2015 MLB thread

[lungs]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Keep us updated, that's awesome!

Great kid, ran into some injury problems. He's been called one of the best prospects out of the Horizon League for a few years now. Finally stayed healthy And hit .361/.454/.657 this year with 15 HR. Horizon League isn't exactly a baseball hotbed but it will still be interesting to keep an eye on.

He was back in town playing with the Town team within the past few weekends and nobody will doubt his love for the game.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Get out the brooms! Great sweep for the boys in blue to take back the best record in the AL.

Can't wait for this weekend. Get to attend the Friday and Saturday games. Expect to see a lot of blue in Busch Stadium!

[stevew]

Matt Harvey, when off, looks a lot like Colby Lewis

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by lungs

Great kid, ran into some injury problems. He's been called one of the best prospects out of the Horizon League for a few years now. Finally stayed healthy And hit .361/.454/.657 this year with 15 HR. Horizon League isn't exactly a baseball hotbed but it will still be interesting to keep an eye on.

He was back in town playing with the Town team within the past few weekends and nobody will doubt his love for the game.

Has to be exciting for not only him, but his family and friends! Not a bad franchise to be drafted on either.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Has to be exciting for not only him, but his family and friends! Not a bad franchise to be drafted on either.

Agreed!

[JPhillips]

Looks like the Reds have lost Cozart for the season with a knee injury.

Hopefully, Castellini will okay a fire sale soon.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Went to the Royals/Cards games the past two days. Obviously disappointed they couldn't win one of them, but man, watching Matheny pretend to be Tony LaRussa today was downright painful. There's nothing exciting about watching NL strategy.

Oh, and the suites at Busch Stadium are great. I've never eaten so many nachos and brauts along with downing 12 beers in five hours. It was fantastic, though I'm not sure my 40 year old body could do it every game.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

There's nothing exciting about watching NL strategy.

Which is why the invented the DH. To create a league where mindless fans could enjoy baseball without understanding the nuances of the game.

[stevew]

I like NL teams but I hate NL strategy. Baseball is only fun to me if I'm there I guess.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Which is why the invented the DH. To create a league where mindless fans could enjoy baseball without understanding the nuances of the game.

Somehow I feel that if the Royals were in the NL, he'd believe the opposite.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Somehow I feel that if the Royals were in the NL, he'd believe the opposite.

Anything that even Ned Yost can master really isn't that strategic.

[Grover]

I'm the fan of an AL team but I definitely prefer "NL Strategy"

I'm of the belief that if you are one of nine players on the field, you should bat. No questions asked.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Grover

I'm of the belief that if you are one of nine players on the field, you should bat. No questions asked.

AMEN to that!!!

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Grover

I'm of the belief that if you are one of nine players on the field, you should bat. No questions asked.

+1

But I have a feeling as you get more and more pitchers making north of $30 million a year, there will be support to move the NL to the DH. Owners will want to protect their investments as much as possible. Much like the rule changes we see in the NFL to protect QB's.

[miked]

I don't get the love for the "strategy" thing. If you mean by strategy sending up a guy who bats .125/.150/.150 (I think that was the average for pitchers) then sure. Or taking a pitcher out through 6 because he's coming up with runners on, then I guess. Most of these pitchers look beyond silly/stupid swinging a bat. About 80% of them don't look like they care and I'd much rather just watch them pitch.

[Sweed]

Anyone have a problem with designated fielders? Why have substandard gloves on the field when better players are sitting on the bench?

If you had the dh in both leagues pinch hitters would be unnecessary so the 4 or 5 current bench spots could be filled with great gloves with all players eligible to play either offense, defense, or both.

This is a bit facetious on my part as I do not like the DH and quit being an AL fan after it was implemented. I like the way the NL does it, so sue me But really what would be the argument against having the best players on the field at all times whether a "good" hitter in place of the pitcher or a "good" glove in place of a guy with hands of made of stone that can't run or throw but only plays for his bat?

Sure there would need to be rule changes. If one of the 5 DH's (just makes you smile having 5 good hitters doesn't it?) gets injured one of the DF (designated fielders) could be moved into the "batting lineup" or visa versa. A DF goes down a DH could be put into the "fielding lineup". Voila, we have the best team possible on the field at all times.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by miked

I don't get the love for the "strategy" thing. If you mean by strategy sending up a guy who bats .125/.150/.150 (I think that was the average for pitchers) then sure. Or taking a pitcher out through 6 because he's coming up with runners on, then I guess. Most of these pitchers look beyond silly/stupid swinging a bat. About 80% of them don't look like they care and I'd much rather just watch them pitch.

Yeah, but watching Bartolo Colon at the plate is an absolute treat.

[MizzouRah]

KC - Cardinals game rained out this early? What the heck?!?

[Vince, Pt. II]

The Giants have lost 8 straight at home. Weird, because they've been playing well lately.

Some tough losses in there - losing 1-0 yesterday with their only chance to score erased by a line-drive double play, 5 double plays today.

Casey McGehee has ground into 14 double plays this year. He has 118 ABs. Today he ground into two double plays on his first three pitches seen.

[JPhillips]

Billy Hamilton is one away from tying the modern record with six SB in a game.

[stevew]

Sid Bream did some stuff at the local little league and it got me thinking about how

1. He's invariably associated with one team especially to fans of a certain age.
2. His most famous moment, however, came against that team and it had long reaching effects.

I'm sure there are tons of other guys like this, just thought it was funny that he's unquestionably remembered as a Pirate, and for simultaneously being in the play that set off a 2 decade drought.

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Billy Hamilton is one away from tying the modern record with six SB in a game.

Partially shared by Otis Nixon I believe. How do I know this off the top of my head, because my first year of playing fantasy ball was 93 and the Braves, being expected to suck, had a lot of available free agents that I scooped up for my awful team.

Nixon also did it on a Sunday, in Montreal.

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by stevew

Sid Bream did some stuff at the local little league and it got me thinking about how

1. He's invariably associated with one team especially to fans of a certain age.
2. His most famous moment, however, came against that team and it had long reaching effects.

I'm sure there are tons of other guys like this, just thought it was funny that he's unquestionably remembered as a Pirate, and for simultaneously being in the play that set off a 2 decade drought.

This got me thinking about Nick Essasky and his vertigo issue. Nothing more to add.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

This got me thinking about Nick Essasky and his vertigo issue. Nothing more to add.

Yeah, he was great for a minute there.

[Vince, Pt. II]

It was pointed out to me today that McGehee's double plays this season are historic - he's already got the record for most double plays grounded into with 200 or fewer plate appearances...and he has 126 plate appearances. He could literally avoid double plays for the next 74 plate appearances and still hold that record.

[rowech]

Sick of hearing that Jay Bruce is underachieving and that he is so much better than what we're seeing. He's not. He's not a kid anymore. This is who he is.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

It was pointed out to me today that McGehee's double plays this season are historic - he's already got the record for most double plays grounded into with 200 or fewer plate appearances...and he has 126 plate appearances. He could literally avoid double plays for the next 74 plate appearances and still hold that record.

That's interesting. He also led the league last year in that category with 31, which was the 8th most since 1933.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by rowech

Sick of hearing that Jay Bruce is underachieving and that he is so much better than what we're seeing. He's not. He's not a kid anymore. This is who he is.

To be fair, his last two seasons have been well below his 2010-2013 years.

[ISiddiqui]

So, interestingly, I was apparently the first person to ever tweet the hashtag #stlcards on Twitter

#stlcards - Who Said It First on Twitter

[cartman]

Bud Black is out as the Padres manager.

[Logan]

[Scoobz0202]

I am really thinking about voting for Rios a shit ton. If he can get in over Trout and the whole lineup is Royals then MLB will see what a sham it is.

e: ofc they will already see that, but might as well make it completely over the top

[stevew]

Wow...those leads are pretty substantial too. At this point pretty much everyone would have to vote for the #2 in the category to unseat a royal.

[Logan]

The Cardinal Way involves hacking, apparently.

Log In - The New York Times

[EagleFan]

Bad week for baseball. The all-star voting is a joke and the Cardinals look to be guilty of a serious crime.

[Subby]

Not saying he’s guilty, but he’s definitely a person of interest. pic.twitter.com/HqNFzeOlvi

— Matt Sebek (@MattSebek) June 16, 2015

[Subby]

HMMMMMM pic.twitter.com/xotRXh8LBO

— Barry Petchesky (@barryap1) June 16, 2015

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

David Glass is rolling over in his grave thinking about the number of All-Star bonuses he'll have to pay. You have to figure Wood and Holland are shoe-ins as well.

Wait, David Glass isn't dead yet?

The other thing making me happy is Joe Buck having to unhappily announce all those Royals players for a few innings.

The best part is the NL home field advantage for the World Series. I figure if Jamie Garcia and Tyler Lyons can dismantle these guys I can't imagine what Kershaw, Bumgarner, DeGrom, etc are go to do.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by panerd

The best part is the NL home field advantage for the World Series. I figure if Jamie Garcia and Tyler Lyons can dismantle these guys I can't imagine what Kershaw, Bumgarner, DeGrom, etc are go to do.

I think the plan is to just send DeGrom out there anyway. No need for a defense of course.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I think the plan is to just send DeGrom out there anyway. No need for a defense of course.

Or Scherzer.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Subby

Or Scherzer.

MBBF would be in quite the conundrum of Scherzer vs the Royals...

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Bad week for baseball. The all-star voting is a joke and the Cardinals look to be guilty of a serious crime.

Sorry, but the only thing that's a joke about the All-Star balloting is the 'I don't give a shit' attitude of the other fan bases. Having fans that are fired up about baseball is a good thing. The other franchises should be taking notes, not complaining.

FWIW.....I hope this puts an end to the fact that home field advantage is decided by this game. That's the real joke, not the fact that the Royals fans are excited about baseball again.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by panerd

MBBF would be in quite the conundrum of Scherzer vs the Royals...

Would love to see Max get the nod. Great pitcher and even a better guy. Have met him several times.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Sorry, but the only thing that's a joke about the All-Star balloting is the 'I don't give a shit' attitude of the other fan bases. Having fans that are fired up about baseball is a good thing. The other franchises should be taking notes, not complaining.

FWIW.....I hope this puts an end to the fact that home field advantage is decided by this game. That's the real joke, not the fact that the Royals fans are excited about baseball again.

Nah...pretty sure this qualifies as a joke too.

[Grover]

Fun story....

The NL has a higher batting average and more home runs than the AL this year.

Huge difference that DH makes...

[cartman]

The thing that is a joke is that the fucking clueless, err energized, fans think that Infante and Rios are deserving of starting, much less being part of, the All Star game.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Logan

Nah...pretty sure this qualifies as a joke too.

Let's go with the assumption that you're right for the sake of argument. Why the venom towards the Royals (speaking generally, not you specifically)? Their fans are simply using the same tools available to everyone else, yet apparently no one else has decided to use them.

The best part will be, if they change it, the new 'rules' will likely forever be called the 'Royal Rule'.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Would love to see Max get the nod. Great pitcher and even a better guy. Have met him several times.

Agree. Kyle Gibson is coming to town to pitch for the Twins today. Fun to see former Tigers in any sport.

You have to admit the Omar Infante stuff is pretty lame. I am all for loading up the ballot box for Moustakas and Hosmer and even votes for Perez or Cain but think its stupid that people would vote a "straight ticket" for the all-star game. When I was a kid I always voted for Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee but Jose Oqendo and Tom Pagnozzi were not getting my votes over Ryne Sandburg or Gary Carter. I just think it cheapens the game and takes away from the legit all stars on the Royals.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

A few "fans" are simply abusing the same tools available to everyone else

FTFY

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dola

This is a great read. Talks about the excitement of the fans, while noting what they generally feel about the Infante situation.

ANARCHY!!! How Royals fans have driven MLB experts crazy! | The Sports Nut