2022 MLB Thread formerly the 2021 thread..

[Dream Team]

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.

[King Postwhore]

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.

[T-ski]

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.

[Dream Team]

How old is he? 12?

[King Postwhore]

How old are the other team to come out of the dugout for that and his chirping?

[T-ski]

2 Cardinal players test positive so no Brewers home opener today.

[romdrums]

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.

[romdrums]

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.

[lordxizor]

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.

[T-ski]

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.

[jingle.boy]

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.

[DragonAttack]

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'

[JayOctavarium]

I love Joe Kelly

[TAC]

I love Joe Kelly

That guy is a character, man. We had him here.

[T-ski]

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

[TAC]

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?

[T-ski]

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/

[TAC]

WOW!

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.

[pg1067]

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball and a run differential that is nearly double that of any other team.

GO BLUE!

[Dream Team]

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.

[pg1067]

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.

[DragonAttack]

^
This, that, and the other things.  Couldn't agree more.

[Dream Team]

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.

[millahh]

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.

[pg1067]

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?

[jingle.boy]

Because as evidenced by the Houston Astros, MLB players have no morals or ethics.

[Dream Team]

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.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

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.

[T-ski]

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."

[Dream Team]

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!

[pg1067]

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.

[dparrott]

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!!!! 

And those Joe Kelly faces are hilarious.  If only his pitching was consistent.

[Dream Team]

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.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

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!

[Dream Team]

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?