2022 MLB Thread formerly the 2021 thread..

[pg1067]

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....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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).

[jingle.boy]

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 )... starting off the year with a 108 ERA (no decimal point in there!).

Dis gonna be a fun team to watch.

[Dream Team]

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.

[KevShmev]

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?

[Dream Team]

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?

  Right he must suck too.

[hunnus2000]

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 )... 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. 

[pg1067]

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

[KevShmev]

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.

[TAC]

I thought the clip was going to show how the coach got ejected, or why he got ejected.

[orcus116]

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.

[pg1067]

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.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

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.

[Dream Team]

Boy that Red Sox bullpen is a constant clown show.

[TAC]

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.

[TAC]

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?

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

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...

[pg1067]

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.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

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.

[pg1067]

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.

[pg1067]

Has Nolan Arrenado always been a little bitch?

Just wondering.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

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.

[pg1067]

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.

[pg1067]

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

[romdrums]

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.

[El Barto]

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.

[TAC]

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.

[pg1067]

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.

[El Barto]

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.

[pg1067]

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.

[TAC]

Wow, the Red Sox blow.

[El Barto]

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

[pg1067]

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

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.

[El Barto]

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

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.

[Dream Team]

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

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.

[LudwigVan]

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

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.