2012 MLB Thread (Cabrera Gets Triple Crown, first since Yaz 1967)

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by sooner333

I am so happy that MLB did not give me the option to watch the perfect game. The game was not available on FSN or FSN+ (Rangers and Cardinals, respectively). However, because the Astros are a "home team" in the Tulsa market, there was no MLB.TV availability.

This really needs to get fixed. If the game is available on TV, that's one thing and I don't care if I can't watch it through the internet. But, if the game is not even on TV, I think it should be available.

I personally don't think cable channels should count as "on TV", but whatever, I'm not going to win that fight.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by sooner333

I am so happy that MLB did not give me the option to watch the perfect game. The game was not available on FSN or FSN+ (Rangers and Cardinals, respectively). However, because the Astros are a "home team" in the Tulsa market, there was no MLB.TV availability.

This really needs to get fixed. If the game is available on TV, that's one thing and I don't care if I can't watch it through the internet. But, if the game is not even on TV, I think it should be available.

I agree with you on this.

Both the Cubs and White Sox are considered local teams for Indy, but none of the cable providers in my area carry the channels their games are on.

[DaddyTorgo]

2nd highest Game Score of all time I guess?

Impressive.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I agree with you on this.

Both the Cubs and White Sox are considered local teams for Indy, but none of the cable providers in my area carry the channels their games are on.

In New Orleans we have the Astros and Rangers. Both are carried by different feeds of the same channel, Fox Sports Southwest. We get the Astros if there is a conflict. Only when there is no overlap do we get to see the Rangers.

It's not a matter of bugging the cable company to pick up the channel that shows the Rangers, which is what I assume the motivation is for these blackouts. We HAVE the channel. It just shows us the Astros feed most of the time. There is no way for us to see the Rangers.

With the NBA, our local channel carries 65 Hornets games. For those 65 games, the Hornets are blacked out on League Pass. Makes sense. The 17 games not shown locally? Available on League Pass! This is apparently easy to coordinate if anyone is paying attention. Unfortunately, MLB is run by Bud Selig, so... yeah.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Logan

His ability to throw it at varying speeds is really amazing. I hope he keeps it up so we can legitimately talk about a knuckleballer for the Cy Young.

The Mets screwed up not signing him to an extension earlier; I'd be really surprised if he slows down any time soon.

You're right that he'd shown enough that the Mets probably should have extended his contract before this season, but he's also made a significant leap forward this year in missing bats while still retaining phenomenal control for a knuckleball pitcher. His K% has nearly doubled while his BB% is basically the same.

[Logan]

Right. Even if he didn't make that leap though, he performed well enough that they considered guaranteeing his 2013 option which likely could have led to locking him up for at least 2014 also at a reasonable price. That price has since gone way up.

[dawgfan]

I agree - he'd already established himself as (at worst) a league-average starter, and probably a bit better than that. And considering how well knuckleballers age, his age shouldn't have been a major concern.

I'm fascinated by his big leap forward this year. It doesn't appear his pitch selection has changed significantly, nor his velocity. I should go see if I can find some pitch F/X comparisons of his pitch movement between last year and this year - is his knuckler moving more than before? Or has he made advances in his ability to locate his pitches?

[ISiddiqui]

So the Mets get swept by the Yankees and then turn around an tattoo the Rays (and sweep 'em). Interesting back to back series.

[DanGarion]

That my friends is an error.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

That my friends is an error.

Probably, but if the runner would have likely beaten a good throw then no.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

That my friends is an error.

as much as I want to agree with you I don't know. You have to factor in Upton is the runner and I think it is hard to assume any player should make a barehanded grab.

David Wright basicaly came out and said he doesn't think it was an error.

[stevew]

It's pretty crazy how that one school in Chesapeake had Wright, Both Uptons and someone else at the same time.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by stevew

It's pretty crazy how that one school in Chesapeake had Wright, Both Uptons and someone else at the same time.

Zimmerman was the other and I don't think they all went to HS together. I believe they were on a summer travel team made up of players from a few high schools in that area.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

That my friends is an error.

I agree. Whether he gets the runner at 1st is another story, but he has to come up with that ball at 3rd.

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by Lathum

as much as I want to agree with you I don't know. You have to factor in Upton is the runner and I think it is hard to assume any player should make a barehanded grab.

David Wright basicaly came out and said he doesn't think it was an error.

I'd agree with Upton being fast, but I just don't see Upton beating the throw if Wright fields that cleanly. I'd think that is clearly an error.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

I'd agree with Upton being fast, but I just don't see Upton beating the throw if Wright fields that cleanly. I'd think that is clearly an error.

cleanly with the glove or with the bare hand?

If you mean bare hand I don't think you can give him an error for that

[Scoobz0202]

I was talking with his glove.

[Logan]

I think if Wright tried grabbing it with a well timed backhanded glove (timing important in terms of his body position as he was planted), he could have gotten him out.

[Ksyrup]

I don't get the glove/hand debate. He chose to use his bare hand and didn't field it cleanly. That's an error. Upton was barely 2-3 steps out of the batters box during the first hop. It's a close play glove or hand, close enough to be an error if he fields it cleanly and makes a bad throw, say. But here, he chose to go with the bare hand and dropped it, so that's an error. He took his eye off of it, and that's what caused him to drop it.

It's not like he was charging in mid-grass and that was the only play he had. In fact, as lazily as he came up on the ball, I think it rules out any argument that it was going to be a hit. I'd give him an error if he fielded that cleanly, made a good throw, and Upton beat it. He didn't really charge it or make an aggressive play on it at all.

Having said all that, I think it's stupid that they protested it.

[Logan]

It's stupid only in the sense of anyone thinking of it as the Mets stomping their feet, claiming outrage, and making demands.

Serious question...if the same play happened in the 9th inning instead of the 1st, would you feel the same way?

It's not like these things don't happen: Josh Willingham found out that his grounder into an error was changed to a hit on the same day as Dickey's game. It turned a previously snapped 12 game hitting streak into an ongoing 15 game streak until it got ended yesterday.

Review aids Willingham streak | StarTribune.com

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I don't get the glove/hand debate. He chose to use his bare hand and didn't field it cleanly. That's an error. Upton was barely 2-3 steps out of the batters box during the first hop. It's a close play glove or hand, close enough to be an error if he fields it cleanly and makes a bad throw, say. But here, he chose to go with the bare hand and dropped it, so that's an error. He took his eye off of it, and that's what caused him to drop it.

It's not like he was charging in mid-grass and that was the only play he had. In fact, as lazily as he came up on the ball, I think it rules out any argument that it was going to be a hit. I'd give him an error if he fielded that cleanly, made a good throw, and Upton beat it. He didn't really charge it or make an aggressive play on it at all.

Having said all that, I think it's stupid that they protested it.

I'd have to see where Upton was when he was fielding it.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

I'd have to see where Upton was when he was fielding it.

Exactly. I suspect that it probably should have been ruled an error, but I'm not 100% confident that Upton wasn't far enough down the line when Wright got to the ball that Wright didn't have a play either way. Without seeing that info, I can't feel totally confident in saying it was a blown scoring decision.

[Ryan S]

If anyone is interested, it looks like MLB.tv Premium is half price this weekend ($50) if you give it as a gift.

[stevew]

Not that the world isn't already over it, but that was a base hit. Wright has to make an A++ play there in order to get Upton out. Haven't seen enough angles, but Upton looks to be close to halfway down the line before Wright even got a chance to make a play on the ball.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Naturally it'd be the pitcher having the best season for the Braves who winds up injured. I'm starting to wonder if Chipper is contagious.

Atlanta Braves' Brandon Beachy, with 2.00 ERA, on DL for elbow - ESPN

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Whooo, CLUTCH no-doubter pinch-hit HR with two outs in the ninth by Butler. Don't know if the Royals will pull it out, but they've been really fun to watch of late.

[stevew]

Alvarez with 4 homers in the post two days. This must be the 7th time he's appeared to be turning the corner?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

YUUUUUUNNNNNNNIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, baby!

[Scoobz0202]

RE: Joey Votto

Saw this via Jayson Stark

1 The human Astounding Fact, Joey Votto, went into the weekend on a pace for 201 hits and an incredible 136 walks. If he can keep that up, he’ll be in ridiculously rarified territory — because only one player in history has ever drawn that many walks in a 200-hit season. And I’m betting you’ve heard of him:

Babe Ruth, 1923: 170 walks, 205 hits
Babe Ruth, 1921: 145 walks, 204 hits
Babe Ruth, 1924: 142 walks, 200 hits

1A But suppose Votto slides to “only” 120 walks. Still almost equally amazing. Just one other player since 1900, besides the Bambino, walked that many times in a 200-hit season. And that was Ruth’s tag-team partner, Lou Gehrig (130 in 1936, then 127 the next year). And that’s it. The only NL players since 1900 who ever topped 105 walks in a 200-hit season: Todd Helton (111 in 2003) and Stan Musial (107 in 1949). Un-be-friggin’-lievable.

Only a couple weeks shy of All-Star break and he is still OBPing .489. Almost .500. That is fucking nuts.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

YUUUUUUNNNNNNNIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, baby!

The Cardinals on the other hand, have been horrible to watch.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

The Cardinals on the other hand, have been horrible to watch.

The AL Central has become a very tight division of late. Chicago and Cleveland are playing poorly while Detroit has won 7 of 10 and the Royals have won 5 of 6. Only 5 games separating 1st from 4th now. Hopefully the division stays tight and makes for an interesting run in the fall.

[TRO]

Still feel good about 80 wins for the Royals, but with Detroit heating up, that is still at least 5 too few.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

RE: Joey Votto

Saw this via Jayson Stark



Only a couple weeks shy of All-Star break and he is still OBPing .489. Almost .500. That is fucking nuts.

I heard some impressive things on fantasy sports radio last week about Votto. He has only had 1 pulled foul ball strike in his entire career and only 3 infield popouts since 2009(cant remember the time frame exactly on that but it was abnormally low) I believe. He certainly is a hitting coaches dream in his approach to hitting.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...=1B#battedball

After looking at this it would appear it was since the beginning of 2009. Only 1.5 percent of his ABs in his career have resulted in infield popouts so around 6 in his entire career since he has around 2900 career plate appearances. Freakishly rare even if he werent a power hitter.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

The AL Central has become a very tight division of late. Chicago and Cleveland are playing poorly while Detroit has won 7 of 10 and the Royals have won 5 of 6. Only 5 games separating 1st from 4th now. Hopefully the division stays tight and makes for an interesting run in the fall.

You will need some pitching help if you have any chance TBH. Cant expect to sneak in with a staff consisting of Chen, Hochever, Sanchez, Mendoza and Mazzaro. Paulino was a nice find for your team though he needs to get back healthy and you could probably live with Chen and Sanchez as your 4th and 5th starters if you could find a couple of veteran arms that can keep them in games.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

You will need some pitching help if you have any chance TBH. Cant expect to sneak in with a staff consisting of Chen, Hochever, Sanchez, Mendoza and Mazzaro. Paulino was a nice find for your team though he needs to get back healthy and you could probably live with Chen and Sanchez as your 4th and 5th starters if you could find a couple of veteran arms that can keep them in games.

That staff is fine if we get Hosmer to start hitting like he should be along with a return of Lorenzo Cain and Salvator Perez. Our pitching, as rough as it has been, has a 4.05 ERA. That's middle of the pack in the AL and #2 in the division. That's plenty good enough. The problem that KC has is that they just need to score more runs. Getting Hosmer to play up to his potential and getting Perez and Cain back would help a LOT.

[stevew]

I know it garners no respect cause they are the Yankees, but a 21-21 club us now 40-25. And this is in spite of the fact that they have a crazy hard interleague lineup. Cincy, Washington, The Mets and Braces were all 5+ games over .500 when the series started.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

That staff is fine if we get Hosmer to start hitting like he should be along with a return of Lorenzo Cain and Salvator Perez. Our pitching, as rough as it has been, has a 4.05 ERA. That's middle of the pack in the AL and #2 in the division. That's plenty good enough. The problem that KC has is that they just need to score more runs. Getting Hosmer to play up to his potential and getting Perez and Cain back would help a LOT.

Haha, well maybe you are ok with it but their xFIP is 6th worst in the entire MLB(ahead of only Oakland, Cubs, Minnesota, Cleveland and Toronto). Not sure how that could not be a problem you think needs fixing.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by stevew

I know it garners no respect cause they are the Yankees, but a 21-21 club us now 40-25. And this is in spite of the fact that they have a crazy hard interleague lineup. Cincy, Washington, The Mets and Braces were all 5+ games over .500 when the series started.

That's because they've done this the last couple of years. Start slow, then take the AL East / wildcard late.

[stevew]

Can we please make sure a team gets to .500 before we start talking about their pennant contention FFS. The Royals are still a mess, and I'd probably bet the farm in them finishing 15+ games off of the lead.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by stevew

I know it garners no respect cause they are the Yankees, but a 21-21 club us now 40-25. And this is in spite of the fact that they have a crazy hard interleague lineup. Cincy, Washington, The Mets and Braces were all 5+ games over .500 when the series started.

Originally Posted by gstelmack

That's because they've done this the last couple of years. Start slow, then take the AL East / wildcard late.

Yeah I think people just kind of expect this type of run from the Yankees at some point. I really hadnt even noticed that they were playing this well until you just point it out. I guess its easier for me to notice the teams doing well that arent suppose to be good like your Pirates .

[korme]

BP is fun to watch:

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | CIN@NYM: Phillips' nice snag starts a double play - Video | reds.com: Multimedia

[lungs]

Still plenty of time on the season, but it'll be interesting to see how Ryan Braun ends up in MVP voting. Right now Joey Votto is the clear frontrunner and David Wright should also be in front of Braun. But it'll be interesting to see how he is treated by sportswriters.

Braun 2011: .332/.397/.597
Braun 2012: .316/.395/.620

At the very least, the silly notion that Braun's numbers would suffer because of Prince Fielder's departure can be put to rest.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Eh, they'll never give the MVP to a roider.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by lungs

Still plenty of time on the season, but it'll be interesting to see how Ryan Braun ends up in MVP voting. Right now Joey Votto is the clear frontrunner and David Wright should also be in front of Braun. But it'll be interesting to see how he is treated by sportswriters.

Spoiler

Not well.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Can we please make sure a team gets to .500 before we start talking about their pennant contention FFS. The Royals are still a mess, and I'd probably bet the farm in them finishing 15+ games off of the lead.

Hell no, we can't. We talk about it when it still seems like a 1% chance. We'll get to 0% chance soon enough. Cool your heels until then.

[Lathum]

Is anyone else having problem with MLB.tv working on their computer? It starts to load then that wheel just turns and turns

[Grover]

R.A. Dickey, bitches.

[Vince, Pt. II]

What the hell is with R.A. Dickey? When did he get good? And who was the last knuckleballer that did anything like this?

[Logan]

Just another complete game 1 hit shutout. 12 ks.

Heading into the game I believe he was one of 5 pitchers to go 4 straight games of 8+ shutout innings with 10+ Ks.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

What the hell is with R.A. Dickey? When did he get good? And who was the last knuckleballer that did anything like this?

Obviously it hasn't been at this level but he's been getting better over the past 2.5 seasons. Remember that he just recently began throwing it. The two biggest factors are that he throws nothing but strikes, and can also throw the KB at varying speeds.