The Official 2013 MLB Thread

[CraigSca]

Oh look- another Cabrera home run. That's #40 and he's only 4 behind Davis now and leading in the other two Triple Crown categories.

SI

Davis hit his 45th today as well.

[SirFozzie]

We're an hour and a half in at Fenway, and we've had A-Rod plunked, causing the benches to semi-clear, Girardi ejected for arguing (and apparently throwing something that looked like a left hook at an umpire), it's 3-3..

And we've only played three innings.

Yup, another Sox-Yankees all nighter.

[miami_fan]

The lying that has gone on after the end of the Yankee-Red Sox game is Braun-esque.

[Logan]

Good job Ryan Dempster, making yourself look like a bigger piece of shit than A-Rod. Well done.

[Thomkal]

Speaking of Ryan Braun, his story has gotten even more pathetic:

Ryan Braun lobbied veteran players for support during appeal, sources say - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9579944/ryan-braun-lobbied-veteran-players-support-appeal-sources-say)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Speaking of Ryan Braun, his story has gotten even more pathetic:

Ryan Braun lobbied veteran players for support during appeal, sources say - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9579944/ryan-braun-lobbied-veteran-players-support-appeal-sources-say)

From the article:

Braun is expected to speak publicly for the first time since his drug suspension very soon, perhaps as soon as Monday. A source with knowledge of his thinking says Braun wants to make things right again.

Good luck with that.

[panerd]

Yeah Braun isn't even religious at all but was planning on playing the anti-semite and crazy Cubs fan cards. Yet A-Rod is who the nation thinks is a piece of shit fraud. I realize both can be piece of shit frauds but 65 games for Braun and 200+ for A-Rod still just doesn't make any sense to me. (Unless A-Rod turned down 65 which seems highly unlikely)

[Logan]

Yeah Braun isn't even religious at all but was planning on playing the anti-semite and crazy Cubs fan cards. Yet A-Rod is who the nation thinks is a piece of shit fraud. I realize both can be piece of shit frauds but 65 games for Braun and 200+ for A-Rod still just doesn't make any sense to me. (Unless A-Rod turned down 65 which seems highly unlikely)

Turned down 50 if you believe this:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23212468/report-arod-declined-suspension-of-way-way-less-games-in-april

[cougarfreak]

It's all about the money (something you already know, I'm sure). If there was EVER an eye opener for sports fans it should have been the Lance Armstrong debacle. Here's a guy who used cancer to make millions of dollars, and was using PED's the entire time, and denying their use. Put all of these baseball players in that same category. Braun doesn't care, hell he got his, and will continue to get his money. Same for Arod. They will lie, cheat, throw people under the bus, and continue to do so, until penalties are in place that ensure once they are caught, they are banned for life.

[PilotMan]

It's all about the money (something you already know, I'm sure). If there was EVER an eye opener for sports fans it should have been the Lance Armstrong debacle. Here's a guy who used cancer to make millions of dollars, and was using PED's the entire time, and denying their use. Put all of these baseball players in that same category. Braun doesn't care, hell he got his, and will continue to get his money. Same for Arod. They will lie, cheat, throw people under the bus, and continue to do so, until penalties are in place that ensure once they are caught, they are banned for life.

Which brings me back to my point that they need to write a letter of agreement into the CBA that basically detaches you from your current contracted pay and forces you into a renegotiation. Until the pain hits the pocket it won't be enough of a deterrent.

[sterlingice]

Which brings me back to my point that they need to write a letter of agreement into the CBA that basically detaches you from your current contracted pay and forces you into a renegotiation. Until the pain hits the pocket it won't be enough of a deterrent.

But therein lies the problem. The cost of the steroid story doesn't hurt individual players, it hurts the institution as a whole so it's one those situations where it's to an individual's benefit to use as they don't pay the externality cost or they only pay it in small amounts. If baseball as a whole suffers a 5% loss in popularity due to cheating but you do gain 50% because of your performance relative to your peers then you are financially incentivized to cheat.

And I think it's fairly evident that MLBPA cares pretty much only about money. And if you judge them only by the financial gain they have helped their players achieve, then it would be hard to deny their effectiveness. However, it denies the reality of concern for working conditions in that you really need to be on drugs to succeed. And that's without getting into the moral or ethical ramifications.

SI

[ISiddiqui]

Turned down 50 if you believe this:

Eye On Baseball - CBSSports.com Report: A-Rod declined suspension of 'way, way less' games in April (http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23212468/report-arod-declined-suspension-of-way-way-less-games-in-april)

Which almost makes you wonder about the people who took the suspension - did they do it because they were threatened with many more games if they didn't?

[ISiddiqui]

But therein lies the problem. The cost of the steroid story doesn't hurt individual players, it hurts the institution as a whole so it's one those situations where it's to an individual's benefit to use as they don't pay the externality cost or they only pay it in small amounts. If baseball as a whole suffers a 5% loss in popularity due to cheating but you do gain 50% because of your performance relative to your peers then you are financially incentivized to cheat.

And I think it's fairly evident that MLBPA cares pretty much only about money. And if you judge them only by the financial gain they have helped their players achieve, then it would be hard to deny their effectiveness. However, it denies the reality of concern for working conditions in that you really need to be on drugs to succeed. And that's without getting into the moral or ethical ramifications.

SI

One can quite easily argue that the popularity of the game has never been higher, and that is partially due to the results of PEDs.

[lungs]

Just wanted to throw a question out there to see what people think....

What percent of active players do you believe to be using banned substances today?

The reason I ask is because the latest round of suspensions had only a couple positive test attributed to it (Braun and Bartolo Colon served his suspension earlier, maybe one more too that I'm forgetting?) Point being, it's pretty obvious that it's still pretty easy to cheat the actual drug testing portion of the system.

It was actually a conversation with a former PED user this spring that convinced me that Braun is a liar and that there is still significant usage in MLB. Maybe not 50% but 25% wouldn't surprise me. You have to be an idiot to get caught these days was the takeaway message I got from him.

[sterlingice]

If we include basically undetectable HGH, I suspect it's still over 50%

SI

[MrBug708]

Good job Ryan Dempster, making yourself look like a bigger piece of shit than A-Rod. Well done.

Dempster should be facing a 5 game suspension. Dude threw at A-Rod four times before hitting him. I know he says he was throwing "inside" but inside of what? Third base?

[Solecismic]

This Dempster thing... I'm starting to feel bad for A-Rod.

Glad to see on SoSH that most of us think it was a bush-league move.

Yeah, I know A-Rod's done a great job creating this situation on his own, but it's starting to sound like good fun if he ends up beating Cashman and Selig at this game. I've never liked bullying, and Dempster should have been ejected on the spot.

[DanGarion]

Feel bad for A-Rod? He brought it on himself.

[BishopMVP]

Xander just got called up, so at least there's some good Red Sox news after that debacle last night.

[Logan]

Feel bad for A-Rod? He brought it on himself.

What did he do to Ryan Dempster, exactly?

[larrymcg421]

I thought the length of A-Rod's suspension was partly due to his interference with MLB's investigation. That certainly separates him from many of the others and warrants a disparity in the number of games.

[chadritt]

What did he do to Ryan Dempster, exactly?

Cheated against him and his colleagues/friends for years?

[Marmel]

Cheated against him and his colleagues/friends for years?

So do they throw at Ortiz (among many of their other teammates) during BP?

*I hate A-Rod

[panerd]

Yeah its playing to the fans and nothing more. I can't believe Dempster could even bear to put on a Cubs uniform with Sammy Sosa on the team.

I would add it is pretty Bush league for the ump to allow 4 attempts and to do nothing but eject the beaned players umpire. MLB has to do something if for no other reason than the obvious message they send otherwise.

[Jas_lov]

Dempster could have just thrown at him once, which he did on the 1st pitch, and been done with it. Instead, he threw at him 4 times and managed to look worse than A-Rod in the whole process. And the ump was even worse because he warned the Yankees after Dempster threw at one of the players 4 straight times. Girardi was absolutely right, now watch him get suspended for his tirade.

Everyone is hypocritical when it comes to PEDs. Selig, MLB, the fans. Those fans love Big Papi yet he also cheated and never came clean. Selig let this go on for years. And the players are all part of the union that collectively bargained the appeal process. If Dempster and Lackey don't want A-Rod playing then they should work to change the process.

[Dutch]

Hours of ESPN coverage given to C Jose Lobaton's walk-off triple, walk-off homerun combo this weekend: 1 hour.

Hours of ESPN coverage given to suspended but still playing cheater Alex Rodriguez: 3,248 hours.

Is it baseball? Or General Hospital for dudes...

[DaddyTorgo]

ESPN
Is it baseball? Or General Hospital for dudes...

I think you answered your own question with these 4 letters. ESPN is basically unwatchable to me these days.

[cartman]

Rangers just pulled off something you don't see often. All 9 batters scored a run in the 3rd inning against the Astros.

[PilotMan]

Dodgers look hungover now after that run.

[sterlingice]

Dodgers look hungover now after that run.

Not going to keep winning at an .800 clip the rest of the way?

SI

[PilotMan]

Not going to keep winning at an .800 clip the rest of the way?

SI

Obviously not, I'm just saying after that run I wouldn't be surprised if they had a 3-7 run and drop 5 straight. That's how they looked tonight.

[BishopMVP]

Rangers just pulled off something you don't see often. All 9 batters scored a run in the 3rd inning against the Astros.I don't know, it seems to happen to little league teams like the Astros fairly frequently.

[Thomkal]

Tejada also implicated in the Biogenesis mess, and apparently made a deal to take the Adderall suspension over the Biogenesis one.

Miguel Tejada of Kansas City Royals also implicated in the Biogenesis scandal, sources say - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9582679/miguel-tejada-kansas-city-royals-implicated-biogenesis-scandal-sources-say)

Also Pujois out for the season now-I wonder if he's wishing he stayed in St. Louis?

[Easy Mac]

Would he have not gotten hurt in St. Louis?

[CraigSca]

Tejada also implicated in the Biogenesis mess, and apparently made a deal to take the Adderall suspension over the Biogenesis one.

Miguel Tejada of Kansas City Royals also implicated in the Biogenesis scandal, sources say - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9582679/miguel-tejada-kansas-city-royals-implicated-biogenesis-scandal-sources-say)

Also Pujois out for the season now-I wonder if he's wishing he stayed in St. Louis?

What?! He took vitamin B12 shots again!? Didn't he learn the first time?

[Thomkal]

Would he have not gotten hurt in St. Louis?

Of course he could have-was just commenting that the Cardinals have still been successful without him, Angels have not with him.

[Thomkal]

What?! He took vitamin B12 shots again!? Didn't he learn the first time?

Apparently, its what was mixed in with the B12 shots that they caught him on.

:D

[DaddyTorgo]

Tejada also implicated in the Biogenesis mess, and apparently made a deal to take the Adderall suspension over the Biogenesis one.

Miguel Tejada of Kansas City Royals also implicated in the Biogenesis scandal, sources say - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9582679/miguel-tejada-kansas-city-royals-implicated-biogenesis-scandal-sources-say)

Also Pujois out for the season now-I wonder if he's wishing he stayed in St. Louis?

Fucking MLB. Should have hit him for each one - why do they keep cutting deals with this cheaters. Fucking ridiculous.

That being said - if he truly had been taking Adderall for 5 years and it was just a case where his notification to the league or whatever timed out (as he claims) then I think that's a place where the league SHOULD have cut him a little bit of slack and not popped him for that. Common sense and all.

[molson]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0819/mlb_e_pujols_gb2_576.jpg

Geez, 8 years and $212 million to go.

[rowech]

Fucking MLB. Should have hit him for each one - why do they keep cutting deals with this cheaters. Fucking ridiculous.

That being said - if he truly had been taking Adderall for 5 years and it was just a case where his notification to the league or whatever timed out (as he claims) then I think that's a place where the league SHOULD have cut him a little bit of slack and not popped him for that. Common sense and all.

Same reason they tried to ambush ARod on NBC yesterday. It's become embarrassing to watch them try and enforce the rules but they do it in such an arbitrary fashion that there is no faith that they are doing anything but cutting deals and/or being vindictive. I hate ARod as much as the next guy but given the stuff we're seeing come out about this, Braun, etc. why did ARod deserve anything more than Braun's 65 games?

[molson]

why did ARod deserve anything more than Braun's 65 games?

His MLB suspension was the only one that contained specific language about obstruction, as in, the longer suspension was "for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation." (Edit: That obstruction apparently included trying to buy incriminating evidence about himself and others from Biogensis to destroy it, and then leaking incriminating information about other players to Yahoo sports, for some reason). He got the extra time not under the drug policy, but under the "conduct detrimental to baseball" clause. Yes, Cabrera made a fake website, and Braun acted like a dick, but obviously the MLB determined that A-Rod's conduct was far more egregious.

[panerd]

His MLB suspension was the only one that contained specific language about obstruction, as in, the longer suspension was "for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation." (Edit: That obstruction apparently included trying to buy incriminating evidence about himself and others from Biogensis to destroy it, and then leaking incriminating information about other players to Yahoo sports, for some reason). He got the extra time not under the drug policy, but under the "conduct detrimental to baseball" clause. Yes, Cabrera made a fake website, and Braun acted like a dick, but obviously the MLB determined that A-Rod's conduct was far more egregious.

See I keep hearing that Braun got that "anti-semitic Cubs fan" fired. Maybe the firing is just an urban legend but knowing you are a cheater and still throwing some poor innocent guy under the bus puts Braun up there with A-Rod and if the guy was fired puts him above A-Rod on my list.

[Thomkal]

Fucking MLB. Should have hit him for each one - why do they keep cutting deals with this cheaters. Fucking ridiculous.

That being said - if he truly had been taking Adderall for 5 years and it was just a case where his notification to the league or whatever timed out (as he claims) then I think that's a place where the league SHOULD have cut him a little bit of slack and not popped him for that. Common sense and all.

I think it may be MLB coming down harder on Adderall users as its become more and more a drug connected to PED use of late.

[rowech]

See I keep hearing that Braun got that "anti-semitic Cubs fan" fired. Maybe the firing is just an urban legend but knowing you are a cheater and still throwing some poor innocent guy under the bus puts Braun up there with A-Rod and if the guy was fired puts him above A-Rod on my list.

Not just that but then calling other players to drum up support? Come on...he's just as bad.

[molson]

See I keep hearing that Braun got that "anti-semitic Cubs fan" fired. Maybe the firing is just an urban legend but knowing you are a cheater and still throwing some poor innocent guy under the bus puts Braun up there with A-Rod and if the guy was fired puts him above A-Rod on my list.

I agree, Braun is probably the bigger douchebag. And A-Rod at least actually did admit to using at one point, something Braun still hasn't done (though apparently he is soon, but we'll see what the lawyers actually write for him to say). I understand the MLB's rationale too, especially if A-Rod was actively interfering in investigations involving other players. I'd be fine with lifetime bans for both, but I'm definitely not going to feel bad for either one for getting a harsher sentence than someone else. Both of their careers will be defined by this and that's probably the biggest punishment long-term. And I'm kind of impressed that MLB finally got any kind of suspension for this stuff at all after the most powerful labor union in the country fought for years and years for the right of their members to take illegal performing-enhancing drugs.

[cartman]

I know it is an almost impossible line to define, but I have a little bit more sympathy for players that take the banned substances to get back to their normal level after an injury than ones that use them to take their normal level to a higher one. To me, for the first scenario the banned substances aren't 'performance enhancing'. But since that line is nebulous between normal and better than normal, that's why the substances are banned.

[Chief Rum]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0819/mlb_e_pujols_gb2_576.jpg

Geez, 8 years and $212 million to go.

Hey, at least he's batting better than Josh Hamilton.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0819/mlb_e_pujols_gb2_576.jpg

Geez, 8 years and $212 million to go.

So, is the ultimate difference when taking this stuff reaction time, strength, something else?

You have to understand that we Royals fans are all relatively new to this thing. Our players just started doping up in the last few years.

[BishopMVP]

Obviously, Pujols has more problems, but it is worth noting that the league average OPS has dropped about .030 in the last few years. After being at least .748 for every year from 1994-2009, OPS the last 4 years has been .728, .720, .724 and now .715, mostly tied to an increasing K rate (up to an historical high near 20% now). 1st basemen in particular have been hit hard, falling from an average .825 OPS to .766. (So as bad as Pujols seems compared to his past self, he's still perfectly cromulent for a 1B.)

Pujols himself http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1177&position=1B does have a walk rate that cratered the year before he left St. Louis and a career high K rate, combined with a very low BABIP despite his highest line drive rate since 2008. If you think he was doping, maybe you can tie some of the drop in BB rate to pitchers being less scared of his power, but I think the foot injury, moving to the AL, and just some bad luck have been bigger factors. I don't think he'll ever jump back into the 1.100 OPS range, but I'd guess he'll be back in the .850-.900 range when healthy. Hitters that good for that long don't just completely fall off the map barring injury.

[lungs]

1st basemen in particular have been hit hard, falling from an average .825 OPS to .766. (So as bad as Pujols seems compared to his past self, he's still perfectly cromulent for a 1B.)


There needs to forever be an asterisk next to this year's first base numbers just based on the Brewers alone trotting out two bad hitting shortstops (Alex Gonzalez, Yuniesky Betancourt) at first base for a good chunk of the year.

[cartman]

Something I missed from the Rangers-Astros game last night. Their shortstop, Jake Elmore, had to take over at catcher when their normal catcher got hurt after taking a hard foul ball right off the front of the mask, and their backup catcher was the DH. It was his first time in the bigs to don the tools of ignorance. He later was brought in to pitch the 8th, where he got a 1-2-3 inning. Evidently that is only the 14th time a player has been at both the P and C spot in the same game.

[miami_fan]

I think it may be MLB coming down harder on Adderall users as its become more and more a drug connected to PED use of late.

But IF IF IF Tejada is telling the truth about being allowed to take Adderall by MLB, what would they come down harder on a drug that they are already allowing players to take under certain circumstances?

[Thomkal]

But IF IF IF Tejada is telling the truth about being allowed to take Adderall by MLB, what would they come down harder on a drug that they are already allowing players to take under certain circumstances?

Because they are becoming more aware of the PED effects of the drug-and that some players might be trying to use it as an excuse if they test positive for PED's. This article kind of explains my feelings here:

Do pro sports leagues have an Adderall problem? (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/11/27/adderall-in-pro-sports/1730431/)

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Dempster got five games, the world can now move on.

[SirFozzie]

which he'll appeal, and then drop after a start (since it's five games, he won't miss a start), and all it means is he loses money.

[Chief Rum]

which he'll appeal, and then drop after a start (since it's five games, he won't miss a start), and all it means is he loses money.

He would still have a start pushed back a day. The Red Sox would still need to get another starter for a game.

[Logan]

He would still have a start pushed back a day. The Red Sox would still need to get another starter for a game.

Just read they have two off days coming up. Seems like they can make that work without deviating.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

As Dave Cameron just said, the real punishment would be to make him pitch more.

[ISiddiqui]

That'd be a fun punishment - instead of being suspended, you are pitching on 1 day's rest.

[BishopMVP]

There needs to forever be an asterisk next to this year's first base numbers just based on the Brewers alone trotting out two bad hitting shortstops (Alex Gonzalez, Yuniesky Betancourt) at first base for a good chunk of the year.Don't forget Sean Halton, Martin Maldonado, or Juan Francisco! (Who actually has an .819 OPS but some ugly D numbers.) Seriously though, it's shocking Alex Gonzalez is still in the league, let alone being played at 1B.Just read they have two off days coming up. Seems like they can make that work without deviating.Plus, unlike the past 2 stretch runs, we've got pretty good SP depth. The way Dempster's been pitching (1 QS since June 14th) I'd have no problem with Workman, Webster, Ranaudo or even Owens getting a start over him.

[Suicane75]

Joe Blanton!~

[Chief Rum]

When I saw who the Angels brought in, I immediately said to my roommates, "Well, this is the last inning of this game.'

I was only kinda joking.

[Suicane75]

He'd lead the league in gopher balls even if he pitched in Yellowstone.

[BishopMVP]

When I saw who the Angels brought in, I immediately said to my roommates, "Well, this is the last inning of this game.'

I was only kinda joking.At least there was no one on there. Last night Farrell brought in Brayan Villareal, who hadn't pitched in the majors since April and sported a 5.1 BB/9 at AAA, to a tie game in the bottom 9th with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Against Marco Scutaro, who is literally the hardest person to strike out in baseball. Unsurprisingly, it was a walk-off walk on 4 pitches.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Yeah, that was an odd move. Walk-off walks are weird.

[Easy Mac]

At least there was no one on there. Last night Farrell brought in Brayan Villareal, who hadn't pitched in the majors since April and sported a 5.1 BB/9 at AAA, to a tie game in the bottom 9th with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Against Marco Scutaro, who is literally the hardest person to strike out in baseball. Unsurprisingly, it was a walk-off walk on 4 pitches.

That would actually be Norichika Aoki of the Brewers. Also, having a low strikeout rate doesn't necessarily correlate to a high walk rate. Scutaro seems to be low-middle of the pack in that.

[BishopMVP]

Yeah, that was an odd move. Walk-off walks are weird.I could understand why you wouldn't want to bring Uehara in for 1 out when the pitcher is up 4th next inning, but I don't get why he didn't leave Morales in, or go with Britton.

Funny fact re: Blanton - the last pitcher with more than 14 losses and fewer than 4 wins was also an Angel; Jim Abbott back in 1996 with a 2-18 mark. Other terrible records since then are a murderers row of ineptitude - 2000 Omar Daal 4-19, 2002 Tanyon Sturtze 4-18, 2003 Adam Bernero 1-14, 2007 Anthony Reyes 2-14.

[Chief Rum]

I could understand why you wouldn't want to bring Uehara in for 1 out when the pitcher is up 4th next inning, but I don't get why he didn't leave Morales in, or go with Britton.

Funny fact re: Blanton - the last pitcher with more than 14 losses and fewer than 4 wins was also an Angel; Jim Abbott back in 1996 with a 2-18 mark. Other terrible records since then are a murderers row of ineptitude - 2000 Omar Daal 4-19, 2002 Tanyon Sturtze 4-18, 2003 Adam Bernero 1-14, 2007 Anthony Reyes 2-14.

Good news is, he's signed through next year!

Hey, Arte, I know you're waiting until after the season to evaluate the front office, but I'm pretty much ready to "evaluate" DiPoto out the door right now.

[BishopMVP]

Good news is, he's signed through next year!

Hey, Arte, I know you're waiting until after the season to evaluate the front office, but I'm pretty much ready to "evaluate" DiPoto out the door right now.As much shit as people give LA/Boston for contracts like Josh Hamilton, Pujols, Lackey, I at least understand the reasoning behind overpaying by a couple million a year to sign someone that's been playing at an all-star level. It's the multi-year, big $ contracts to the Blanton's and Dempster's of the world that I don't get. I know guaranteed mediocrity is worth something, but $8-$13M over multiple years seems extreme.

[JetsIn06]

Something I missed from the Rangers-Astros game last night. Their shortstop, Jake Elmore, had to take over at catcher when their normal catcher got hurt after taking a hard foul ball right off the front of the mask, and their backup catcher was the DH. It was his first time in the bigs to don the tools of ignorance. He later was brought in to pitch the 8th, where he got a 1-2-3 inning. Evidently that is only the 14th time a player has been at both the P and C spot in the same game.

Who caught when he was pitching??

[cartman]

Who caught when he was pitching??

They moved the DH to C, because it was the 8th, and unless the Astros scored 11 runs in the top of the 9th, they wouldn't have to worry about the pitching change required when moving someone out of the DH spot.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Heyward likely to miss 4-6 weeks with a reportedly broken jaw, a Niese 90 mph four-seamer caught him this afternoon.

[Jas_lov]

Ichiro just picked up his 4,000th hit in professional baseball(MLB and Japan).

[BishopMVP]

That would actually be Norichika Aoki of the Brewers. Also, having a low strikeout rate doesn't necessarily correlate to a high walk rate. Scutaro seems to be low-middle of the pack in that.Ok, by far the best player at making contact in MLB http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=5&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=11,a , and the player who swings at the lowest % of pitches outside the zone of any qualified MLB player. So yeah, I'd rather have a reliever who throws strikes and takes his chances by pitching to contact in that situation than someone who has hard to hit stuff that he has trouble locating.

[Crapshoot]

Ichiro is frigging awesome. He's a HOF for what he's done in this country alone, and his overall contributions to baseball worldwide are amazing. I think he could probably hang around a couple of years and get to 3,000 hits, so it will be interesting to see what he does (ie, he does have 1 year left on his contract).

[larrymcg421]

That sucks about Heyward. He's been on a tear lately (.323/.407/.566 since the all star break). Here's hoping he doesn't miss any postseason action.

[Danny]

So yeah, Kershaw is the current NL MVP in my mind.

[SackAttack]

He's one win off the NL lead - which I know is a stupid way to 'judge' pitchers - but considering how abysmal his run support has been most of this season, that blows my mind.

He got tagged with the loss after giving up 4 runs in 6 IP to the Padres on June 21, falling to 5-5 and the Dodgers started their crazy run the next day.

8-2 since then, and in the two losses, the Dodgers were shut out.

Seven no-decisions; 5 IP, 2 ER in a 7-2 win over the Mets; 7 IP, 1 ER in a 2-1 loss to the Giants; 7 IP, 1 ER (1 unearned as well) in a 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks; 7 IP, 3 ER in a 7-5 win over COL; 7 IP, 1 ER in a 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks; 7 IP, 1 ER in a 5-3 win over the Pirates; 8 shutout innings in a 3-0 loss to the Yankees.

1.98 ERA in those 7 no-decisions. Six of those games, he gave up 2 ER or fewer, and the team managed to lose four of them, three of those coming before the 42-8 madness. Any other pitcher averages ~7 IP start with a 1.98 ERA in those seven starts, how many decisions would you expect him to get? How many of those wins? And yet, with 7 no-decisions in 27 starts, he's a win off the pace for the league lead (and I suspect that will be important; if he were still at like 9-6 despite his ERA, I dunno if I trust the voters to give him the Cy Young, let alone MVP consideration).

[lungs]

Someday I'll be in a nursing home telling nobody in particular how I saw Clayton Kershaw dominate the Brewers at Dodger Stadium back during his amazing 2013.

[SackAttack]

To follow up on that, I went ahead and calculated it out by wins/losses/no decisions.

13 wins, 7 losses, 7 ND.

In the losses, his ERA is 4.23.
In the ND's, as mentioned, 1.98.
In the wins, his ERA is 0.88.

[cartman]

To follow up on that, I went ahead and calculated it out by wins/losses/no decisions.

13 wins, 7 losses, 7 ND.

In the losses, his ERA is 4.23.
In the ND's, as mentioned, 1.98.
In the wins, his ERA is 0.88.

He's clearly no Jack Morris then. :D

[JPhillips]

Matt Harvey has eight no decisions in games he's given up two runs or fewer.

edit: Another fun Harvey stat: He's allowed zero unearned runs in 2013.

[Suicane75]

Todays game is pretty much a microcosm of the Nationals season. 4-1 going into the 9th, one run pushed across, failed double play attempt to end the game, 2 run homer to tie, Strausburg looking like he wants to cry.

[lighthousekeeper]

I can't wait for Ryan Braun's apology where he says he's sorry for doping for only that 3 week period in 2011 that led to him getting caught, but otherwise having been clean his entire life.

bloink


Ryan Braun Statement Text - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ryan-braun-statement-text-233323837--mlb.html)

[dawgfan]

bloink


Ryan Braun Statement Text - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ryan-braun-statement-text-233323837--mlb.html)
The best statement a team of highly-paid PR folks could put together.

[lungs]

Oh, Ryan, I forgive you.

[Solecismic]

The best statement a team of highly-paid PR folks could put together.

It sounds wonderful. Of course, there's still his past crusade to get his sample thrown out on a technicality.

He's like a wayward spouse caught cheating. You never get the full truth, just trickle-truth.

Meanwhile, it seems to be asshat day.

Pete Rose, on Ichiro:

"He's still 600 hits away from catching Derek Jeter,'' said Rose to Nightengale, "so how can he catch me?''

Rose goes on to say his minor-league hits should count, too, then.

First, it's not like anyone's rewriting the MLB record books. Ichiro's a unique case, and his accomplishments should be recognized in some way, even if it isn't "official."

And second, yes, he could catch Rose... if he does what Rose did and gets named manager and pencils his own name into the lineup at least two years beyond what any reasonable manager anywhere would play a first baseman with the range of Prince Fielder in a can. If life were fair, Rose's hits record would come with an asterisk for that reason.

[SackAttack]

Vin Scully coming back for a 65th season. Woo!

[cougarfreak]

It sounds wonderful. Of course, there's still his past crusade to get his sample thrown out on a technicality.

He's like a wayward spouse caught cheating. You never get the full truth, just trickle-truth.

Meanwhile, it seems to be asshat day.

Pete Rose, on Ichiro:



Rose goes on to say his minor-league hits should count, too, then.

First, it's not like anyone's rewriting the MLB record books. Ichiro's a unique case, and his accomplishments should be recognized in some way, even if it isn't "official."

And second, yes, he could catch Rose... if he does what Rose did and gets named manager and pencils his own name into the lineup at least two years beyond what any reasonable manager anywhere would play a first baseman with the range of Prince Fielder in a can. If life were fair, Rose's hits record would come with an asterisk for that reason.

Meh, I kind of agree with Rose. Nice accomplishment, but to say it's his "4,000"th hit is way overstating. It's not really. I've heard lots of other similar sentiment out there.

[cougarfreak]

Vin Scully coming back for a 65th season. Woo!

Now that's some cause for celebration.

[cartman]

Meh, I kind of agree with Rose. Nice accomplishment, but to say it's his "4,000"th hit is way overstating. It's not really. I've heard lots of other similar sentiment out there.

It is like when they talk about Warren Moon throwing for 70,000 yards, or Herschel Walker's combined 20,000+ net yards. No one is calling them official league records, just an acknowledgement of their totals from two different top level leagues.

[SackAttack]

Meh, I kind of agree with Rose. Nice accomplishment, but to say it's his "4,000"th hit is way overstating. It's not really. I've heard lots of other similar sentiment out there.

Is it? The number of players who have 4,000 hits between the majors and minors combined is...really really small. Rose doesn't have to worry about his 4,256 getting usurped by whatever Ichiro's total is, but the fact remains that there's two guys with 4,000+ hits at the MLB level and only another 4 or 5 - Ichiro included - who have 4,000+ hits across ANY professional leagues.

It's still a nice accomplishment, whether or not you consider it to be a threat to Rose's mark.

[JPhillips]

Rose has 4683 if we're going to count all professional levels.

[dawgfan]

Is it? The number of players who have 4,000 hits between the majors and minors combined is...really really small. Rose doesn't have to worry about his 4,256 getting usurped by whatever Ichiro's total is, but the fact remains that there's two guys with 4,000+ hits at the MLB level and only another 4 or 5 - Ichiro included - who have 4,000+ hits across ANY professional leagues.

It's still a nice accomplishment, whether or not you consider it to be a threat to Rose's mark.
One other thing to note - even if you ding Ichiro's hits in the Japanese League because it sits somewhere between AAA and MLB in terms of quality, you should also give him some benefit of the doubt in that the seasons there limited him to 130 and then 135 games. It's not difficult to project that, had he been in America the whole time, he very well could have accumulated as many hits here (if not more) than he did in Japan given the opportunity to play in nearly 20% more games.

[dawgfan]

Dola:

Jeff Sullivan (as usual) does a great job of discussing the whole "Ichiro has 4,000 hits" thing: http://www.ussmariner.com/2013/08/22/4000/

[Solecismic]

Dola:

Jeff Sullivan (as usual) does a great job of discussing the whole "Ichiro has 4,000 hits" thing: http://www.ussmariner.com/2013/08/22/4000/

Those are some good points. What's great about baseball, and why the steroid saga is so damaging, is that it has so many easily-understood numbers. We can and should take time to recognize individuals.

The Hall of Fame is mostly about longevity rather than excellence. Accumulation of a few arbitrarily-selected numbers (hits, home runs, batting average, RBIs, "wins", strikeouts) is currency for the Hall.

These numbers do accumulate for the better players, so it's not a terrible way to do business even though we have better algorithms for player evaluation.

My problem with Pete Rose is twofold. One, I think gambling on baseball games is far, far more damaging than steroid use. He put himself in a position where his managing decisions were based more on how much money he had riding on the team that day (I believe him when he says he didn't bet against the Reds) than on managing a team for a full season. His bizarre use of relief pitchers not only hurt the team, but burnt out arms. He put himself in a position where he might owe the wrong people too much money (or even simply have a business relationship with a major-league manager).

I have no sympathy for Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. They earned a lot of money, but they probably won't be in the Hall despite having the numbers for it. They cheated to gain a competitive advantage. But at least they wanted to win, I think. If they somehow make the Hall, I'd be OK with it. Well, not really, but relatively OK. Rose wanted to win bets. That's different. I would like to see a police patrol on those spindly little roads to Cooperstown specifically preventing Rose from getting anywhere near the Hall.

Second, Rose was an awful player once he passed 40. That's OK, there are a lot of great players who fall off the roof at 40. But he had the reputation of being a great team guy and he had just reached 3,500 hits, so the Phillies decided to keep throwing him out there at first base. Both for the unending publicity of his chase of Ty Cobb (and believe me, at that time this was a huge story in baseball - home runs were down and people remembered how nice it was when Hank Aaron was chasing Babe Ruth's record) and because he'd have streaks every now and then when he would get on base a lot. Baseball was still a national game in the 1980s, so Rose meant the Phillies received more game-of-the-week nods and attention in the pre-ESPN era (I think I first saw ESPN in 1982).

After Rose put up a .245/.316/.286 over 600+ plate appearances while playing a bad first base at 42, the Phillies gave up, even though the record was near. The Expos tried for a half-year, but the fans didn't care and it was hurting the team. Then the Reds made him manager, and Rose could pencil himself in there and get the record. Being Rose, he kept himself in the lineup at 45. But after a half-season of .219/.316/.270, even he finally realized that unless he was Ozzie Smith with the glove, he was single-handedly killing his own team.

Because of influences outside of Rose's own skill set, he was able to reach 4,256 major-league hits as a below-replacement-level hitter. When Ichiro stops hitting (and he is obviously on the decline at 39), he won't have a job.

While I agree that Ichiro reaching 4,000 is a rather silly and arbitrary milestone, like Sullivan wrote, it's great to recognize it. But Rose is the last guy who has reason to complain about the validity of accumulated statistics.

[dawgfan]

Well said Jim.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Beachy to the 15-day DL, to be examined by Dr. Andrews for "elbow tightness"

Braves trade for veteran pitcher Garcia; Beachy on DL | www.ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-trade-for-veteran-starter-garcia/nZbCM/)

[molson]

The best statement a team of highly-paid PR folks could put together.

I don't know what the purpose of those epic, lengthy, artificial statements are, or how much his lawyers make to draft them, but wouldn't the public perception of Braun be better if he just acted like a human being and apologized for cheating? I'm sure the lawyers debated for hours trying to decide what the most innocent-sounding method of drug ingestion was and they came up with "a cream and a lozenge." But nobody buys it or gives a shit. The guy just comes off incredibly phony.

[cougarfreak]

Those are some good points. What's great about baseball, and why the steroid saga is so damaging, is that it has so many easily-understood numbers. We can and should take time to recognize individuals.

The Hall of Fame is mostly about longevity rather than excellence. Accumulation of a few arbitrarily-selected numbers (hits, home runs, batting average, RBIs, "wins", strikeouts) is currency for the Hall.

These numbers do accumulate for the better players, so it's not a terrible way to do business even though we have better algorithms for player evaluation.

My problem with Pete Rose is twofold. One, I think gambling on baseball games is far, far more damaging than steroid use. He put himself in a position where his managing decisions were based more on how much money he had riding on the team that day (I believe him when he says he didn't bet against the Reds) than on managing a team for a full season. His bizarre use of relief pitchers not only hurt the team, but burnt out arms. He put himself in a position where he might owe the wrong people too much money (or even simply have a business relationship with a major-league manager).

I have no sympathy for Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. They earned a lot of money, but they probably won't be in the Hall despite having the numbers for it. They cheated to gain a competitive advantage. But at least they wanted to win, I think. If they somehow make the Hall, I'd be OK with it. Well, not really, but relatively OK. Rose wanted to win bets. That's different. I would like to see a police patrol on those spindly little roads to Cooperstown specifically preventing Rose from getting anywhere near the Hall.

Second, Rose was an awful player once he passed 40. That's OK, there are a lot of great players who fall off the roof at 40. But he had the reputation of being a great team guy and he had just reached 3,500 hits, so the Phillies decided to keep throwing him out there at first base. Both for the unending publicity of his chase of Ty Cobb (and believe me, at that time this was a huge story in baseball - home runs were down and people remembered how nice it was when Hank Aaron was chasing Babe Ruth's record) and because he'd have streaks every now and then when he would get on base a lot. Baseball was still a national game in the 1980s, so Rose meant the Phillies received more game-of-the-week nods and attention in the pre-ESPN era (I think I first saw ESPN in 1982).

After Rose put up a .245/.316/.286 over 600+ plate appearances while playing a bad first base at 42, the Phillies gave up, even though the record was near. The Expos tried for a half-year, but the fans didn't care and it was hurting the team. Then the Reds made him manager, and Rose could pencil himself in there and get the record. Being Rose, he kept himself in the lineup at 45. But after a half-season of .219/.316/.270, even he finally realized that unless he was Ozzie Smith with the glove, he was single-handedly killing his own team.

Because of influences outside of Rose's own skill set, he was able to reach 4,256 major-league hits as a below-replacement-level hitter. When Ichiro stops hitting (and he is obviously on the decline at 39), he won't have a job.

While I agree that Ichiro reaching 4,000 is a rather silly and arbitrary milestone, like Sullivan wrote, it's great to recognize it. But Rose is the last guy who has reason to complain about the validity of accumulated statistics.

Except your forgot about the part, where in the other 1/2 season as a Red after leaving Montreal he put up .364/.430/.458 line in Cincinnati, and then the season he actually broke the record he hit .264 with a .395 OBP. Didn't slug, but that's not as god awful as you're making it out to be. Then you conveniently added in his piss poor .219 season, the one he had AFTER he broke the record (you know where the other 1b options were another over the hill Tony Perez, and the awesome Nick Esasky who hit .230 that year).

Pete certainly was an asshat for betting on baseball, but I think his PT was ok, until that final season. But there weren't a whole lot of other options in Cincinnati either.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Except your forgot about the part, where in the other 1/2 season as a Red after leaving Montreal he put up .364/.430/.458 line in Cincinnati, and then the season he actually broke the record he hit .264 with a .395 OBP. Didn't slug, but that's not as god awful as you're making it out to be. Then you conveniently added in his piss poor .219 season, the one he had AFTER he broke the record (you know where the other 1b options were another over the hill Tony Perez, and the awesome Nick Esasky who hit .230 that year).

Glad somebody else noticed this, I'd looked it up & was going to comment but decided eh,what the hell.

[cartman]

I think Robin Ventura might be the first manager I've ever seen get tossed on arguing an inside-the-park-home-run call. He should know better than to argue a call against the Rangers. I have previous proof hanging on my office wall, signed by Nolan Ryan.

[cougarfreak]

Glad somebody else noticed this, I'd looked it up & was going to comment but decided eh,what the hell.

Something else I noticed when I looked it up. He was actually an AS in 1985. I sure didn't remember that. Not that that means much, but interesting nevertheless.

[panerd]

I don't know what the purpose of those epic, lengthy, artificial statements are, or how much his lawyers make to draft them, but wouldn't the public perception of Braun be better if he just acted like a human being and apologized for cheating? I'm sure the lawyers debated for hours trying to decide what the most innocent-sounding method of drug ingestion was and they came up with "a cream and a lozenge." But nobody buys it or gives a shit. The guy just comes off incredibly phony.

My guess is the statement was drafted to avoid Braun saying anything that will cost him another few million from the specimen collector.

[cartman]

Don't worry, Kansas City Royals. The area Buffalo Wild Wings have kept your seats open to watch the playoffs, as they have every season since 1985.

[SackAttack]

Are the Royals the coldest team in baseball now because they've lost six straight?

Or is that still the Astros?

/MBBF

[Solecismic]

Except your forgot about the part, where in the other 1/2 season as a Red after leaving Montreal he put up .364/.430/.458 line in Cincinnati

Over 107 plate appearances. I reported the worst of it, but he was a dreadful hitter for a first baseman from 1982 onward and 1980 was bad enough to reduce most 1B who aren't producing to bench status. If he weren't chasing the record, he would have been out of baseball entirely in 1983.

Through 1979, when he was 38, he was a damned good ballplayer. And 1981 was more than decent, too.

and then the season he actually broke the record he hit .264 with a .395 OBP. Didn't slug, but that's not as god awful as you're making it out to be.

A 99 OPS+ for a first baseman with well below-average fielding. Yes, god awful.


Then you conveniently added in his piss poor .219 season, the one he had AFTER he broke the record (you know where the other 1b options were another over the hill Tony Perez, and the awesome Nick Esasky who hit .230 that year).

That was 272 plate appearances at a mind-boggling 61 OPS+ - you think twice about a gold-glove shortstop who puts up those numbers. Esasky wasn't a great option, but he was a slightly better fielder and just entering his prime at 26. He had a good year the following season. No sentient manager would have kept Rose on the roster. Perez had been a serviceable backup the previous year, but terrible for a while before that, and only slightly better than Rose that year.


Pete certainly was an asshat for betting on baseball, but I think his PT was ok, until that final season. But there weren't a whole lot of other options in Cincinnati either.

Then you make other options. You can't have that kind of production from 1B for that long. With the talent outside of 1B on that roster, you'd expect some division titles and maybe a championship out of those years. Rose was never higher than second place as a manager.

[cartman]

Are the Royals the coldest team in baseball now because they've lost six straight?

Or is that still the Astros?

/MBBF

I thank the baseball deities that the Royals have cooled off and that A-Rod isn't on the Kansas City squad. Otherwise this thread would be unbearable.

[PilotMan]

Over 107 plate appearances. I reported the worst of it, but he was a dreadful hitter for a first baseman from 1982 onward and 1980 was bad enough to reduce most 1B who aren't producing to bench status. If he weren't chasing the record, he would have been out of baseball entirely in 1983.

Through 1979, when he was 38, he was a damned good ballplayer. And 1981 was more than decent, too.



A 99 OPS+ for a first baseman with well below-average fielding. Yes, god awful.



That was 272 plate appearances at a mind-boggling 61 OPS+ - you think twice about a gold-glove shortstop who puts up those numbers. Esasky wasn't a great option, but he was a slightly better fielder and just entering his prime at 26. He had a good year the following season. No sentient manager would have kept Rose on the roster. Perez had been a serviceable backup the previous year, but terrible for a while before that, and only slightly better than Rose that year.



Then you make other options. You can't have that kind of production from 1B for that long. With the talent outside of 1B on that roster, you'd expect some division titles and maybe a championship out of those years. Rose was never higher than second place as a manager.

You have to think that time though. It was all about Rose, and there really wasn't anything more to it. Rose was a Cincy boy, and Rose was Schott's boy. He started there, all she wanted was to watch him play and have him break the record in a Reds uniform where he belonged. She's the owner. Sure it didn't help the team win a WS, but it did put butts in the seats, and butts equals $$$.

As for Ichiro, he is one of the premiere hitters in baseball history. I think he is a lock for the HOF.

[JPhillips]

Ichiro has OPS+ numbers of 86, 94 and 84 over the past three seasons. Considering he's corner outfielder, does that make him god-awful?

[SackAttack]

He's still a defensive wizard out there though, JPhillips - which was the other half of what Jim was saying. You can be a stud hitter with glove issues or you can be a defensive wizard and have the team pick you up offensively and in either scenario still provide value to the team.

Jim's assertion is that by the end of his career, Rose was doing neither.

[sterlingice]

I'd still be perfectly happy with a 75 win season and a fired GM. But that probably won't happen- the latter part, especially.

It was fun to root for a winning team for three weeks, tho

SI

[Solecismic]

Ichiro has OPS+ numbers of 86, 94 and 84 over the past three seasons. Considering he's corner outfielder, does that make him god-awful?

As I said, he is in decline. He's not helping much and I would be surprised if the Yankees kept him after 2014, when his contract is up. Ideally, he should think about retirement now. His cumulative WAR over the last three seasons is 4.5, which doesn't justify a starting role moving forward. He's not god-awful yet, but he might be next year.

Rose, meanwhile, had a cumulative -1.2 WAR for his last six seasons. 0 is replacement level.

My argument was that if Ichiro had Rose's drive for personal glory and were named manager somewhere, he might be able to flounder his way toward 4,000 hits if he played until 45. But, taking another look at the numbers, I don't think that he would get close. Like most non-steroided players, the decline gets pretty sharp at 38-40. I don't think Ichiro will get to 3,000.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Los Angeles Angels expected to have new manager or GM - report - ESPN Los Angeles (http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9596908/los-angeles-angels-expected-new-manager-gm-report)

[bhlloy]

If we buy both, can we get a new owner thrown in on the deal as well?

[SackAttack]

Ellsbury gives the Dodgers a gift in the top of the 9th by abandoning first base with two outs, but it doesn't look like the offense is going to capitalize.

[Danny]

Long short of the longest game, but I wonder if 396 pitches thrown by a single team is a record?

[Suicane75]

I imagine It must have happened in my lifetime, but I don't recall ever seeing a boxscore where a player had 10 AB's in a game.

[JPhillips]

The Reds had a fun box score last night. Hitters 2-8 all had 2 hits and 0 walks. Choo, batting first, had 0 hits and 2 walks.

[sterlingice]

I love box score fun

I imagine It must have happened in my lifetime, but I don't recall ever seeing a boxscore where a player had 10 AB's in a game.

I love that the batters before and after each had 10 plate appearances but only 5 and 6 ABs with 5 and 4 walks.

The Reds had a fun box score last night. Hitters 2-8 all had 2 hits and 0 walks. Choo, batting first, had 0 hits and 2 walks.

Bronson Arroyo needed to get with the program.

SI

[sterlingice]

Long short of the longest game, but I wonder if 396 pitches thrown by a single team is a record?

Just looked and B-R doesn't start recording pitch counts until 1988 so some cursory Googling doesn't turn up much info on that question and, even if there was a recorded count, it would only take into account a small fraction of baseball history.

SI

[DanGarion]

I love box score fun



I love that the batters before and after each had 10 plate appearances but only 5 and 6 ABs with 5 and 4 walks.



Bronson Arroyo needed to get with the program.

SI
June 3, 1989 Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198906030.shtml)

John Shelby 0-10 in the 22 inning barn burner of Dodgers at Astros in 1989.

[Solecismic]

I feel bad for the poor schlub who not only went 0-for-7 with a golden sombrero, but took over on the mound in the 18th after his bullpen recorded 11 straight scoreless innings and proceeded to allow seven straight baserunners to put the game out of reach.

Ballplayers are allowed to leave a handful of tickets for friends and family. Hopefully he didn't use his yesterday.

[sterlingice]

The good news is that if he had used them, they had probably left before the 18th ;)

SI

[spleen1015]

2013 Houston Astros: Baseball's Worst Team Is The Most Profitable In History - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2013/08/26/2013-houston-astros-baseballs-worst-team-is-most-profitable-in-history/)

It will be interesting to see if the Astros start spending money within the next few years.

[miami_fan]

2013 Houston Astros: Baseball's Worst Team Is The Most Profitable In History - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2013/08/26/2013-houston-astros-baseballs-worst-team-is-most-profitable-in-history/)

It will be interesting to see if the Astros start spending money within the next few years.

WTF Marlins? We can't even do this shit right?

[RedKingGold]

Saw on Twitter that Matt Harvey may have torn his UCL. Even as a Phillies fan, that makes me sad. He was awesome to watch.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Sucks for baseball.

[Logan]

Saw on Twitter that Matt Harvey may have torn his UCL. Even as a Phillies fan, that makes me sad. He was awesome to watch.

Partial tear confirmed. Rosenthal reports he's shut down for the season and they'll see if he needs TJ surgery.

Of course.

[rowech]

Partial tear confirmed. Rosenthal reports he's shut down for the season and they'll see if he needs TJ surgery.

Of course.

Is it really that big a deal anymore? I'm not sure why pitchers just don't reach the age of 31 and just do it because they can give their arm new life.

[Logan]

Is it really that big a deal anymore? I'm not sure why pitchers just don't reach the age of 31 and just do it because they can give their arm new life.

It's not the "big deal" that it once was, but would you ever say losing the second best pitcher in the league for likely a year wouldn't be a big deal?

[MizzouRah]

Is it really that big a deal anymore? I'm not sure why pitchers just don't reach the age of 31 and just do it because they can give their arm new life.

I figure at some point, they will start doing this... like it's a normal thing to just go and get the surgery even if needed or not.

[Logan]

Press conference gems from the Mets brass...

Sandy Alderson: "Harvey has been having forearm issues for some time, and he's been receiving extra treatment."

5 minutes later...

Terry Collins: "Yesterday was the first time I heard of any issues with him."

[Atocep]

Is it really that big a deal anymore? I'm not sure why pitchers just don't reach the age of 31 and just do it because they can give their arm new life.

There's still a 15% or so chance a pitcher just isn't the same. It's not as damning as it once was, but there is still some significant risk involved in the surgery.

Supposedly, it's a partial tear which doesn't typically require surgery. Hopefully he responds to rehab and is ready to go next year.

This also shows us how much we really know about pitching. We have no idea how much damage was done before and since he was drafted. The mechanics experts have graded him excellent since he's been in New York, but the Mets also made some changes to his mechanics after he was drafted. We still don't understand what caused this or really how injuries like this happen.

[Lathum]

FML

[SackAttack]

Woof.

[rowech]

It's not the "big deal" that it once was, but would you ever say losing the second best pitcher in the league for likely a year wouldn't be a big deal?

Are the Mets going somewhere next year? I'd be mad if it was my team's pitcher but the majority of these guys come back now and come back just as good.

[Logan]

Are the Mets going somewhere next year? I'd be mad if it was my team's pitcher but the majority of these guys come back now and come back just as good.

Unlikely, but with a couple solid FA bats, continued development/promotion of the young guys it wouldn't have been a shock if they competed for a wild card in 14.

[tucker rocky]

Saw on Twitter that Matt Harvey may have torn his UCL. Even as a Phillies fan, that makes me sad. He was awesome to watch.

Matt Harvey Asks New Yorkers About Matt Harvey - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=V0D8V0dCbf8#t=184)

[larrymcg421]

I don't know what the purpose of those epic, lengthy, artificial statements are, or how much his lawyers make to draft them, but wouldn't the public perception of Braun be better if he just acted like a human being and apologized for cheating? I'm sure the lawyers debated for hours trying to decide what the most innocent-sounding method of drug ingestion was and they came up with "a cream and a lozenge." But nobody buys it or gives a shit. The guy just comes off incredibly phony.

The best legal advice isn't always the best PR advice. Braun probably figured his public image is shot to hell no matter what, so picking the legal advice is probably the "correct" move.

[tarcone]

Wainwright came back with no problems. Probably better.

Cardinals start a stretch of 13 games against the Reds and Pirates. This could be the division right here.

If the cards go 9-4 or better, I think the season is over. Their last 19 games are all very winnable games. And, knock on wood, not pose a great threat.

[dawgfan]

This also shows us how much we really know about pitching. We have no idea how much damage was done before and since he was drafted. The mechanics experts have graded him excellent since he's been in New York, but the Mets also made some changes to his mechanics after he was drafted. We still don't understand what caused this or really how injuries like this happen.
Yeah, pitching mechanics analysis only gets you so far. "Perfect" mechanics just means less stress on the joints than "mechanics", but there's still a lot of stress. Seems probable that there are variations from person to person in terms of the ability of their tendons to handle that stress.

Taking a look at video of him, seems like he does indeed have good mechanics, though I couldn't tell if he throws pronated breaking pitches (which would theoretically save some stress on the elbow).

[SackAttack]

“I’m happy, Hanley is happy, Uribe looks scared. What an ugly face my friend Uribe has. But I love him.”

LOL

[PilotMan]

Every fucking time.

Arrgh. FFS.

[tarcone]

Grand slams are awesome. Especially against the Reds. And when it puts you up 8-5.

[Atocep]

The Pirates get Marlon Byrd and John Buck from the Mets. Good move by the Pirates (only $130k is owed to Byrd) and they really had no value to the Mets.

[Logan]

You know anything about the 2B/SS going to the Mets, Dilson Herrera?

[JPhillips]

Really wish the Reds would have put a claim on Byrd. Either they would have blocked the Pirates or landed a bat for the OF.

[rowech]

Really wish the Reds would have put a claim on Byrd. Either they would have blocked the Pirates or landed a bat for the OF.

Getting to feel the Reds season is destined for massive disappointment one way or the other. I wonder if they could blow the wildcard losing to the Cards and Pirates a lot down the stretch.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The Pirates get Marlon Byrd and John Buck from the Mets. Good move by the Pirates (only $130k is owed to Byrd) and they really had no value to the Mets.

Damn, with Marte out that really is a helluva deal.

[Logan]

I know Byrd has a PED suspension in his history, but he was awesome to watch play. Just intense effort all around. Wish him and Buck success with the Pirates.

[ISiddiqui]

Ditto. I am glad Byrd is going somewhere where he can make a different in the stretch run and postseason.

[Swaggs]

You know anything about the 2B/SS going to the Mets, Dilson Herrera?

I think he's a pretty good return for two pending free agents.

He's a small guy and doesn't have the range to play SS, but played full season A-ball at age 19 and held his own. Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects rates him as B grade hitter and he received a legitimate signing bonus ($220K) for an international player. Williams thinks he is right around the #10 prospect in a pretty top heavy Pirates' system. Mayo and Sickels both had him at #9 prior to the season.

He's obviously a long way from the majors, but looks like he could develop into a 15 HR-type second baseman if he stays on track. I'm going to guess that the PTBNL is going to be an upper level arm that is closer to the majors, but with less upside. Possibly one of the SP currently on the DL like Kyle McPherson or Phil Irwin (guys that are good enough to be 4/5 starters on an average staff and probably would have pitched a lot this year for the Pirates if not for the injuries).

[Swaggs]

Just saw this extra bit from Keith Law:

For about five weeks of Byrd and Buck, the Mets get a very solid second-base prospect in Herrera. Playing full-time at age 19 in the low Class A Sally League, Herrera has shown somewhat surprising pop, with a .156 isolated power and 41 extra-base hits in 109 games. He's got a simple, quiet approach, just loading his hands a little higher than he should, with adequate hip rotation for 15-20 homer power at his peak.

He's an above-average runner whose speed hasn't translated into baserunning value, and is presently a fringy defender at second but should develop into an above-average glove given time and instruction. I'd call him a future everyday second baseman, a solid regular with a chance to be an above-average one.

I'm told by multiple sources that the Mets will receive another player to be named who is a "solid" piece, enough to make this deal even better for New York. Given how little sense there seemed to be in retaining Byrd at the July trade deadline, this is a very positive result for Mets fans after this week's other less fortunate news.

[SackAttack]

You owe Kershaw a run, A.J. Ellis. Friggin' catcher's interference.

[spleen1015]

O's are done. No magic this year.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Hunter Pence hit an absolutely ridiculous shot in Colorado tonight. Cleared the entire left field bleachers and bounced off a brick wall next to a burger stand. Estimated at 476 feet it's the longest HR of the season so far.

[Butter]

Getting to feel the Reds season is destined for massive disappointment one way or the other. I wonder if they could blow the wildcard losing to the Cards and Pirates a lot down the stretch.

That would be fine with me, tbh. They feel like they are just going through the motions at this point.

[JPhillips]

The Reds are reminding me a lot of the Boudreau Caps teams.

[dawgfan]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3117295/3952q.gif
This was a balk according to the worst umpire in MLB. I'm sure the fact it was a night game that had gone into extra innings didn't play any part in Bucknor arbitrarily ending the game for...what?

[Danny]

Wow, I didnt see him move in the slightest.

[Logan]

I'll need to see a side/batter's view shot before agreeing. He could have twitched his glove, no?

edit: I found a side-view replay. It looked like there may have been a slight twitch of his shoulder as he shook off the sign, but to call that seems pretty bad.

[SackAttack]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3117295/3952q.gif
This was a balk according to the worst umpire in MLB. I'm sure the fact it was a night game that had gone into extra innings didn't play any part in Bucknor arbitrarily ending the game for...what?

Top of the 10th. Didn't end the game.

[dawgfan]

Top of the 10th. Didn't end the game.
No, but it pushed it significantly in that direction.

[rowech]

That would be fine with me, tbh. They feel like they are just going through the motions at this point.

Very much so. Really just uninspired.

[Chief Rum]

That would be fine with me, tbh. They feel like they are just going through the motions at this point.

I get being down about a team's apparent attitude. But why on Earth would you be fine with them not even making an effort to get into the playoffs? If that's how you feel, I'll trade you my Angels team for your Reds team and I will be perfectly happy to have something to cheer for in September this year, even if they are going through the motions.

[rowech]

I get being down about a team's apparent attitude. But why on Earth would you be fine with them not even making an effort to get into the playoffs? If that's how you feel, I'll trade you my Angels team for your Reds team and I will be perfectly happy to have something to cheer for in September this year, even if they are going through the motions.

For the off chance that Dusty would be fired.

[Chief Rum]

For the off chance that Dusty would be fired.

I guess I get that. That's a tough call, though. Just getting into the playoffs gives you a chance. In baseball more than any other sport, a team can get hot at the right time and win it all, and all you need to do is get in to get a chance at that.

The Angels are now going to miss their fourth straight playoffs after dominating the AL West for years, and our prospects for the future with this farm system and these contracts is not bright.

We do have a good manager, though.

[JPhillips]

I really want the Reds to get to the playoffs, no question. I don't think they'll make a run, but who knows.

The window is already closing on this team. They can't afford to keep Choo or add any big bat, so they'll almost certainly start off next year, on paper, worse than they end the year. You can't hope to miss the playoffs ever.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Puig benched in game, anyone know what he did?

[Chief Rum]

Puig benched in game, anyone know what he did?

Puig being Manny?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Puig benched in game, anyone know what he did?

Not much I can find so far

Puig was 0 for 1 with a walk against Edwin Jackson and didn’t engage in any unusual behavior on the field. After being removed to the game, Puig calmly returned to the Dodgers’ dugout and took a seat on the topmost bench.

It’s possible that Don Mattingly wasn’t pleased when Puig didn’t slide into second base in the first inning when Carl Crawford hit a ground ball to second base, an eventual 4-6-3 double play. Puig also made a pair of one-handed “snatch” catches in right field, though he’s been making those regularly in his rookie season.

It’s also possible that Puig did something between innings, away from the field or dugout, that warranted his benching.

[rowech]

I really want the Reds to get to the playoffs, no question. I don't think they'll make a run, but who knows.

The window is already closing on this team. They can't afford to keep Choo or add any big bat, so they'll almost certainly start off next year, on paper, worse than they end the year. You can't hope to miss the playoffs ever.

They can afford Choo assuming they dump Arroyo's salary into him.

[Swaggs]

Pirates PTBNL to Mets sounds like it may be Vic Black. A hard throwing righty that can play in the majors right away and hits in the high 90s on the radar gun. He's another pretty good piece to get for two guys that are pending free agents.

He's a guy that can probably be a solid bullpen arm next year and that could potentially be a ninth inning guy down the road. He's had some injury problems, so that and control are his only obstacles.

[Atocep]

Pirates PTBNL to Mets sounds like it may be Vic Black. A hard throwing righty that can play in the majors right away and hits in the high 90s on the radar gun. He's another pretty good piece to get for two guys that are pending free agents.

He's a guy that can probably be a solid bullpen arm next year and that could potentially be a ninth inning guy down the road. He's had some injury problems, so that and control are his only obstacles.

A position prospect and a hard throwing, late inning arm are exactly what the Mets could use in a deal like this.

It's nice to see Alderson hold onto his pieces and leverage them for more than would have normally been expected and kudos to Huntington for using his farm system's depth to improve the club when it's in position to be a legit contender.

Good deal all around IMO.

[cougarfreak]

They can afford Choo assuming they dump Arroyo's salary into him.

Not with raises other player are due. Unless the payroll increases.

[MrBug708]

Puig benched in game, anyone know what he did?

Hustle

[JPhillips]

They can afford Choo assuming they dump Arroyo's salary into him.

Maybe for a year, but they won't sign Choo for less than five years and that would mean they are unable to keep Latos, Bailey and Leake. That's already assuming Cueto isn't resigned.

[JPhillips]

Not with raises other player are due. Unless the payroll increases.

A really quick look has Bruce, Phillips, Cueto and Latos getting almost 9 mil in raises next year.

[Butter]

I really want the Reds to get to the playoffs, no question. I don't think they'll make a run, but who knows.

The window is already closing on this team. They can't afford to keep Choo or add any big bat, so they'll almost certainly start off next year, on paper, worse than they end the year. You can't hope to miss the playoffs ever.

I get that, but do you want to go through 2-3 more years of Dusty-led teams that can dominate bad teams in the regular season but can't do dick in the playoffs? They remind me of the Astros Killer B's teams that were always just good enough to get in. They did make a WS IIRC, but got killed once there.

[SackAttack]

Puig benched in game, anyone know what he did?

Had to do with outfield play. I had the tweet saved to my clipboard, but I apparently overwrote that.

[cartman]

The Rangers have just abused King Felix this season. He didn't make it out of the 4th inning in today's game. He's 0-4 in 5 starts against Texas, with an ERA above 6.

[rowech]

Maybe the Reds still care?!

[JPhillips]

I wish the Reds could have won the series, but there is some satisfaction with knocking the hell out of Wainwright.

[MizzouRah]

I'll take two out of three anytime.

[panerd]

I wish the Reds could have won the series, but there is some satisfaction with knocking the hell out of Wainwright.

I didn't realize there was any disdain for Wainwright. Is it based on his success or something he did? I know McGwire and LaRussa and Chris Carpenter are pretty arrogant but was unaware Wainwright had that reputation. Of course I also didn't realize everyone hated Joe Buck so maybe I am more of a homer than I realize

Lifelong Bengals fan (still) and a Red's fan until we moved to St. Louis so I'm not trolling or anything here, just interested.

[cougarfreak]

I didn't realize there was any disdain for Wainwright. Is it based on his success or something he did? I know McGwire and LaRussa and Chris Carpenter are pretty arrogant but was unaware Wainwright had that reputation. Of course I also didn't realize everyone hated Joe Buck so maybe I am more of a homer than I realize

Lifelong Bengals fan (still) and a Red's fan until we moved to St. Louis so I'm not trolling or anything here, just interested.

I feel the same way as the OP. But for me, it's the fact that we very well could see Wainwright in the one game playoff, or later on in the playoffs.

[Logan]

A position prospect and a hard throwing, late inning arm are exactly what the Mets could use in a deal like this.

It's nice to see Alderson hold onto his pieces and leverage them for more than would have normally been expected and kudos to Huntington for using his farm system's depth to improve the club when it's in position to be a legit contender.

Good deal all around IMO.

Yeah this seems like a great return, if you buy into what the scouts say. I'm pleasantly surprised.

[JPhillips]

I didn't realize there was any disdain for Wainwright. Is it based on his success or something he did? I know McGwire and LaRussa and Chris Carpenter are pretty arrogant but was unaware Wainwright had that reputation. Of course I also didn't realize everyone hated Joe Buck so maybe I am more of a homer than I realize

Lifelong Bengals fan (still) and a Red's fan until we moved to St. Louis so I'm not trolling or anything here, just interested.

Nothing personal towards Wainwright, I just like bashing the Cards #1.

When I looked, I was surprised by the success the Reds have had against him. In my head he was more dominant than he has been.

[Easy Mac]

So was there any downside to Byrd taking PEDs and being suspended? He's had easily the best season of his career, he got traded to a contending team, and he'll likely make far more money next year than he would beforehand. He basically went from borderline out of baseball to the chance to be a starter on a contending team next year.

[spleen1015]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18ygt8l2o348ugif/ku-medium.gif

[Easy Mac]

The Marlins took your signature to heart

[BishopMVP]

Hustle<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LH62Jd5qCj0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[claphamsa]

hold up.... so we traded for David DeJesus,.. then traded him again 3 days later? wtf

[Suburban Rhythm]

CBS reporting Morneau to Pirates

[Danny]

They've been getting told Yes too often, so they needed Morneau....

[Swaggs]

Morneau and Sanchez should give the Bucs a pretty nice lefty/righty combo at first base. Morneau has an .831 OPS vs righties and Sanchez has a .908 OPS vs lefties.

Pushes Garrett Jones to the bench, improving that area, as well.

I always thought Alex Presley got yo-yoed around a little too much, so hopefully he can get a chance to establish himself as a big leaguer. I think he can be a solid 4th OF or platoon option vs righties, but McCutchen and Marte look to be fixtures in LF and CF for the next several years and they still have guys like Jose Tabata, Travis Snyder, and Andrew Lambo to work with (I doubt Garrett Jones or Marlon Byrd return next season) , so he isn't a huge loss.

[tarcone]

Pirates are serious

[MrBug708]

That throw by Puig..

[MrBug708]

Michael Young is a Dodger

[JPhillips]

Holy fuck noodles!

The top five OPS guys for the Reds are batting 1-5!

Is Dusty sick?

[JPhillips]

After reading this I'm rooting for a three way tie in the NL Central.

http://www.baseballnation.com/2013/9/3/4687008/three-way-tie-breaker-nl-central-scenario

[larrymcg421]

Craig Kimbrel had a bit of a slow start this season and hasn't been as dominant as last year, but he's on a great run over the last 26.1 innings...

26.1 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 35 K

[sterlingice]

Speaking of sick reliever numbers, (I'm sure I have just jinxed him but) Greg Holland last allowed runs on July 23rd and June 30th.

Season stats: 1.33 ERA 54 IP 10 R 8 ER 84 K (14.0 K/9) 14 BB

His ERA since the first week of the season: 0.69

SI

[SirFozzie]

Unexpected win for the Red Sox tonight, considering we were facing a 19-1 pitcher, and the Tigers lineup was hitting .430 against Lester entering tonight's game.

[SirFozzie]

Uehara's statline on the year

3-0, 1.17 ERA, 61.1 IP, 29 HA, 9 BB, 83 K.

Simply amazing.

[MizzouRah]

103 MPH Chapman.. I hate the Reds, but he is fun to watch.

[Swaggs]

Pirates clinch their first non-losing season since 1992 (the days of Bonds, Van Slyke, Drabek, and rookie sensation Tim Wakefield). Pinch hit home run by Travis Snyder in the top of the 9th and a converted save by Mark Melancon for a 4-3 win.

Two game lead over the Cards and 3.5 over the Reds with 24 games left.

In other Pirates' news, Jason Grilli, who had 30 saves before going on the DL in late July, was reinstated and Wandy Rodriguez, who has been out since the beginning of June, is scheduled to make a rehab AAA start on Friday. Getting those two and Starling Marte back healthy could have a giant impact on the team in the final 3 weeks.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Speaking of sick reliever numbers, (I'm sure I have just jinxed him but) Greg Holland last allowed runs on July 23rd and June 30th.

Season stats: 1.33 ERA 54 IP 10 R 8 ER 84 K (14.0 K/9) 14 BB

His ERA since the first week of the season: 0.69

SI

He's been ridiculous this year. Certainly came at the right time given the Soria injuries.

[PilotMan]

Pirates clinch their first non-losing season since 1992 (the days of Bonds, Van Slyke, Drabek, and rookie sensation Tim Wakefield). Pinch hit home run by Travis Snyder in the top of the 9th and a converted save by Mark Melancon for a 4-3 win.

Two game lead over the Cards and 3.5 over the Reds with 24 games left.

In other Pirates' news, Jason Grilli, who had 30 saves before going on the DL in late July, was reinstated and Wandy Rodriguez, who has been out since the beginning of June, is scheduled to make a rehab AAA start on Friday. Getting those two and Starling Marte back healthy could have a giant impact on the team in the final 3 weeks.

No matter who you cheer for, how can you not cheer for the Pirates and what their fans have been through? It's a good storyline.

[spleen1015]

What have the Pirates fan been through?

[Vince, Pt. II]

21 straight years of losing baseball?

[molson]

What have the Pirates fan been through?

It must suck to be a big fan of a team that suddenly becomes completely irrelevant for 2 decades. I mean, it's not like having cancer or anything, but on the scale of sports fan trauma, that's gotta be up there.

[sterlingice]

Pirates clinch their first non-losing season since 1992 (the days of Bonds, Van Slyke, Drabek, and rookie sensation Tim Wakefield). Pinch hit home run by Travis Snyder in the top of the 9th and a converted save by Mark Melancon for a 4-3 win.

Hooray!

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

It must suck to be a big fan of a team that suddenly becomes completely irrelevant for 2 decades. I mean, it's not like having cancer or anything, but on the scale of sports fan trauma, that's gotta be up there.

Welcome to the Royals. Perennial playoff contenders from the mid-70s through the mid-80s including a championship, followed by nearly 3 decades of nothing.

[Honolulu_Blue]

It must suck to be a big fan of a team that suddenly becomes completely irrelevant for 2 decades. I mean, it's not like having cancer or anything, but on the scale of sports fan trauma, that's gotta be up there.

As a fan of the Detroit Lions, there are very few fan bases I feel all that bad for. Other than the Barry Sanders era that led to all of one playoff win, the Lions haven't really been relevant in 50+ years.

The only fanbase I really feel bad for are the folks from Cleveland. They've had it harder. They lost the Browns, Lebron bailed on them, the Indians haven't done anything, the current Browns have pretty much stunk.

[lungs]

Congrats to the Pirates. My Brewers were in the same boat for many years, made a few playoff appearances and are now back in the same boat of sucktitude :)

[Butter]

Pittsburgh fans have the Steelers, so I really haven't felt any heartburn at all about how terrible the Pirates have been.

[ISiddiqui]

Not every Pirates fan is a Steelers fan though.

[chadritt]

Welcome to the Royals. Perennial playoff contenders from the mid-70s through the mid-80s including a championship, followed by nearly 3 decades of nothing.

That reminds me: As a Braves fan I should say "Thanks for Schuerholz". P.S. I think Ive seen the world series trophy from 85 up close and it is infinitely cooler knowing its for the Royals.

[Crapshoot]

For Reds fans - good read:

The Obviousness of Billy Hamilton | FanGraphs Baseball (http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-obviousness-of-billy-hamilton/)

[SirFozzie]

Holy shit. 16-4 Sox, with six homers.

EDIT: Make that 18-4, and seven home runs.

John Lackey must be wondering "Where was all this (bleeping) offense all six times we were shut out when I was pitching????"

[cartman]

The Rangers lost to the A's today, 11-4. That broke a streak of 31 straight games where the Rangers gave up 5 runs or fewer to their opponent, the 3rd longest streak since the divisional era started in 1969.

[SirFozzie]

And Napoli hits the Sox eighth HR of the night, tying the team record, set back in 1977.

[korme]

This Reds/Cards series has been great so far. Granted the Reds took the first two so I'm biased. But last night's 1-0 victory had the intensity of a playoff game.

And now tonight it's 3-3 as we head to the top of the 14th.

[BishopMVP]

Uehara's statline on the year

3-0, 1.17 ERA, 61.1 IP, 29 HA, 9 BB, 83 K.

Simply amazing.And to think, it took injuries to Hanrahan and Bailey, the trading of Melancon, and the falling apart of Bard... all "Proven Closers", (with upper 90's fastballs) to actually give him a shot at closing, despite a WHIP well below 1.00 every year he's relieved. Plus, for all the sabermetric advances in front offices, we've got him signed for another year at $4m, because no other team valued him at $5m+ for a year this winter.

[korme]

Billy Hamilton is an impact player. 2 games, 2 SB, 2 R - 1 game winning, 1 game tying.

That said, Adams just launched one and the Birds lead 5-4

[SirFozzie]

If an ESPN story is true, and the sox hit 3,168 feet of home runs, that means the AVERAGE HR distance of the 8 was 396 feet. (and considering that one of them was an excuse me/hit the ledge at the top of the Monster homer, that must mean the rest of them were absolute BOMBS

[JPhillips]

Dammit Dusty.

Extra innings. Two outs. Runner on third.

BUNT?

[rowech]

Dammit Dusty.

Extra innings. Two outs. Runner on third.

BUNT?

He didn't call for it.

[BishopMVP]

If an ESPN story is true, and the sox hit 3,168 feet of home runs, that means the AVERAGE HR distance of the 8 was 396 feet. (and considering that one of them was an excuse me/hit the ledge at the top of the Monster homer, that must mean the rest of them were absolute BOMBSFwiw, 396 feet is almost exactly the average HR distance in MLB this season - ESPN Home Run Tracker :: Home run tracking and distance measurement (http://www.hittrackeronline.com/)

[tucker rocky]

http://mlb.si.com/2013/09/05/cleveland-indians-rally-chicken-wild-card/

http://simlb.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/indians-chicken-ap2.jpg?w=610&h=337

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Iu4h79dDYhE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[lungs]

Somebody I know that is a season ticket holder for the Brewers received a phone call from Ryan Braun apologizing for everything. He thought it was a prank call but it was indeed Ryan. I guess he's going down the season ticket list and personally calling all season ticket holders to apologize.

[Logan]

A lot of people will spend 8 hours a day calling people at minimum wage, so nice to see he can do the same thing on his salary.

[lungs]

He does have plenty of time on his hands :)

[kingfc22]

Some good pitching going on in SF...

[kingfc22]

Still going strong in SF into the 8th...

[MrBug708]

A no-no?

[kingfc22]

A no-no?

A no base runner through 8.

[MrBug708]

Ah, perfect game

[kingfc22]

Ah, perfect game

That would be it...3 outs to go :popcorn:

[MrBug708]

What channel?

[MrBug708]

Oops...just turned it on

[kingfc22]

Eric Chavez (PH) hits a ball that lands a foot in front of a diving Pence with 2 outs...

[Shkspr]

So by uttering the words "no no" and "perfect game" in sequence, followed by turning on the TV, I assume we give MrBug partial credit for jinxing the Giants.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I don't even know what to say. He threw like 90 pitches. What a game.

[dawgfan]

Good for Petit, I've always had a soft-spot for him. He was basically the poster-child for the fact that you can't judge pitching prospects solely by their numbers, you have to put value in the scouting reports too. He just dominated the lower minors up through AA at a young age, but I guess he's never had what scouts consider "great" stuff, and as he got to AAA and the majors he had a rough time.

Looks like maybe he's finally figuring out how to be successful at this level, and he's still young enough to carve out a decent career for himself.

[PilotMan]

Well there goes any chance Dodger fans had of seeing Kemp and Puig in the lineup at the same time, or even seeing Kemp at all the rest of this year. fuuuuuuuuuuuu....

[rowech]

Minus a small hiccup two nights ago, the last four nights Chapman has made some outstanding hitters look totally inept -- mostly with just a fastball.

[PilotMan]

It's weird, normally I'd be really pissed about the Dodgers losing to Cincy, but given the current race, they have it to give, and I'd rather see Cincy push hard in the Central. I'm still cheering for LA though, it just doesn't hurt as bad if they lose.