The 2022 MLB Season (?)

[stevew]

Civale just laid a giant turd.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Wonder how many ballparks that wouldn't even be a homerun?

29? I said the same thing.

[stevew]

I assume it’s common knowledge but every Padres playoff game takes 1 game off Tatis’s suspension. Was going to miss 33 next year and now will miss something like 21 at the most.

[stevew]

Another yankee stadium homer

[JonInMiddleGA]

Stanton: 3 of 30
Judge: 27 of 30

courtesy of https://twitter.com/would_it_dong

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I don't know how you'd get a kid interested these days. They'd be reaching for their favored gaming or social media device between every pitch.

To be fair, all of us are reaching for our favorite gaming or social media device when watching sports in 2022. Whether it is for fantasy, social media reaction/content, trash talk in the group chat, etc., we all are doing something else whether are breaks in the actual game play.

Having now watched baseball from 9U to JV baseball pretty intimately and college/MLB regularly, the difference between MLB and baseball at the other levels is stark. I don't see that in basketball, football or even soccer. I am not talking about the quality of play either. No matter how much I may hate the 3 pointer/layups/ free throws sameness of the NBA or the RPO sameness in the NFL, when I look at those sports at lower levels, it is obvious to me that it is the same game that the pros are playing. I have no clue if the rules changes will work or not. I am not trying to fix baseball. It is just something that has stood out especially when watching and discussing the game with a youth baseball player who is telling me what his coaches would tell the team to do and comparing it with what we are seeing in MLB.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

To be fair, all of us are reaching for our favorite gaming or social media device when watching sports in 2022.

It's been years since I've not multi-tasked while a game was on. Might be a few moments now & then but that's it. And I'm a long way from being a kid anymore.

[cuervo72]

Yeah, I'm sure nobody ever watched a baseball game while reading a magazine or newspaper, playing a board game, talking on the phone before.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Yeah, I'm sure nobody ever watched a baseball game while reading a magazine or newspaper, playing a board game, talking on the phone before.

Thats what I love about baseball, it is great to have on in the background. No one on and 2 outs, keep gaming, reading, doing laundry, etc...2 on and one out, pay attention. Sure you may miss a solo HR occasionally but whatever.

[Ksyrup]

That's how I've watched baseball for about 15 years now and why, despite the fact that I've bought the MLB package for like 20 years in a row, I couldn't name 10 players on teams I actually root for and routinely hear about guys for the first time who have been performing well for a couple years. Like, this year, there's apparently a pitcher for the Dbacks who has thrown 200 innings and I'd never heard the name before (and don't remember it now).

So it kinda cuts both ways - it's great for casual background noise and I tune in a lot but it's also lessened my connection and deep knowledge of the current game.

[cuervo72]

I almost feel bad wearing Phillies stuff anymore -- I root for them, but if someone asks me a question about them requiring any kind of depth I wouldn't be able to answer it. I'm lucky if I could name five players on their roster.

The difference between my knowledge now vs. the 80s where I would pore over newspaper stats, collect baseball cards, watch about 4 games a week and catch SportsCenter regularly is staggering.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

That's how I've watched baseball for about 15 years now and why, despite the fact that I've bought the MLB package for like 20 years in a row, I couldn't name 10 players on teams I actually root for and routinely hear about guys for the first time who have been performing well for a couple years. Like, this year, there's apparently a pitcher for the Dbacks who has thrown 200 innings and I'd never heard the name before (and don't remember it now)..

Merrill Kelly? He was their only 200 IP guy this season (if that's what you meant) and has 97 career starts for them over the past 4 years.

[stevew]

I could maybe name 3 guys in the Yankees bullpen and they all pitched last night.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah Kelly is it. Never heard of him until I saw something about him throwing 200 innings in a regular season wrap-up.

[stevew]

Stanton looks ridiculous with a glove.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Yeah Kelly is it. Never heard of him until I saw something about him throwing 200 innings in a regular season wrap-up.

Just a 78 (silver) in MLB The Show, so Lord knows he's not been anyone I've followed closely lol

[miami_fan]

Segura taketh away, Segura giveth, Segura taketh away again.

[miami_fan]

The 6th best team in the NL has made the World Series.

[Qwikshot]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

The 6th best team in the NL has made the World Series.

They haven't been playing like the 6th best.

[Ksyrup]

That bunt decision... Yeesh. Caitlin's senior year of HS we made the state tournament and at the time it was double elimination. Loaded the bases with 2 outs in the 7th in the elimination game with a slapper coming to bat - against an all-world pitcher (if you follow college softball at all, you may have heard of Montana Fouts from Alabama). Coach called time to talk to her about strategy and she was bawling her eyes out she was so nervous. He had her bunt, hoping for either a perfect placement or an error. They handled it and ended Caitlin's career.

I always assumed if we had several MLB hitters on the bench, he would have pinch hit instead of bunted. After today, I guess the answer is not so clear.

[stevew]

I totally thought Rob Thomson was the guy who played 2b for the Giants in the 80s

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by stevew

I totally thought Rob Thomson was the guy who played 2b for the Giants in the 80s

Wait, it's not?

{googles}

Well I'll be damned.

[HomerSimpson98]

Robby Thompson is that 2B

I loved those Giants teams. Clark, Mitchell, Williams, Thompson, Butler


Never could win the big one. Earthquake series and the Roids Brothers only WS appearance IIRC

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson98

Robby Thompson is that 2B

Yeah, that part I remembered correctly.

It's just that, until this thread, I didn't realize that wasn't the spelling of the Phillies manager's name.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

The 6th best team in the NL has made the World Series.

It really feels like it comes down to whichever team is hot in October, not best team for the year. Also, it pretty much kills any and all meaning for being the best team over the course of the year.

As long as you get hot in October, and you're in position to be in the playoffs, you're money. The regular season might as well be cut in half. You'd be able to sort out the good from the bad, and teams could get hot at the right moment and still have exciting playoffs. There's simply no need for that long of a year.

And I hate all of that. Hate it.

Give me 4 divisions of 6 teams. Get rid of the Wild Card. Straight to the LCS and WS. That's it.

[Ksyrup]

Try OOTP!

[PilotMan]

Preaching to the choir on that one. I'd probably be considered an OOTP fanboy. I buy it every year after they mark it way down and play it for that year.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

It really feels like it comes down to whichever team is hot in October, not best team for the year. Also, it pretty much kills any and all meaning for being the best team over the course of the year.

As long as you get hot in October, and you're in position to be in the playoffs, you're money. The regular season might as well be cut in half. You'd be able to sort out the good from the bad, and teams could get hot at the right moment and still have exciting playoffs. There's simply no need for that long of a year.

And I hate all of that. Hate it.

Give me 4 divisions of 6 teams. Get rid of the Wild Card. Straight to the LCS and WS. That's it.

yeah, that's not going to happen. Too many late season games would become meaningless, costing them much much money, especially with the reduced playoffs.. Never going to happen.

[JeeberD]

Nary a word since Monday with the World Series starting tonight? Man...

[Lathum]

May wanna pull him Dusty.

[Atocep]

One one hand, I don't think I can stomach seeing the Phillies win another world series as a Mets fan. On the other hand seeing Harper win a world series with the Phillies after all shit he got for leaving the Nats and them winning a world series without him would be entertaining.

[miami_fan]

So the debate today is tipping pitches or stealing signs?

[Qwikshot]

Tipping pitches...no trashcans were involved.

My daughter gets married on Saturday, she's taking me to the game tonight as a last thing to do as a dad/daughter.

Even if the Phillies lose, they're exciting.

I watched them lose of the Joe Carter homerun while in high school. In fact, Game 2 was read out during our football game.

2008 win was bittersweet as two of my great aunts who had taken me to the Phillies as a child died the year before.

Not all Philly fans are monsters. I think this Phillies roster is far more likeable than 93s.

However it plays out, it's been an exciting series.

[Lathum]

I'm a huge Mets fan but pulling for the Phillies. Houston is easy to hate after cheating their way to a series. I would love to see Thor and Wheeler get a title, and these guys are just really fun to watch. They remind me of those Kruk teams. They seem to really like each other, are exciting, and never seem out of it. In my older years my sports fandom has become far less about hating a team just because they are my teams rivals.

[Ksyrup]

It was definitely tipping pitches. Harper specifically told Bohm what to look for and it quickly got around the dugout, it seems. That's not cheating, that's just being observant. My daughter once hit a HR because she knew what pitch was coming thanks to the opposing coach calling out the same 3 digit pitch/location code from the dugout. She took the 1st one and then he repeated the same number 2 pitches later and she deposited it over the RF fence. Kinda the same deal.

[Lathum]

I agree on the tipping. I am amazed they didn't make adjustments.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

So the debate today is tipping pitches or stealing signs?

Tipping pitches. His leg kick was clearly different when he was throwing a breaking ball.

[miami_fan]

Umm, might want to tune in the next time the Phillies come to bat

[Ksyrup]

On the contrary, I turned it off about an hour ago.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Umm, might want to tune in the next time the Phillies come to bat

You mean because of the potential no-hitter?

[sterlingice]

Fans leaving from right behind home plate with 2 outs to go?

SI

[Lathum]

Imagine paying thousands for a ticket and your team doesn’t even get a hit?

[cuervo72]

Eh, I was even rooting for it for the last couple innings. Figured the game was already lost, why not.

Have to say though, the whole combined thing is just...meh. A big thing about no-nos is the personal achievement aspect, and that's really not there.

[sterlingice]

There's something bittersweet about combined no-hitters. Like, it's historical but it feels a bit less special when 4 guys did it.

SI

[PilotMan]

Dusty Baker boooooooooooooooooooo

[Lathum]

Each time they get a hit, take a bite of your hoagie! #Schwarberfest

— Wawa (@Wawa) November 2, 2022

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Each time they get a hit, take a bite of your hoagie! #Schwarberfest

— Wawa (@Wawa) November 2, 2022

So they got people to buy hoagies and not eat them?

Elon Musk is intrigued.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Dusty Baker boooooooooooooooooooo

Hey now! Give credit when credit is due.

Repeat after me. Dusty Baker deserves credit for his masterful use of the bullpen in that game.

[molson]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

There's something bittersweet about combined no-hitters. Like, it's historical but it feels a bit less special when 4 guys did it.

SI

There's a big difference in feel between "Don Larsen's perfect game" and whatever that was.

Of course, old-man baseball grumpiness is also a historic baseball tradition.

[Ksyrup]

I laughed. I'm old.

pic.twitter.com/FWj1lIzdwl

— Aaron (the Give Smart guy) (@BobbyBigWheel) November 4, 2022