MLB Off-Topic

[Chip Douglass]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I've heard suggestions that they may not be testing as aggressively for PEDs as they used to.

Article points out the HR explosion happened suddenly in the 2nd half of 2015.

Unless every hitter in baseball started simultaneously using a PED undetectable by MLB's drug testing system, I'm thinking it's not the culprit.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Can the juiced ball alone account for Justin Turner's last 3 years?

All this new found power late in his career?

I mean... yes? What kind of question is that? Why wouldn't the juiced ball account for that? I'm confused.

[Mabster]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Despite all the rule changes, average game time has increased by five minutes this year. Expect more BS rules in the off season.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I thought the talk about the seams was that they were higher, causing the inordinate amount of blisters.

You are correct, my bad.

I honestly believe the ball has been altered and not for the good of the game. The HRs are one thing but when it's causing blisters and issues with pitchers' hands then yeah, something's rotten in Denmark.

I would tend to believe guys like Buck Martinez who've been associated with the game for 40+ years than the suits at MLB in NY.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Despite all the rule changes, average game time has increased by five minutes this year. Expect more BS rules in the off season.

These little tweaks won't make a difference. Unless they address amount of time pitchers take between pitches(the big one here), and all the mound visits, pitcher stepping off mound, batter calling time and so on, the game time won't go down drastically.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Can the juiced ball alone account for Justin Turner's last 3 years?

All this new found power late in his career?

I mean... yes? What kind of question is that? Why wouldn't the juiced ball account for that? I'm confused.

The juiced ball is inflating HR totals across the league, but that doesn't mean it's the sole (or even main) factor impacting any particular player's offensive performance.

Guys like Daniel Murphy and Justin Turner made some mechanical adjustments to their swings that made them hit the ball harder and higher in the air. You can make a pretty good argument they benefit more from the juiced ball than guys like Stanton and Judge who already hit 450 foot bombs, but they legitimately became better hitters. Again, Lindbergh actually talked about this in his piece.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The old Jose Bautista. I think I said it before but it's crazy to see what Turner has become. I remember seeing him play for the Tides when he was in the Mets system and never thought he'd turn into this. Happy for him for sure.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The old Jose Bautista. I think I said it before but it's crazy to see what Turner has become. I remember seeing him play for the Tides when he was in the Mets system and never thought he'd turn into this. Happy for him for sure.

For his sake I hope he doesn't have an immediate and massive decline like Jose.

[Cardot]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Anybody else watching the LLWS? Pure baseball at its finest.

Admittedly, I have become skeptical and bitter with old age. When I see kids reach the level where they are playing on ESPN, it is very impressive. But it also hard to imagine that in most cases there isn't an ahole youth sports parent behind the scenes who has invested several thousands of dollars in private coaching, and/or pushed their child non stop, and/or lived vicariously through their child....and all the other things that ahole youth sports parents tends to do.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The Cubs recently gave Rick Renteria a World Series ring.

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/08/17/...d-series-ring/

Ah, yes, the guy we pushed out the door to make room for Joe Maddon. Ol' Ricky Renteria. Everyone who had to watch Cubs baseball during the first 2 years of Theo's regime should be granted a ring.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

These little tweaks won't make a difference. Unless they address amount of time pitchers take between pitches(the big one here), and all the mound visits, pitcher stepping off mound, batter calling time and so on, the game time won't go down drastically.

Let's be real, the only way time is beibg cut is by removing innings. The game is far too advanced, the players too analytical for simple changes to affect the overall time.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Despite all the rule changes, average game time has increased by five minutes this year. Expect more BS rules in the off season.

Besides the obvious items, there are more strikeouts, which likely means more time taken to create an out.

And unfortunately, it's not the game time Manfred is concerned about, but rather it's the pace of play. He'll likely say despite the increase in time, the pace is improving.

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

For his sake I hope he doesn't have an immediate and massive decline like Jose.

I'm not the biggest Bautista fan, but there's nothing at all unusual about his decline. Aside from Beltre and Nelson Cruz, most sluggers of recent vintage (A-Rod, Pujols, perhaps even Miggy) have hit a wall in their mid-30s. I certainly wouldn't count on Turner remaining an elite hitter for more than 2-3 more seasons. Stars breaking down earlier than they did 10-15 years ago is a bit reassuring, actually; it implies the sport is relatively clean(ish) these days.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Far too long of an article but the play itself and the interpretation of the rule book is fascinating.

Deemed "Skunk in the outfield"

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20294816/skunk-outfield-how-most-epic-trick-play-history-broke-baseball

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Let's be real, the only way time is beibg cut is by removing innings. The game is far too advanced, the players too analytical for simple changes to affect the overall time.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

Besides the obvious items, there are more strikeouts, which likely means more time taken to create an out.

And unfortunately, it's not the game time Manfred is concerned about, but rather it's the pace of play. He'll likely say despite the increase in time, the pace is improving.

Pitch clocks would be best way to fix it though. If you reduce the average pitch time by even 2 seconds, you save several minutes right there. 3 hour game is fine if things are happening. 3 hour game with pitchers taking 30 seconds between pitches, stepping off mound, catcher visit, pickoffs, all kill pace.