutch hitter when it counted (despite being an overall pedestrian hitter) and THE best defensive catcher to play the game in any of our lifetimes (if not ever). And I include in that his management of the pitching staff. Base stealing has been on a decline this century, but Molina completely eliminated it from opponents' arsenals. The only other catcher in the last 30 years to do that was Ivan Rodriguez (and Molina did it better). I'm obviously an outsider, but if you ask me who was the most valuable Cardinal during their run of 6 NLCS appearances, 3 World Series and 2 championships between 2005-14, I'd be hard pressed to say anyone other than Molina. Ozzie Smith got in because he's arguably the best defensive shortstop of all time, and Molina will get in for the same reason.
The fact that Hank Aaron was not a unanimous selection tells me everything about HOF voters. When he retired, he was 1st in HR, RBI, Total Bases, Extra Base Hits, 2nd in hits, and THAT didn't get him a unanimous selection. In fact, he's still the leader in RBI, Total Bases and Extra Base Hits!! FFS, Babe Ruth was left off of 11 ballots in the year of his induction!!!! The only unanimous selection? Mariano Rivera.
That whole nonsense is...well...nonsensical. "Babe Ruth wasn't unanimous, so I'll be damned if that Griffey kid is going to be" (and, in Aaron's case, we all know there were other factors in play). Seriously...anyone who didn't vote for Aaron or Griffey (and several others) should have been hauled before a tribunal and been required to make the case for why those guys don't belong in the HOF and, when they fail to come up with anything that makes sense, they should be stripped of their vote.
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re: Yadi - look at his comps. Particularly on offense - Jason Kendall being the standout. Is Jason Kendall a HOFer? I think not. Not arguing that Yadi was a solid, solid defender. He was. For sure. But remember gold gloves up until a few years ago, weren't based on STATISTICS. They were based on popularity with managers and coaches. Now statistics are involved. From a pure statistical point of view...Yadi is not as good as people think he is. I have no skin in this game. I'm not a Cubs fan. I'm a Yankees fan. I think Yadi WILL get in. I just don't think he should be. number retired in STL, and he gets his due? Statue at the stadium? Sure. HOF. Not even close.
I think people are remembering Yadi from the handful of years he was really, really good. He wasn't that way for most of his career.
re: Miggy? Miguel Cabrera? I forget if he was a roid guy. But if not, sure-fire. 3k hits, 500 hrs, .300 average. Total production. He should have retired after this past season though.
re: Rose - on stats alone, HOF, obviously. But that's not the total story. The betting, and then the pedo stuff...I know the Hall is about production on the field. And Ty Cobb was a bastard and he's in. I'm thinking Rose should have been put in a long time ago, and THEN banned. That way, his playing career gets its due, but yet he's banned for his actions. Just my .02. Nowadays, it's a real difficult thing.
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re: Miggy? Miguel Cabrera? I forget if he was a roid guy. But if not, sure-fire. 3k hits, 500 hrs, .300 average. Total production. He should have retired after this past season though.
Are you automatically out on roid guys?
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re: Miggy? Miguel Cabrera? I forget if he was a roid guy. But if not, sure-fire. 3k hits, 500 hrs, .300 average. Total production. He should have retired after this past season though.
Are you automatically out on roid guys?
Yep.
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re: Miggy? Miguel Cabrera? I forget if he was a roid guy. But if not, sure-fire. 3k hits, 500 hrs, .300 average. Total production. He should have retired after this past season though.
Are you automatically out on roid guys?
Yep.
Then we need to close down the HOF voting for the next 10 years, and also cancel the last 10 years as well.
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re: Miggy? Miguel Cabrera? I forget if he was a roid guy. But if not, sure-fire. 3k hits, 500 hrs, .300 average. Total production. He should have retired after this past season though.
Are you automatically out on roid guys?
Yep.
Then we need to close down the HOF voting for the next 10 years, and also cancel the last 10 years as well.
Not necessarily. Unfortunately, you have to go with the data out there, and with your gut instinct. Derek Jeter, for instance, never cheated. David Ortiz on the other hand...total roid guy. A-Roid, admitted roidster. I'm not saying some guys don't find a way to skirt the system. But with some, it's very obviously. Clemens, Piazza (not entirely sure on him, but...)
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I just look at guys like Bagwell, Thomas, Biggio, Piazza, Pudge....no way those guys were HOFers without the roids.
And I'm not sold on Jeter. He was pretty "durable".
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Jeter was church when he played, gave no one a reason to mess with him. As far as his durability, I remember the guy limping out to SS many a game, that said, who knows if he took anything but it doesn't matter at this point. Roger Clemens should be in undoubtedly! A misconception about steroids is a lot of these guys got huge because of what they took, some guys took stuff like Deca Durabolin, which i took in my gym days on occasion. That's more therepuetic and used for healing and recovery. Its such a gray area because I can get the right supplements at a GNC that will increase strength and recovery if you know what you're doing.
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The problem with the 'roid thing is that the idiot voters let some of them in and keep others out. That is the issue. Let them all in or keep them all out. And like Tim implied, with that generation being so rampant with users, you could almost say that everyone was under suspicion, so we cannot say with 100% certainty that player x never used.
I know I will come off as a Cardinals homer after going to bat for both Rolen and Molina (sorry, Samsara, you are dead wrong on this :P, Yadi WAS that great), but McGwire and Sosa not being in is just stupid. The strike in the mid 90s put a stain on baseball for a lot of people, and the McGwire/Sosa HR chase in '98 brought many fans back to the sport. "But they were both using!" Blah, blah, who cares? Baseball history is loaded with cheaters, many of whom ARE in the Hall of Fame. If people want to get on their high horse about steroids and act like it was the crime of the century, so be it, but they were simply following the path set by generations before them, which is, if you have to cheat to get better and win, do it.
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The problem with the 'roid thing is that the idiot voters let some of them in and keep others out. That is the issue. Let them all in or keep them all out. And like Tim implied, with that generation being so rampant with users, you could almost say that everyone was under suspicion, so we cannot say with 100% certainty that player x never used.
I think about this from time to time:
https://www.theonion.com/turns-out-craig-counsell-was-actually-best-baseball-pla-1819570562
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:lol :mehlin
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re: Yadi
It's pretty simple for me. If Molina had been an average defender/pitch handler, he wouldn't be in the conversation. But he's a guy who gets in BECAUSE OF his defense. Average to slightly above average offensive player (who came through in the clutch fairly often), but...what I already said.
Cabrera is also a no-brainer, and I'm on the other side w/r/t PEDs and character stuff. None of that matters to me. The HOF isn't legit without the all-time hit leader and the all-time HR leader. If you must, put something on their plaques about 'roids and gambling, BUT.... If you do that, you'd better go back and do the same with guys who are already in: Amphetamine Abuser; Racist; Spousal Abuser, etc., etc.
The problem with the 'roid thing is that the idiot voters let some of them in and keep others out. That is the issue. Let them all in or keep them all out. And like Tim implied, with that generation being so rampant with users, you could almost say that everyone was under suspicion, so we cannot say with 100% certainty that player x never used.
... McGwire and Sosa not being in is just stupid. The strike in the mid 90s put a stain on baseball for a lot of people, and the McGwire/Sosa HR chase in '98 brought many fans back to the sport. "But they were both using!" Blah, blah, who cares? Baseball history is loaded with cheaters, many of whom ARE in the Hall of Fame. If people want to get on their high horse about steroids and act like it was the crime of the century, so be it, but they were simply following the path set by generations before them, which is, if you have to cheat to get better and win, do it.
Yup...all that. AND Bud Selig is in there too. Oh...Selig saved baseball! Bullshit. Selig presided over the steroid era and turned a blind eye because doing so was necessary to mitigate the damage caused by 1994.
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IT'S FEBRUARY AND BASEBALL HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED (in USA) :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
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I'm so pumped for baseball! One of my sons best friends, who I have known since T-Ball and coached a few times was added to the Tigers 40 man roster a few months ago and I'm so proud of him, (Brendan White). He's a righty pitcher but he was also an amazing infielder growing up as well. He pitched in Spring Training last year but I'm expecting his MLB debut this year. My son was also a pitcher in high school and Brendan was an incredible teammate. This kid has a great attitude and mindset along with filthy stuff! :tup
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re: Miggy? Miguel Cabrera? I forget if he was a roid guy. But if not, sure-fire. 3k hits, 500 hrs, .300 average. Total production. He should have retired after this past season though.
Are you automatically out on roid guys?
I never heard that Cabrera did steroids. Unless he used PEDs, he's a slam dunk first ballot inductee. You didn't ask me, but I don't support steroid users in the HOF.
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Need a new thread . . . anyone pay attention to what Ohtani did during the WBC?!? INSANE. What a legend.
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Need a new thread . . . anyone pay attention to what Ohtani did during the WBC?!? INSANE. What a legend.
Mike Trout who? He's not used to big moments and Ohtani challenged him with 2 fast balls before finishing him off with a nasty wrinkle! :lol
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Need a new thread . . . anyone pay attention to what Ohtani did during the WBC?!? INSANE. What a legend.
Go for it!
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Need a new thread . . . anyone pay attention to what Ohtani did during the WBC?!? INSANE. What a legend.
I watched some or all of the U.S. v. Venezuela, U.S. v. Cuba, Japan v. Mexico, and U.S. v. Japan games. Ohtani played well, but I didn't see anything I'd describe as insane. The U.S. lineup (other than Mike "Can't Catch up to a Fastball" Trout) looked unstoppable until the Japan game. I took more interest in this WBC than any other, but it's ultimately a meaningless exhibition that whetted my appetite for the real thing.
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Need a new thread . . . anyone pay attention to what Ohtani did during the WBC?!? INSANE. What a legend.
I watched some or all of the U.S. v. Venezuela, U.S. v. Cuba, Japan v. Mexico, and U.S. v. Japan games. Ohtani played well, but I didn't see anything I'd describe as insane. The U.S. lineup (other than Mike "Can't Catch up to a Fastball" Trout) looked unstoppable until the Japan game. I took more interest in this WBC than any other, but it's ultimately a meaningless exhibition that whetted my appetite for the real thing.
Ohtani slashed 435/606/725 and also won 2 games as pitcher and added the series-clinching save. That impresses me anyway.