MLB 2021 Season Thread

[robert3]

Los Angeles Angels is leading in second place is the Houston Astros
skribbl io

[sovereignstar v2]

Robert, that is such an astute observation I'm sat here pondering whether I should clink on that link you are trying to farm.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Screw the All Star Game at Coors, I want to see the Home Run Derby with non-humidor baseballs!

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Well, duh 😄 I meant the whole package.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Screw the All Star Game at Coors, I want to see the Home Run Derby with non-humidor baseballs!

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Yes, please!

SI

[PilotMan]

Reds are either looking alright, or the Pirates are looking really bad. We know the second part is true, but could the first part be true too?

[JPhillips]

I'm just happy the Reds aren't tanking to start the season. That's been a bit of a pattern the past few years and it sucks to feel out of it by May 1.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I'm just happy the Reds aren't tanking to start the season. That's been a bit of a pattern the past few years and it sucks to feel out of it by May 1.

I really didn't realize how bad that had been.

The Reds last finished April above .500 in 2013
The last time they were more than 2 games over .500 after April? 2006

[miami_fan]

You finally got one Padre fans. You finally got one.

[Lathum]

The Padres long national nightmare is over. Joe Musgrove throws the teams first ever no hitter.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The majors' last no-hitter was thrown by the Chicago Cubs' Alec Mills on Sept. 13, 2020. His catcher was Victor Caratini, who was also behind the plate for Musgrove.

The article doesn't say but I gotta wonder if anybody has ever caught league consecutive no-hiters for different teams

[JPhillips]

deGrom is the Met with the most hits in deGrom starts this year.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

The article doesn't say but I gotta wonder if anybody has ever caught league consecutive no-hiters for different teams

Pretty sure I saw that this was a first.

[GrantDawg]

Baseball just needs to get rid of replay if they are going to refuse to overturn bad calls with crystal clear evidence.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I'm just happy the Reds aren't tanking to start the season. That's been a bit of a pattern the past few years and it sucks to feel out of it by May 1.

Don't look now, but it's not even mid-April and they've already cooled off

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Baseball just needs to get rid of replay if they are going to refuse to overturn bad calls with crystal clear evidence.

As a Phillies fan, I have to say that was awful.

Here's the thing, though - this happens in every sport. This isn't a baseball-only problem. The problem is the idea that we have to uphold the result if it's not crystal clear that it is wrong. This is not a legal appellate review and should not be treated as such. Someone is basically just watching a video replay and should be judging it based on what actually is shown to have happened, not "We're only going to overturn a possibly wrong decision made on the field if there's no way it was right."

As part of that review, there should at least be some clear evidence to support the on-field decision. Not - "Well, you can't tell if it did touch even though several angles appear to show it didn't, so we're going with the wrong call on the field." The only time the on-field call should take precedence is when there's no good angle to support either call.

This is the crappy middle ground of replay review we're allowing right now because we don't want to upset officials (and take away jobs) and old people who want things to be the way they always were, and who think wrong calls add to the history of a sport because of the "human element."

The only reason people have been used as officials since the beginning of sport is that they didn't have the technology to do it any other way. And the only "human element" that should matter in sports is the humans actually playing the sport. Officiating should always be right and never be controversial. Especially since we've eliminated the Earl Weaver/Bobby Cox shows anyway - what's the frickin' point? Get it right!

[Lathum]

Acuna just tagged up from third on a ball that was caught about 20 feet behind second base. Amazing

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Butter

Don't look now, but it's not even mid-April and they've already cooled off

They're still 6-3. That's much better than 1-8 or 3-18.

[jbergey22]

Braves BP is going to cost them more than a few games this year. Seems pretty weak when you are bringing in Jacob Webb in the first inning of extra's. Weren't they just loaded in the pen a couple of years ago?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Braves BP is going to cost them more than a few games this year. Seems pretty weak when you are bringing in Jacob Webb in the first inning of extra's. Weren't they just loaded in the pen a couple of years ago?

To be fair, everybody is reslotted atm due to Chris Martin being newly on the DL. Webb was just recalled from the alternate site so I imagine they might have been thinking two innings from him maybe? (Braves middle order due up in the 10th)

And all that was left was LHP Matzek, LHP Dayton, and LHP Newcomb ... with 4 straight RHB due up for the Marlins.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Acuna just tagged up from third on a ball that was caught about 20 feet behind second base. Amazing

I watched the highlight yesterday while at my son's baseball game. I just burst out in laughter at the audacity to even try it. About 5 or 6 parents wanted to know if I was losing my mind so I invited them to watch the highlight. They all had the same reaction.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

As a Phillies fan, I have to say that was awful.

Here's the thing, though - this happens in every sport. This isn't a baseball-only problem. The problem is the idea that we have to uphold the result if it's not crystal clear that it is wrong. This is not a legal appellate review and should not be treated as such. Someone is basically just watching a video replay and should be judging it based on what actually is shown to have happened, not "We're only going to overturn a possibly wrong decision made on the field if there's no way it was right."

As part of that review, there should at least be some clear evidence to support the on-field decision. Not - "Well, you can't tell if it did touch even though several angles appear to show it didn't, so we're going with the wrong call on the field." The only time the on-field call should take precedence is when there's no good angle to support either call.

This is the crappy middle ground of replay review we're allowing right now because we don't want to upset officials (and take away jobs) and old people who want things to be the way they always were, and who think wrong calls add to the history of a sport because of the "human element."

The only reason people have been used as officials since the beginning of sport is that they didn't have the technology to do it any other way. And the only "human element" that should matter in sports is the humans actually playing the sport. Officiating should always be right and never be controversial. Especially since we've eliminated the Earl Weaver/Bobby Cox shows anyway - what's the frickin' point? Get it right!

Joe Posnanski, is that you?

(Not a criticism, love that guy)

[Atocep]

Mentioned on the Mets broadcast today:

Taijuan Walker is wearing jersey number 99 and is the first Met to wear that number since....Turk Wendell. When Wendell heard he was wearing the number he sent Walker a care package of Black Licorice, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.

[BYU 14]

Wendell is awesome

[MrBug708]

Bauer really spinning it tonight. Wonder when MLB gets around to their "investigation" into foreign substances

[Ksyrup]

I had not heard of the Double Hook rule, which is going to be tested in the Atlantic League this year. Basically, a compromise on the DH rule where the DH is used as long as the starting pitcher is still in the game. When the SP is removed, the "double hook" removes the DH and that spot reverts back to either the pitcher or a PH. It's not only intended to be a compromise but also an incentive to have SPs go deeper into games.

[JPhillips]

Just looked at the 2015 Reds season, the last with Cueto. That year 27 pitchers threw at least 10 innings. Not a single one is still on the team.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Just looked at the 2015 Reds season, the last with Cueto. That year 27 pitchers threw at least 10 innings. Not a single one is still on the team.

I'm not sure whether this means it's not unusual OR if I just pulled another questionable (?) staff but ... 27 pitchers reached the 10 inning mark with the 2015 Braves, not a single one is still on the team either.

Considering the record of those two clubs in 2015 that's probably a good thing.

[JPhillips]

I don't know if it's unusual or not, I just found it interesting that so many players from a fairly short time ago are gone.

[BYU 14]

Watched my second live MLB no hitter ever tonight, what a treat, Rodon loses the perfecto in the 9th on a hit batter.

He also hit 99 mph, his fastest pitch of the night on pitch 110.

[JonInMiddleGA]

First time with 2 no-hitters in April since 1994

(Kent Mercker and Scott Erickson)

[Ksyrup]

The Indians went 1-1 on unwritten rules during a no-hitter/perfect game.

Obviously, you should never allow yourself to get hit by a pitch if you can avoid it in any way. That was BS.

On the other hand, I was happy to see the first batter of the 9th inning stick to the unwritten rule of "If you are going to slide headfirst into 1B late in a no-hitter/perfect game, you should always make sure that the arm that is fully extended does not touch the base." So good on them for adhering to that one.

[Lathum]

lol.

That was awesome to watch. I played him in DFS so saw pretty much the whole game. As for the HBP I don't think he internationally avoided getting out of the way.

[Ksyrup]

Anyone been to Cooperstown? What's a reasonable amount of time to spend in the museum? Likely going in early August and trying to put together an itinerary.

[JPhillips]

I have. I'd say plan on at least half a day, there's a lot to see and read. I'll admit that I was greatly disappointed by the HoF. There's a lot of stuff to look at, but very little to do other than play, remember when. There are so many interactive exhibits possible with baseball, but the HoF caters to Boomers.

[Ksyrup]

I've never been to a HoF of any kind, but we've decided to drive from KY to NH for vacation this summer, so after a stop in Buffalo/Niagara Falls, we'll be so close I feel like I am compelled to go.

[GrantDawg]

Sean Kazmir Jr. Pinch hit today for the Braves. It was his first Major League game since 2008. 12 years playing minor ball, he finally got another chance in the Show.

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[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Sean Kazmir Jr. Pinch hit today for the Braves. It was his first Major League game since 2008. 12 years playing minor ball, he finally got another chance in the Show.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

This is good story. MLB had an article on it before today's game. Good for him that he got the appearance. It had to feel amazing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

College baseball announcer makes early catch of the year contender.
(clip is in the article, I never can get Twitter video links to embed well)

If you ain't seen it, go see it

Baseball announcer Geoff Haxton's catch on air: An interview about his amazing play.

[cuervo72]

Oh, that's fantastic.

[Ksyrup]

I like how he instinctively framed it like a catcher.

[Bobble]

"My hand hurts so bad right now"

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Bobble

"My hand hurts so bad right now"

I can imagine. Ouch. My hand hurts a little just watching that.

SI

[sovereignstar v2]

That's awesome.

[Atocep]

DeGrom pitched a 2 hit shutout with 15k today and his K/9 dropped. He's also 6 for 11 with a double this year.

[ISiddiqui]

The biggest news is he actually got the win

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[JPhillips]

The Reds are currently on a 3-10 run. It's a normal April after all.

[albionmoonlight]

We did it everyone! The AL West standings now spell “ASSHAT” pic.twitter.com/AMEOer2Rxf

— Prescott Bishop (@wildwestwx) April 24, 2021

[henry296]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

We did it everyone! The AL West standings now spell “ASSHAT” pic.twitter.com/AMEOer2Rxf

— Prescott Bishop (@wildwestwx) April 24, 2021

Earlier in the week, it was SLOTH

Seattle
LA
Oakland
Texas
Houston

[Swaggs]

Small sample size, but it is hard to believe that the Pirates are sitting at 11-11 this year. Last year, they didn’t get to 11 wins until their 35th game and only won 19 (finished 19-40). I thought after trading Josh Bell, Joe Musgrove, and Jameson Taillon this offseason, we would be looking at 2-3 years of #1 overall picks. I imagine it will still be a rough year, but maybe not 110 losses bad.

[Vince, Pt. II]

So does Bumgarner's no hitter count?