The Official 2013 MLB Thread

[Crapshoot]

1985 Bo Jackson Scouting Report: "The Best Pure Athlete In America"

Pretty cool - Bo Jackson scouting report from 1985.

[McLovin]

JA Happ just taken off the field in a stretcher after being hit in the head with a line drive in Tampa.

[Young Drachma]

Terrible season in Jays land.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Matt Kemp Puts A Smile On A Young Boys Face Who Just Overcame Brain Surgery! - Sportsality

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

1985 Bo Jackson Scouting Report: "The Best Pure Athlete In America"

Pretty cool - Bo Jackson scouting report from 1985.

A lot of these are from Welcome to Diamond Mines | Diamond Mines

It seems to be hit or miss on if it will load right now but there are some really interesting ones on there. You can see reports on Willie McCovey and Henry Aaron that are obviously a sign of the times as they are pretty racist to seeing Chipper Jones only having two average tools.

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Matt Kemp Puts A Smile On A Young Boys Face Who Just Overcame Brain Surgery! - Sportsality

Matt Kemp is a cool ass dude. One of the good guys in the league.

[Lathum]

i would really like the Mets to score a run for Matt Harvey

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by McLovin

JA Happ just taken off the field in a stretcher after being hit in the head with a line drive in Tampa.

That's a scary one to watch...swelling and blood clots immediately come to mind. Obviously I hope it looks worse than it is.

[Lathum]

Damn

[Lathum]

I love how Harvey reacted to losing the perfect game and no no. Didn't pitch a fit in between innings,just went into the dugout like it was business as usual. Kid is so money.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Mike D

That's a scary one to watch...swelling and blood clots immediately come to mind. Obviously I hope it looks worse than it is.

Yet another easily avoided injury if pitchers were forced to finish in a defensive position with glove ready to defend face instead of falling off the mound and putting yourself in a totally defenseless position.

[Logan]

Missed the Mets game but wow is Harvey just unreal. 9 IP, 12 Ks and just an infield single.

Originally Posted by rowech

Yet another easily avoided injury if pitchers were forced to finish in a defensive position with glove ready to defend face instead of falling off the mound and putting yourself in a totally defenseless position.

Forced?

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Logan

Missed the Mets game but wow is Harvey just unreal. 9 IP, 12 Ks and just an infield single.



Forced?

By their coaches. It's just silly to continue to have these pitchers not be in a good defensive position. It'll never happen because it would take a couple of mph off of their fastballs.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I love how Harvey reacted to losing the perfect game and no no. Didn't pitch a fit in between innings,just went into the dugout like it was business as usual. Kid is so money.

I've never seen a pitcher "pitch a fit" when he lost a no hitter

[Chief Rum]

Kudos to Harvey not being the first then. Yay Harvey!

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I've never seen a pitcher "pitch a fit" when he lost a no hitter

really? You've never seen a guy go into the dugout on slam his glove down or walk into the tunnel all pissed off?

[MrBug708]

Not really, no

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Lathum

really? You've never seen a guy go into the dugout on slam his glove down or walk into the tunnel all pissed off?

In Orange County, we call this "the Lackey" or we say "Boy, he sure Lackeyed up that dugout!"

[molson]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

In Orange County, we call this "the Lackey" or we say "Boy, he sure Lackeyed up that dugout!"

Wait, I thought a "Lackey" was when a pitcher stood on the mound with his hands on his hips staring at one of his teammates who made a bad defensive play for an uncomfortably long time?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by molson

Wait, I thought a "Lackey" was when a pitcher stood on the mound with his hands on his hips staring at one of his teammates who made a bad defensive play for an uncomfortably long time?

It turns out that "Lackey" has many definitions.

[Suicane75]

Lathum has a girlfriend, Lathum has a girlfriend.

[MrBug708]

I'm ready to get rid of Mattingly. I dont care about how many Dodgers are injured. They can kick Coletti out too

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I'm ready to get rid of Mattingly. I dont care about how many Dodgers are injured. They can kick Coletti out too

Yep, another 1 run loss. Another loss allowing 3 runs. Another game where we don't hit.

33 games in, 10 games below .500 in a season we were supposed to win the division.

If you figure we need to win 90 games to reasonably expect to make the playoffs we would need to go 77-52 or a .597 winning percentage to get there. That would better than any other team in the West has played so far this season. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but we are really, really close to not being able to get there at all. That's the problem.

[Jas_lov]

I hope this means we can get rid of this "winning the offseason" garbage. It doesnt mean anything. Toronto Blue Jays - last place. LA Dodgers - last place. LA Angels - 2nd to last place, saved only by one of the worst teams in AL history.

[cartman]

Is there a standard in the MLB parks for the equipment that umps use for instant replay review? All I can figure from the A's game last night is that the TV the umps were using to review the home run was a 13 inch black and white TV. It was pretty clear the ball bounced off the railing above the fence.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

I hope this means we can get rid of this "winning the offseason" garbage. It doesnt mean anything. Toronto Blue Jays - last place. LA Dodgers - last place. LA Angels - 2nd to last place, saved only by one of the worst teams in AL history.

And that one of the worst teams in AL history has already clinched a series win against the Angels in their current season.

I am numb with disbelief at how bad this Angels team is. It's not that I thought they were world beaters. I had serious doubts about the pitching and on the hit and miss nature of the hitting. But even my worst prognostications could not have foreseen them being this bad.

At least Hamilton hit a homerun. I was beginning to wonder if he was still alive.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cartman

Is there a standard in the MLB parks for the equipment that umps use for instant replay review? All I can figure from the A's game last night is that the TV the umps were using to review the home run was a 13 inch black and white TV. It was pretty clear the ball bounced off the railing above the fence.

This article from 2008 (which could, of course, be outdated by now) says a 20 inch flat screen is what's in the box.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...ticle-1.316587

[cartman]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

This article from 2008 (which could, of course, be outdated by now) says a 20 inch flat screen is what's in the box.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...ticle-1.316587

The article makes the ump's decision even more head-scratching.

The operations center features 13 large-screen televisions on the front wall, and three rows of work stations containing computers and video equipment. From this room, the technicians and umpiring supervisors provide replays to the umpires; they also have the ability to freeze and zoom in for the umps. They do not, however, offer opinions - the crew chief is left to interpret the multiple camera angles provided. The crew chief, after viewing the replays, makes a final decision.

I guess the umps didn't ask for a freeze and zoom.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Nice.

[cuervo72]

Eh, he's better off.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Eh, he's better off.

And he smelled like beer.

[bhlloy]

That's so set up. Nobody reacts like that.

[Logan]

Having a straight actor play that role would have been more believable.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Logan

Having a straight actor play that role would have been more believable.

Maybe he just has a cocaine habit.

[Vince, Pt. II]

5 Lost Scouting Reports

Entertaining read from Grant Brisbee, the blogger from SB Nation who regularly pens the Giants blog McCovey Chronicles. The article is non-Giants centric.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Amused by the commentary of the Royals play-by-play announcer last night on TV when the highlight of the Yankees game was shown in-between batters.....

"Taking you to New York, we find Robinson Cano doing something that he couldn't do in the Home Run Derby.......hit a homerun."

Should be a fun night at the K. I'm sure Cano will receive plenty of boos each time he steps to the plate.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

This article from 2008 (which could, of course, be outdated by now) says a 20 inch flat screen is what's in the box.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...ticle-1.316587

According to Deadspin, it is likely a 19 inch 720p Sharp Aquos.

http://deadspin.com/mlbs-crappy-repl...-get-499041275

[lungs]

Angels fans... Do you miss Jean Segura?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by lungs

Angels fans... Do you miss Jean Segura?

Yes and no. Offense hasn't been that much of a problem. Luis Jimenez wasn't too bad filling in for Callaspo and Aybar while they were out. Aybar is a decent shortstop, both in the field and at the plate.

That said, Segura's doing terrific, and considering they didn't resign Greinke and didn't make the playoffs last year, it feels like a pointless trade involving a prospect who could have either been starting at 3B or allowed us to just let Aybar go to free agency this past offseason and use the money saved on pitching.

[bhlloy]

CR - how much faith do you still have in DiPoto? Seems like he's worse than Reagins at this point, in my opinion.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

CR - how much faith do you still have in DiPoto? Seems like he's worse than Reagins at this point, in my opinion.

My faith in DiPoto has dropped tons. There are numerous decisions that have amazed me.

I should have suspected an issue from the start when he let Eddie Bane, the old head of scouting, go. Bane, who identified Trout as a guy to spend a first round pick on (among other good scouting moves).

Let's just take the major moves of the last season or so.

--Signing Albert Pujols (not on DiPoto, but on Arte, this may still pan out)
--Signing CJ Wilson (this could still be good, but DiPoto needs to be sure the coaching staff can work the same magic with Wilson that Texas's did; if not, get a pitching coach who can)
--Trout starting in the minors last season (okay, could put this on Scioscia; Trout was great in spring training 2012)
--firing Mickey Hatcher and elevating Jim Eppard (good move and long, long overdue)
--Greinke trade (I still like this trade IF they brought him back; they didn't because DiPoto did not accurately project the pitching market in the offseason; money spent on Hamilton should have gone to retaining Greinke)
--Not sitting down Scioscia at the end of last season and telling him plainly-- "If I hand you a talented squad this offseason and your team starts off with an awful APril AGAIN, you will be fired."
--Trading Santana for two reasons; 1. again, didn't project the pitching market properly, should have kept one of Santana or Haren, 2) he got absolutely nothing for Santana
--Letting Haren go after having traded Santana (Haren has not done well in Washington, but Santana was gone; DiPoto put all his eggs in the Greinke basket)
--Wasting money on a guy with TJ surgery who still isn't back (Ryan Madson)
--Pissing off fan favorite Torii Hunter with well below market contract offers; if you don't want to keep him, tell Torii, thank you, but we're moving in another direction
--Trading for/signing three pitchers who are all flyball pitchers in Hanson, Vargas and Blanton
--Hanson trade was a good move
--Vargas deal was awful, not just because Vargas was a flyball pitcher moving to a more hitter friendly park, but because trading away Morales gutted the "medium level contributions" of the lineup, making this a much more hit or miss offense
--Blanton might have been the worst pitcher available in free agency, and they signed him for 2 years, $15 M. There were better pitchers out there who signed for less, and you could have had guys like Lohse, Jackson or Sanchez for a little bit more
--Hamilton deal may still pan out in and of itself; he's a hell of a player when he's going right; but the opportunity cost lost from all that money spent and losing Greinke is just enormous. Signing Hamilton not only cost the Angels their first round pick this year, but it makes it incredibly difficult to make moves to correct the team's pitching

Except for a couple deals here or things you can pin on Arte or Scioscia, for the most part this is all on DiPoto. He has been straight awful.

[MizzouRah]

What a great start to the home stand!

[korme]

Hope the Reds didn't use up all of their run scoring skills yesterday, I will be going to today's mother's day game. This will be my 3rd game of the season, and I get Bronson Arroyo for the 3rd time. Yipee.

Also, this will be my mother's 10th mother's day tote bag. Mix it up, Reds PR! No one wants a tote bag!

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by korme

Hope the Reds didn't use up all of their run scoring skills yesterday, I will be going to today's mother's day game. This will be my 3rd game of the season, and I get Bronson Arroyo for the 3rd time. Yipee.

Also, this will be my mother's 10th mother's day tote bag. Mix it up, Reds PR! No one wants a tote bag!

What? Today is mothers day?

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Except for a couple deals here or things you can pin on Arte or Scioscia, for the most part this is all on DiPoto. He has been straight awful.

Yeah, that's basically my take too. The most disappointing thing on a personal level is that he's taken a team that played a really unique, aggressive style and turned them into just another team with overpaid sluggers in the middle of the lineup. But I could live with that if the team was at least good, this team looks like it might be a trainwreck for years to come.

On that note, I hate that he doesn't have the balls to fire Scoscia. So instead we're just moving on with this sham that Mike coaches a team that isn't built for his style at all, and DiPoto keeps signing and trading for players that don't fit the style either, and we're going to get a 70 win season out of it.

[fantom1979]

There is a Bryce Harper shaped hole in the fence in right field in LA.

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | WSH@LAD: Harper collides with wall, exits the game - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Terribly sad day for everyone in KC. Fred White passed away today, one day after retiring from the Royals organization. He and Denny Matthews are the cornerstones of the Royals radio broadcasts. They were the guys who broadcast during the glory days of the franchise during the 70s and first half of the 80s. He also was a huge part of the Big 8 conference basketball broadcasts.

Former Royals broadcaster Fred White dies - KansasCity.com

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Man, Country Breakfast is on fire right now. 8 for his last 10 with a homer and nine RBI's. He's an easy guy to root for.

[Lathum]

Man, I knew the Mets would be bad, but this is really bad.

I can't for the life of me figure out why they signed Astros cast off Ankiel to play and not give some of the younger guys the time to see what they can do.

[cartman]

Should be a great pitching duel in Arlington tonight when the Tigers with Verlander on the mound face off against the Rangers and Darvish.

Now watch the game be a 16-15 slugfest, with the starters chased after 3 innings.