MLB Off-Topic

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Another thread jumping debate by me.

Would people be happy with baseball being in winter Olympics if it means mlb participation? 2022 is in China, 2026 TBA, but Japan is one in running. Indoor stadiums obviously will be used, but if it gets mlb players in Olympics, I'm all for it.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Didn't see anyone taking any more stabs at this one, so I'll give the answer. The two players in the 30-50 club are Barry Bonds and Eric Davis.

...

New question (that I lifted from the Cubs-Nats broadcast tonight): Name the 4 pitchers that have recorded 250+ Ks in 4 consecutive seasons. Max Scherzer is one of them.

2 I found in my first 3 guesses

Spoiler

Pedro and Randy Johnson, Koufax was my third guess, I was surprised him and Nolan hadn't done it

, but now I'm like 10 deep and just cracking up at how many guys did it for 3 straight seasons and then missed it or did it for 4 out of 5 seasons with a drop in the middle. I think

Spoiler

Tom Seaver

actually missed it by 1 strikeout in the 3rd year of a 4 year run.

Side note, I remember the Barry Bonds was too good between 35-39 argument or something like that, how do we feel about Randy Johnson?

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Another thread jumping debate by me.

Would people be happy with baseball being in winter Olympics if it means mlb participation? 2022 is in China, 2026 TBA, but Japan is one in running. Indoor stadiums obviously will be used, but if it gets mlb players in Olympics, I'm all for it.

I'm all for it, but I think I'd want it to have some restrictions like they do with football, otherwise it's too similar to the WBC and would be in danger of becoming a farce like the basketball after they allowed professionals to compete without restrictions.

In football, you're squad all has to be 23 or younger, except you can name 3 overage players. Not sure how exactly I'd do that with baseball, maybe a restriction on how many qualified major leaguers you're allowed? Dunno, but I'd definitely want some kind of restrictions.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

2 I found in my first 3 guesses

Spoiler

Pedro and Randy Johnson, Koufax was my third guess, I was surprised him and Nolan hadn't done it

, but now I'm like 10 deep and just cracking up at how many guys did it for 3 straight seasons and then missed it or did it for 4 out of 5 seasons with a drop in the middle. I think

Spoiler

Tom Seaver

actually missed it by 1 strikeout in the 3rd year of a 4 year run.

Side note, I remember the Barry Bonds was too good between 35-39 argument or something like that, how do we feel about Randy Johnson?

OK. Scherzer, Pedro, and Unit are 3 of the 4. I agree about Koufax and Nolan Ryan, and to a lesser extent Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver, not being among them. Not Roger Clemens either.

The missing guy is not someone you'd expect. A great, HoF pitcher but not someone you associate automatically with blowing people away.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Should've known it was a Cub.

Spoiler

Fergie Jenkins.

[ShowTyme15]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Just another day in the park for Tony.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Tony Gwynn was a cheat code. He struck 105 times total from 1991-1996, in 3,222 plate appearances.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

People bring up that Gwynn was never struck out by Greg Maddux. Koufax never got him either.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24395970/mlb-cubs-give-oral-history-david-bote-historic-walk-grand-slam

Cool read

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Question brought up by mlbn.

If you could change ONE thing in baseball, what would it be?

Both leagues DH? No DH? Pitch clock? Robot ump at home? Mound visit? Calling time? Number of regular season games? Number of playoff teams? Something different?

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Electronic strike zone.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If they secretly changed to an electronic strike zone and they didn't tell us, I wouldn't mind. We could guess the obviousness of it as we have juiced baseballs and whatnot, and it wouldn't change the rule book in any sort of way whatsoever. I want the damn strike zone off my TV screen though.

I'll have to think of what I want most as far as changes though. A lot of people want the ground rule double to be discretionary for additional baserunners advancing, and I wouldn't mind that too much. I want all mounds off of fields in play, I'd like a 26-28 man roster (even if only 25 are active for any given game or series), restricted shifting (at least three position players in fair territory on either side of center prior to pitch), and a 7-7-7 playoff format.

EDIT: Actually, my biggest one would be no phone conversation allowed prior to replay appeal. Either you appeal within like five seconds or you don't at all. None of that stupid: "Hold on, lemme check" schlock.

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But then I thought of something else and I want to know what you guys think of it.

When umpiring, you're really supposed to see a strike, out, or foul ball because it is a call that must be made. In other words, if you don't see it, you can't call it (let's pretend your back is turned). So for replays, they say that you can overturn a call with conclusive evidence or else you stick with the original call. What I think they should do is change it to the "you must see an out" mentality.

That's how you are supposed to do it when umpiring, and so that's how you should do it in the replay as well. That means if a call on the field was an out and a team challenges, and the replay is inconclusive, you actually overturn it to safe. The ump technically should have never called out in the first place to begin with because he never actually saw an out, so we have to correct his mistake in not being conclusive about his original decision.

It sounds like that means this benefits the offense every time, and you'd be right except for the home run (meaning if you don't see a home run, you can't call it one).

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Don Mattingly Will Protect The Cowardly Jose Ureña From Comeuppance.

Marlins pitcher Jose Ureña was suspended six games by Major League Baseball for his bush-league plunking of Ronald Acuña Jr., to break up Acuña’s three-game streak of leadoff dingers. As should be expected whenever a player is suspended, Ureña has appealed the punishment, which means he is eligible to pitch for the Marlins while the appeal process plays out.


This means that Ureña will take the mound against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. It also means that Ureña could be due up in the rotation when the Marlins host the Atlanta Braves for a four-game series starting August 23.

But today Marlins manager Don Mattingly says no matter what happens, Ureña will be protected from that outcome.

Shame.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Question brought up by mlbn.

If you could change ONE thing in baseball, what would it be?

Both leagues DH? No DH? Pitch clock? Robot ump at home? Mound visit? Calling time? Number of regular season games? Number of playoff teams? Something different?

I'd shorten the season to 154 games and abolish interleague play.

I'd also use JoeBot umpires. Electronic and you could argue balls and strikes, but don't dare bad mouth Paterno.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Question brought up by mlbn.

If you could change ONE thing in baseball, what would it be?

Both leagues DH? No DH? Pitch clock? Robot ump at home? Mound visit? Calling time? Number of regular season games? Number of playoff teams? Something different?

Lower the mound. I can't see any other way of stopping the increasing strikeout trend (which has set or tied the MLB record for the 11th consecutive year) and rising velocity is pretty clearly the main culprit (average fastball velocity is up 4 MPH since 2002). Since strikeouts require a minimum of 3 pitches, reducing them would also go a bit of a way towards reducing overall game time.

I'll go ahead and collect my contrarian earnings at the front desk, thanks.