Official 2017 MLB Season Thread

[Jas_lov]

The Yankees are a lot more fun to watch this year now that they've injected some youth into their lineup. They've reversed their record from last year, from 9-17 to 17-9 and will get Gary Sanchez back this weekend. Nice mix of youth and veterans and not so dependent on left handed hitters. Aaron Judge looks like the frontrunner for ROY and his at bats have become must see TV. Can't wait to see a Judge-Stanton battle in the HR derby.

[INDalltheway]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

I give Holbrook a pass. I am not sure if the type of pitch should be the determining factor of intent. Didn't a Brewers pitcher accidentally break Giancarlo Stanton's face with a fastball? At this point, much like PEDs, players receive no benefit of the doubt based on all the BS that has happened in the past. If a player is hit by a pitch, my immediate reaction is that it was intentional.

Terrible, terrible take. You actually proved the point with the Stanton example. He was hit a by a fastball, which is much easier to control and a much higher velocity pitch.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

The Yankees are a lot more fun to watch this year now that they've injected some youth into their lineup. They've reversed their record from last year, from 9-17 to 17-9 and will get Gary Sanchez back this weekend. Nice mix of youth and veterans and not so dependent on left handed hitters. Aaron Judge looks like the frontrunner for ROY and his at bats have become must see TV. Can't wait to see a Judge-Stanton battle in the HR derby.

Judge is such a large guy. Hopefully Bird can start hitting as well. Gotta say I enjoy the team a lot as well.

[stevew]

AL teams should be warned about throwing at someone and then the following infraction should result in both the pitcher ejection AND the loss of the Designated Hitter spot for at least a game (increasing based on severity and amount of infractions)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

If a player is hit by a pitch, my immediate reaction is that it was intentional.

I think you're badly overestimating the capabilities of what passes for major league pitching these days.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I think you're badly overestimating the capabilities of what passes for major league pitching these days.

Possible if not probable. Or maybe I am just horrible at judging intent.

I am sure that someone else will get hit and everyone will lose their collective minds that it was definitely intentional and I may think the pitcher just sucked. Oh well.

[Easy Mac]

Not MLB, but got to see Tebow play yesterday while I was visiting some family. He went 1-2 with a single, K, and 2 walks. Limited scouting report was he looked bad in his first at bat when was was caught looking. He managed a dribbler foul and an run of the mill single between 1st and 2nd. He did score twice, but never advanced more than 1 base at a time. I would classify his running as lumbering and he took late breaks on contact. In one instance it was a 3-2 count with 2 outs and he didn't break on the pitch and even took him time to start on the crack of the bat. He DH'd, so I couldn't get a look at his arm.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by stevew

AL teams should be warned about throwing at someone and then the following infraction should result in both the pitcher ejection AND the loss of the Designated Hitter spot for at least a game (increasing based on severity and amount of infractions)

Loss of DH is actually a pretty cool idea. I would support that rule change.

[stevew]

First of all, I can't deal with the change of calling it The 10 day DL. This triggers me for some reason.

And secondly, this season is turning into a bloodbath shit-show of a season for pitching injuries across the league. Jameson Taillon has freaking cancer FFS. Every day I look at the list and it's like, "oh Zach Britton is out for 6 weeks.". "Noah Snyderrgarrd is out indefinitely.". "Cole Hamels expected to miss a month.". Can we as fans not have nice things?

[Logan]

If you saw this piece of the box score, would you set the innings over/under at 13.5? Rain delays at 2.5?



No just Terry Fucking Collins.

[MrBug708]

Cody Bellinger might be good

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Cody Bellinger might be good

He's got 6 right now, and I still can't figure out how Joc only has 1.

[MrBug708]

DL? Shoot, Roles had like 5 and will probably still finish with more than AGon

[PilotMan]

At this rate Chris Taylor will have more than AGon.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Logan

If you saw this piece of the box score, would you set the innings over/under at 13.5? Rain delays at 2.5?



No just Terry Fucking Collins.

I can't watch games like that. Too many pitching changes are obnoxious and that takes the cake

[cartman]

This year's Rangers team is a yo-yo. They'll win 4 in row, lose four in a row, win 5 in a row. Had back to back wins where they were down by 1 run in the bottom of the ninth, and in both games won with walk-off 3 run homers.

[sovereignstar v2]

Byron Buxton. Good lord.

Byron Buxton completing your everyday, typical F8. pic.twitter.com/KNjHLltBif

— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) May 14, 2017

[AENeuman]

It just occurred to me that the Giants basically got rid of most of their Latin players in the off season. Their team now is almost all white. It seems the average is about 6-8 non-us born players, giants are at 1 starter, 1 backup and 1 utility.

[MrBug708]

The Dodgers are essentially using the 10 day DL as a way to "rest" pitchers. I think every starter but Kershaw has seen time on the list. I'm assuming MLB will eventually address the usage of it, but for now, we are avoiding 25 man roster crunches.

[Easy Mac]

Bryce Harper just had the worst helmet throw in the history of helmet throws.

[Suicane75]

If baseball had a "no 3rd man" rule, I think Bryce Harper might be in the hospital right now.

[JPhillips]

The Blue Jays are slapping some cruel and unusual on the Reds.

[stevew]

Why is the Giants catcher(Posey?) standing there as Harper goes to tee off on the pitcher? Thought catchers were supposed to stop that sort of thing?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by stevew

Why is the Giants catcher(Posey?) standing there as Harper goes to tee off on the pitcher? Thought catchers were supposed to stop that sort of thing?

Yea, I was listening to some radio talk hosts talk about that as I was driving around. Everyone seems to be asking that.

[Vince, Pt. II]

It's not the first time he's stayed out of a fracas, though usually he makes at least a semblance of being around. Might be that he doesn't want to support a teammate who is very, very obviously nursing and acting upon a private grudge.

[Logan]

I think a lot of the beanball/unwritten rule stuff is dumb and unnecessary but what Posey did is a huge problem for me. You don't need to be the one throwing punches but you need to stick with your teammates.

[Easy Mac]

Obviously you can only tell so much, but it looked like Posey rolled his head as soon as Harper got it as if to say, dammit, not this again.

[Vince, Pt. II]

The unwritten rules of waiting several years to throw a baseball at Bryce Harper.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, I can see Posey being like, WTF just happened here. Strickland, you idiot, you have to see this through on your own.

[AENeuman]

Turns out posey is on strict orders to not intervene in fights (screws and plates in his ankle). Even the corner infielders are told posey won't be coming out so it's your job - thus Morse crashing in. Also. If you watch Bochy, he goes right to buster and "holds" him back.
Given that it took 4 players to carry hunter out, and is very good friends with posey, it seems like all this planned. Problem is posey has to wear it, which is lame. Wouldn't be surprised if there is a statement from management about their directive

[Atocep]

You hit 2 Homer's off of me 3 years ago, I'm still pissed so I throw at you, and then get even more pissed that you have the audacity to get pissed at me.

I love baseball, but the unwritten rules at the mlb level are some of the stupidest shit in sports.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Atocep

You hit 2 Homer's off of me 3 years ago, I'm still pissed so I throw at you, and then get even more pissed that you have the audacity to get pissed at me.

I love baseball, but the unwritten rules at the mlb level are some of the stupidest shit in sports.

The unwritten rules are mostly stupid in baseball, I agree.

That said, I think the direction of your point is mis-aimed. In this case, it's not the rules that is stupid, but Strickland's opinion/use of them.

[EagleFan]

That one was really idiotic. Not even policing the game but just being a bitch.

With that said; would have been curious how that one on one would have ended. I think that pitcher would have f'd Harper up big time. He landed a couple early shots that probably made Harper hope his teammates got there soon.

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Byron Buxton. Good lord.

Do he pitch?

[Logan]

Mr. Met has been fired for flipping off a fan during last night's game.

Two things about this that I love...1) Technically the suit only has 4 fingers, so he doesn't even have a "middle" finger. 2) Seeing newspapers/TV outlets blurring out the image of a enormous baseball-headed mascot's Mickey Mouse style gloved hand when it's in the act.

[Suicane75]

Mr. Met appears to be the classiest one in the video. They ought to ban the fans yelling obscenities.

[ISiddiqui]

#FreeMrMet

[Shkspr]

It feels like something's wrong with the universe when a New Yorker is fired for flipping the bird.

[cartman]

The Rangers have thankfully given up on Sam Dyson. They have designated him for assignment.

[Arles]

After watching the Cardinals-Cubs game on ESPN last night, I have one pressing question for baseball fans: Should the Hall of Fame waive the 5-year waiting period for David Ross and just elect him today? I mean, he is the greatest player in our lifetime and completely worthy of all these accolades. After all, lifetime .229 hitters don't grow on trees

[JPhillips]

Scooter Gennett may never be a star, but a 4 HR 10 RBI game will be a lifelong memory!

[Vince, Pt. II]

Meanwhile, Buster Posey - hitting cleanup and with a slash line of .345/.438/.509 so far this year - has 15 RBI. On the season.

[cartman]

The Rangers worked out a deal with the Giants on Sam Dyson. Hopefully the change of scenery helps. He went from a shutdown guy to BP tosser overnight.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Perfect move for San Francisco - it's probably time to punt on the season, so why not take a flyer out on a guy who has hit hard times?

[frnk55]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Scooter Gennett may never be a star, but a 4 HR 10 RBI game will be a lifelong memory!

First thing I thought of was Bob Horner cause I remember that game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by frnk55

First thing I thought of was Bob Horner cause I remember that game.

+1

[MizzouRah]

This Cardinals team is really becoming excruciating to watch.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

This Cardinals team is really becoming excruciating to watch.

The Brett Cecil signing didn't make much sense at the time but it is what it is. However his continued usage is baffling. Why isn't he in Memphis?

[Arles]

The 7th and 8th innings are literal guarantees to blow the lead at this point.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Arles

The 7th and 8th innings are literal guarantees to blow the lead at this point.

Yeah don't understand how they couldn't have landed a middle reliever for Matt Adams.