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D3baseball.com => National topics => Pro ball => Topic started by: Mr. Ypsi on February 08, 2008, 06:32:15 PM

Title: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 08, 2008, 06:32:15 PM
[Jim, the soccer board has a pretty active thread on the World Cup and European Leagues.  If you'd prefer to keep this purely d3, feel free to delete this thread.]

Assuming they don't get picked up by anyone this season (seemingly increasingly likely), Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens will all first become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration in the December 2112 balloting. 

a) All seem obvious first-ballot winners on the 'merits'; all seem doubtful based on the steroids allegations.  What an election that will be!  Predictions?

b) For other players on the ballot that year, are their chances increased, decreased, or unchanged?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 08, 2008, 06:49:22 PM
I imagine that any baseball fan is interested in just more than D-III Baseball
Title: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2009, 06:57:16 PM
While he had no connection to d3 (as far as I know), baseball in general lost one of its all-time greatest characters today.  Details are still sketchy, but apparently a truck he was working on on his farm fell on him.

He was rookie-of-the-year in 1976, going 19-9, but injury quickly shut down what might have been a HoF career (his remaining 4 years, he only went 10-10).  Imagine if the '84 Tigers (who began the season 35-5 and coasted to a WS title) had ALSO had 'the bird' just entering his prime! :o

He was probably the most entertaining player I have ever seen.  RIP :'( :'(
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 13, 2009, 07:11:28 PM
and Harry Kalas (http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/harry-kalas-dies/425248?icid=main%7Cmain%7Cdl1%7Clink6%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanhouse.com%2Fnews%2Fmain%2Fharry-kalas-dies%2F425248), too.


Bird video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYTl0dLNzhI)

...another bird video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm_jU0b5Hgw)
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Stump on April 13, 2009, 07:43:56 PM
I agree one of the most entertaining player I can remember. Too bad he couldn't have stayed healthy. RIP Mark.
And Harry Kalas one of the great voices. RIP Harry.
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2009, 08:13:58 PM
And apparently a needless shame about his career.  I just read an article which reminded me of something I'd forgotten - his 'suddenly dead arm' his 2nd year turned out to be a torn rotator cuff, not diagnosed until 1985! :( 

He and Herb Score are two 'not to be' pitching careers that will always make me wonder what might have been.
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 13, 2009, 10:07:58 PM
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/04/fidrych_killed.html
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2009, 10:35:19 PM
Fidrych was paid the munificent sum of $16,500 in 1976.  Based on attendance figures for games he pitched vs. all other Tigers games, he put about 300,000 extra fans in the stands.  Arguably, he was the most underpaid athlete in the history of professional sports.

He didn't care.  He was a happy camper to the day he died.

In all the years I've lived in Michigan, I've only personally attended two Tigers games.  One was (in a pre-game event) to pitch to my 'Beeper Ball' team (a sport for blind players - the ball beeps and the bases emit sirens).  The players' jobs are to have a consistent swing; the pitcher's job is to hit their bats.  The players also field.  If they pick up the ball before the batter reaches base, the player is out; otherwise it is a run.  My players faced a team of former Tigers wearing blindfolds - we killed 'em!  The other was to watch The Bird.  I'm undecided which is my favorite memory.
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 13, 2009, 10:46:09 PM
You catch the video clips and interviews with "The Bird" and baseball is fun again.
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 13, 2009, 11:43:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2009, 10:35:19 PM
In all the years I've lived in Michigan, I've only personally attended two Tigers games. 

Another sport you don't attend games for? I only lived in Michigan for four years and I saw six times as many Tigers games as you did!
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2009, 12:00:17 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 13, 2009, 11:43:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2009, 10:35:19 PM
In all the years I've lived in Michigan, I've only personally attended two Tigers games. 

Another sport you don't attend games for? I only lived in Michigan for four years and I saw six times as many Tigers games as you did!

Touche'!

But I bet I've attended infinitely more youth soccer, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, etc., games than you! :D

[And coached many of them. :)  It still feels weird to sit at a soccer game!]

Professional sports just don't really interest me - I've also attended one Pistons game, and zero Lions or Red Wings games.  You see it better (and cheaper) on TV.
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Just Bill on April 14, 2009, 12:10:45 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2009, 12:00:17 AM
Professional sports just don't really interest me - I've also attended...and zero Lions...games. 

I thought you said professional sports?  Seriously, who could hold you in contempt for that?
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2009, 12:21:02 AM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 14, 2009, 12:10:45 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2009, 12:00:17 AM
Professional sports just don't really interest me - I've also attended...and zero Lions...games. 

I thought you said professional sports?  Seriously, who could hold you in contempt for that?

Now, now - they had several championships when I was a kid!  Just none since I moved to Michigan and gave a hoot. ;D

They now call it 'the curse of Bobby Layne'.  Apparently he was not happy about being traded.  Unfortunately, except for retrospectives, I have no idea who that greatest of Lions' QBs was! ;)
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: OshDude on April 14, 2009, 09:43:57 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2009, 12:21:02 AM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 14, 2009, 12:10:45 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2009, 12:00:17 AM
Professional sports just don't really interest me - I've also attended...and zero Lions...games. 

I thought you said professional sports?  Seriously, who could hold you in contempt for that?

Now, now - they had several championships when I was a kid!  Just none since I moved to Michigan and gave a hoot. ;D

They now call it 'the curse of Bobby Layne'.  Apparently he was not happy about being traded.  Unfortunately, except for retrospectives, I have no idea who that greatest of Lions' QBs was! ;)
I went to one Lions game in Pontiac (vs. Packers several years ago). Sat one row from the very top, but I was on TV after every Packers score. Musta been the Cheesehead I was wearing. Found it really weird when I got home to find out the announcers were talking about me. I'll never know how they found me near the endzone roof that day. Anyway, that's my Pontiac story. Oh, and we had to park about 2000 miles from the stadium, in some random grass field. Alas, the Pack lost that day.

I was also at the Packers/Lions playoff game when the good guys held Barry to negative yardage. I hung out with Lesley Visser for a long time that day. I get better seats at Lambeau ... mostly good memories when someone brings up the Lions.
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 16, 2009, 05:45:02 AM
Forgive me for going slightly off-topic here, but just I just read about the passing of another broadcaster here:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/43075877.html

:'( :'(

(A couple of weeks back I remember hearing about the Chicago area losing 2 broadcasters the same day--Johnny "Red" Kerr and Norm Van Lier)
Title: Re: RIP: Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych
Post by: BASH6-4-3 on April 18, 2009, 09:04:50 PM
In 1976 I was 9 years old and living in western Michigan.  I was glued to every Detroit Tiger game on TV & radio.  Mark Fidrych was the biggest thing there was at the time.  Nothing came even close in my world.  Not even Muhammad Ali, Terry Bradshaw & the Steel Curtain, The Big Red Machine or Dr. J.  Not even Disco.  The Tigers were terrible, but they had the best media coverage in the country in my opinion with the late George Kell on TV and the Hall of Famer Ernie Harwell on radio.  But with the Bird, the Tigers became a national media event... at least every 5th day when Fidrych took the mound.

My dad would drive us kids the 3 hours to Tiger Stadium once or twice a year for a game.  Usual game crowds would usually range 8,000-12,000 for a weekend game.  I'll never forget the the one time I got to see the Bird play.  50,000 fans all standing and banging the old green wooden seats at Tiger Stadium chanting, "Go Bird Go.  Go Bird Go."  It was so loud and electric you were afraid the old stadium would crack at the foundation and come crumbling down.  These are the some of the sweetest memories of my childhood.

My father and I now live 4 hours apart half a continent away from Detroit.  We communicate almost daily via email and it has been a sad few weeks lately as we have mourned the passing of Fidrych and George Kell.  I haven't been a Tiger fan for over 20 years, but I am still touched by their rich history.  Some of it icons like Cobb, Greenberg, Kell & Kaline.  But some of their rich history is the almost fictional story of Mark "The Bird" Fidrych.  A legend in the hearts of 9 year old boys.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2009, 01:29:21 AM
I'll give it one more try; otherwise I'll figure people only want d3 baseball. ;)

Roughly 1/7th of the way through the season, St. Louis is tops at .680.  Aside from the poor Nats, no one is below .375.  Has parity run amok, or is this just an early season fluke?  Will someone (specify who :D) break out, or has MLB reached such a state of 'balance' that everyone is average?!

This seems awfully early in the season for there not to be 2-3 teams well over .700 (and, of course, several teams well under .350).

More specifically, the AL Central has 4 teams within a game of first (and Cleveland is hardly eliminated ;) at 4 back) - is the AL Central mediocre? a top group beating each other down? or a bunch of losers feasting on each other?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 12, 2009, 05:57:16 PM
We should probably do MLB stuff on Anything Goes, if the interest is even there.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: d3baseballnut on May 12, 2009, 06:28:39 PM
MAY MADNESS PICKS NEED TO BE IN BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.....IF YOU WANT TO PLAY...

Email prediction for Winner and runner-up for each regional:  basefrk2@aol.com
Title: MLB umpires are a joke!
Post by: old scot on October 21, 2009, 10:26:48 PM
Has anyone witnessed incompetence like the umpiring in the Major League playoff series? Too many bad calls to point out a specific instant.
Title: Re: MLB umpires are a joke!
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on October 22, 2009, 05:50:21 AM
Many calls have been missed in the playoffs and MLB needs to make some changes. Tag plays seem to be the worst and and instant replay can easily fix this with an umpire in the booth off the field allowed to overrule the umpires on the field within 60 seconds.

Other plays that replay can get it right are flyball/line drive outs that are trapped or not caught and the flyball tag up left base early calls.

Umpires also need to be more closely graded on their really bad 3rd strike calls which many times the called 3rd strike is no where close to the strike zone.  Ongoing bad calls must result in umpires being replaced just like players who play poorly are.

I would not make the same changes for regular season and leave the replay for the home run calls during the regular season
Title: Re: MLB umpires are a joke!
Post by: old scot on October 23, 2009, 10:39:40 AM
MLB needs to take advantage of today's technology to get the calls right.

Out / safe on the bases and home run, definitely reviewed. Fair / foul would be tough, especially with runners in base. You would have to go with the initial call  because you can't assume where the base runners would advance to. Balls and strikes, still would have to go with the ump's call. Total judgement call.

Game 4 of the Yankee / Angel game was umpiring at its worst. The pick off play at 2nd, the ump seemed to be in position to make the call but, blew it.
The tag up play at 3rd, the ump was totally out of position. He could not see the outfielder and the runner in the same view.
Finally, I would have loved to hear the explanation he gave to the Angel's manager on the DP that was not called at 3rd. Time was in, both runners off the base, catcher tags both runners while off the base, only 1 out called?????????
Title: Re: MLB umpires are a joke!
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on October 24, 2009, 01:54:15 PM
Fair/Foul calls on replay could be handled for runners as advancing 1 base or treat like a ground rule double.

Strike zone and out/safe on force plays are judgment calls that can not be replayed
but umpires need to be graded on these and too many bad calls should require their replacement or dismissal. You cant keep calling 3rd strikes that are clearly off the plate and not strike.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on November 05, 2009, 07:21:39 PM
Flashback: The Beginning of Philly and NYC Baseball (http://gothamist.com/2009/10/28/flashback_the_beginning_of_philly_a.php?gallery0Pic=2)

This website was shared with SABR members.

I hope that you enjoy it this off-season.
Title: Happy 4th of July
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 04, 2010, 04:35:30 AM
Old-timers will fondly remember the day that Rick Monday saved an American flag from being set aflame by a protester at Dodger stadium.

Here is a story about Rick (http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15437306?nclick_check=1) and a YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8QPQAhxo) for your viewing pleasure.

Happy 4th to you and yours.   :)
Title: Re: Happy 4th of July
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on July 04, 2010, 01:16:15 PM
In SoCal the 4th will be celebrated by flyovers at 13 locations by the USAF Boeing C17 Military Cargo Plane. This plane has been used not only for military missions but numerous times to ferry humantarian aid cargo to earthquake victims in Haiti, Tsumani in America Samoa, earthquake in Chile,  supplies for oil spill cleanup in Gulf, to Karina and numerous other places in the past.

Again they will flyover before the Angel Game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OpXpOoWtaE&feature=related
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 31, 2010, 07:23:45 PM
Only the Cubbies (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Knock-knock-Rockies-get-record-11-straight-hit?urn=mlb-259430)...
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 28, 2010, 02:33:04 PM
One of the rare Honus Wagner (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10301/1098722-53.stm)baseball cards is at auction.

The card belonged to the brother of a nun.  Proceeds will go to the Order.
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: BDB on October 28, 2010, 02:35:18 PM
Has anyone figured out what Lincecum was thinking when he had the runner dead off 3rd base last night and just let him get safely back to the bag?
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: OshDude on October 29, 2010, 08:46:21 AM
Quote from: BlueDevil Bob on October 28, 2010, 02:35:18 PM
Has anyone figured out what Lincecum was thinking when he had the runner dead off 3rd base last night and just let him get safely back to the bag?
Strikeouts are sexier than 1-5-2-6 putouts. My money is on that thought.
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on October 29, 2010, 08:50:51 AM
Quote from: OshDude on October 29, 2010, 08:46:21 AM
Quote from: BlueDevil Bob on October 28, 2010, 02:35:18 PM
Has anyone figured out what Lincecum was thinking when he had the runner dead off 3rd base last night and just let him get safely back to the bag?
Strikeouts are sexier than 1-5-2-6 putouts. My money is on that thought.
Some people differ on the strikeout thing....
http://movieclips.com/XMqB-strikeouts-are-fascist/
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 29, 2010, 03:43:28 PM
Quote from: OshDude on October 29, 2010, 08:46:21 AM
Quote from: BlueDevil Bob on October 28, 2010, 02:35:18 PM
Has anyone figured out what Lincecum was thinking when he had the runner dead off 3rd base last night and just let him get safely back to the bag?
Strikeouts are sexier than 1-5-2-6 putouts. My money is on that thought.

I love a clean 1-5-2-6.

My favorite put out I have seen was a 1-2-3  which ranks up with two putouts by the first baseman at third - that took some time to develop.
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on October 29, 2010, 04:32:46 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on October 29, 2010, 03:43:28 PM
Quote from: OshDude on October 29, 2010, 08:46:21 AM
Quote from: BlueDevil Bob on October 28, 2010, 02:35:18 PM
Has anyone figured out what Lincecum was thinking when he had the runner dead off 3rd base last night and just let him get safely back to the bag?
Strikeouts are sexier than 1-5-2-6 putouts. My money is on that thought.

I love a clean 1-5-2-6.

My favorite put out I have seen was a 1-2-3  which ranks up with two putouts by the first baseman at third - that took some time to develop.

I was always partial to the 2-6-2 doubleplay on a double steal attempt.
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: Piobark on October 29, 2010, 06:34:15 PM
Personal all time favorite was a 8-3-2-5 triple play. Runners on first and third, fly to center, and the guy on first got greedy...
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 30, 2010, 09:47:17 AM
Quote from: Piobark on October 29, 2010, 06:34:15 PM
Personal all time favorite was a 8-3-2-5 triple play. Runners on first and third, fly to center, and the guy on first got greedy...
Were you "8", or
were you "3", or
were you "2" or "5"?

Surely you were not the greedy baserunner, or the really slow guy who could not make it home safely from third on a fly ball to center?

If you were the batter who was robbed of a SAC FLY or a fan in the stands, then we all understand.   ;)
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on October 30, 2010, 10:51:11 AM
LMAO
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: Piobark on November 06, 2010, 02:01:46 PM
LOL...

Sorry for the late response... I was sitting in the stands. This was a Pony league game.

Fly ball was to medium center. CF came up throwing, 1B cut it off near the mound, heard the catcher calling home - and threw it there in time to catch the runner who was jogging home. Runner on first had tagged, went to second on the throw - equally bad baseball - and then went to third thinking everyone would be asleep. Wrong. Out by 20 feet.

It does represent one of two triple plays I've seen in my life - the other was a simple 5-4-3 where the ground ball pulled 3B over next to the bag.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 27, 2011, 09:55:01 AM
Baseball Player Quits, Says "I Don't Deserve $12M"  (http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/Baseball-Player-Quits-Says-I-Dont-Deserve-12M-114712809.html?dr)

Royals starter Gil Meche walks away from a guaranteed contract


Quote
...
"When I signed my contract, my main goal was to earn it," Meche told the paper from his temporary home in Lafayette, La. "Once I started to realize I wasn't earning my money, I felt bad. I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching. Honestly, I didn't feel like I deserved it. I didn't want to have those feelings again."
...
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Joe Wally on May 04, 2011, 09:31:23 AM
Last night my White Sox gave up a no hitter to Frankie Liriano who came into the game with an ERA over nine.  This team could get no-hit by a batting tee right now.  We suck out loud!   >:(
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 04, 2011, 11:53:33 PM
Quote from: Joe Wally on May 04, 2011, 09:31:23 AM
Last night my White Sox gave up a no hitter to Frankie Liriano who came into the game with an ERA over nine.  This team could get no-hit by a batting tee right now.  We suck out loud!   >:(
That's okay.  The Twins cheated (http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2011-05-04/twins-justin-morneau-admits-he-missed-tag-during-no-hitter).   ;)

Liriano owes Morneau a steak dinner, or something nicer and more expensive!

With baseball salaries the way that they are now, a treat of a steak dinner just doesn't have the flare that it once did.
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: forheavendial4999 on May 05, 2011, 01:25:43 AM
Quote from: Piobark on October 29, 2010, 06:34:15 PM
Personal all time favorite was a 8-3-2-5 triple play. Runners on first and third, fly to center, and the guy on first got greedy...

Ever seen a putout by 8?
Title: Re: Talking Major League Baseball
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 05, 2011, 07:53:31 AM
Quote from: forheavendial4999 on May 05, 2011, 01:25:43 AM
Quote from: Piobark on October 29, 2010, 06:34:15 PM
Personal all time favorite was a 8-3-2-5 triple play. Runners on first and third, fly to center, and the guy on first got greedy...

Ever seen a putout by 8?
Yes, all the time, but I think you mean something different.   :)

I once saw the CF come on a short fly ball to the edge of the grass.  He then got involved with a run-down.

He got the tag at second base.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Joe Wally on May 05, 2011, 10:23:42 AM
Dewey Evans used to do it with some regularity from right field at Fenway.  That dude had a gun for an arm.  A far more rare occurence from center.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ron Boerger on May 05, 2011, 11:07:55 AM
Thought this might be of interest to some here: Beckett Opens Up About Youth, Off-Season Workouts 

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/04/15/beckett-opens-up-on-youth-off-season-workouts/

The D3 connection is where he does his off-season training.   :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 07:34:34 PM
I'm well aware of the definition of a perfect game, but it may be time to recognize some gray areas.  First, of course, is Harvey Haddix with probably the greatest game ever pitched - perfect for 12 innings, only to lose in the 13th.  Last year, Galarraga pitched a perfect game, but Jim Joyce stole it on the 27th out.  (To his everlasting credit, Joyce was immediately apologetic, in fact distraught, after seeing the replay; to his even greater credit, Galarraga did not even protest, but just gave a bemused smile and made the 28th consecutive out - like Haddix, he pitched a 'MORE-than perfect game'.)

Add Justin Verlander to the list.  After 7.1 perfect innings, he gave up a walk - maybe.  Replays make it a dubious call, at MOST an inch or two outside, and IMO strike three rather than ball four.  He proceded to get the next guy to hit into a double play.  IMO, a complete game win facing only 27 batters is 'perfect'.

Any other nominees to the 'perfect game asterisk' club?! :D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Joe Wally on May 07, 2011, 10:44:26 PM
Belated birthday wishes to the Say Hey Kid.

Willie Mays turned 80 yesterday
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 21, 2011, 02:24:53 PM
Money Ball Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QPVo0UIzc&feature=player_embedded)

Release is scheduled for Fall 2011
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 28, 2011, 02:20:46 PM
First pitch for the Padres (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Cirque-du-Soleil-performer-gets-nutty-with-Padre?urn=mlb-wp10971)

...but his foot was off the rubber when he threw the ball.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: infielddad on June 28, 2011, 06:26:57 PM
Quote from: Joe Wally on May 07, 2011, 10:44:26 PM
Belated birthday wishes to the Say Hey Kid.

Willie Mays turned 80 yesterday

For any who are fans of Willie, the newer book, "Willie Mays, the Life and Legend" is off the charts. A wonderful look into Willie's life; one of the very rare times Willie has authorized and been a part of such an effort.
Currently I am reading "The Last Boy."  So far, 300 pages into 900, it does not do justice to Mickey Mantle.
But the Hirsch effort about Willie is outstanding and a great, great read about life on and off the field for, arguably, the greatest player ever.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: OshDude on June 28, 2011, 09:49:56 PM
Quote from: infielddad on June 28, 2011, 06:26:57 PM
Quote from: Joe Wally on May 07, 2011, 10:44:26 PM
Belated birthday wishes to the Say Hey Kid.

Willie Mays turned 80 yesterday

For any who are fans of Willie, the newer book, "Willie Mays, the Life and Legend" is off the charts. A wonderful look into Willie's life; one of the very rare times Willie has authorized and been a part of such an effort.
Currently I am reading "The Last Boy."  So far, 300 pages into 900, it does not do justice to Mickey Mantle.
But the Hirsch effort about Willie is outstanding and a great, great read about life on and off the field for, arguably, the greatest player ever.
I recommend to anyone the memoir Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time by David Goodwillie. Goodwillie is a former baseball player at Kenyon. Not a baseball book by any stretch despite it starting that way, it's thoroughly enjoyable and readable. That guy had an interesting, improbable life after playing at Kenyon.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 10, 2011, 05:11:38 PM
St Lawrence graduate (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Fan-returns-3-000th-hit-to-Jeter-team-rewards-h?urn=mlb-wp12123) catches HR-ball that was Jeter's 3000th hit.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on November 03, 2011, 07:39:25 AM
Brooks Robinson's new statue in Baltimore (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-10-22/sports/bs-sp-schmuck-brooks-robinson-1023-20111022_1_washington-boulevard-plaza-new-statue-golden-gloves)

Notice the Gold Glove on the bronze statue. :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: bulk19 on February 03, 2012, 02:24:21 PM
Hope Brooks is feeling OK from his recent tumble...

But anyway, T minus 15 days before pitchers and catchers start reporting to their respective clubs!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Joe Wally on February 22, 2012, 08:29:32 AM
Lest I be swayed by anything like performance or fact; here are my picks for divisional winners and wild cards as we head south for spring training:

AL East - Yankees
AL Central - Tigers
AL West - Angels
Wildcard - Rays

NL East - Phillies
NL Central - Reds
NL West - Dodgers
Wildcard - Braves

Watch ya got?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2012, 04:51:51 PM
Sometimes baseball scoring is just plain weird. :P

Today, Verlander had a 2-hit shutout for 8 innings; left up 2-0.  Valverde (49 for 49 in save opportunities last year) comes in and promptly blows the save, giving up three hits and two runs.  Tigers score in the bottom of the 9th.  Meaning, of course, that Verlander gets a no decision; Valverde gets the win! ::)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2012, 01:22:41 AM
And in game two, the win goes again to the 'wrong' pitcher.  Doug Fister had a shutout through 3.2 innings (and the lead), but left due to injury, so does not get the win.  Below was deserving (2.1 shutout innings), but not as much as Fister (who has been placed on the 15-game DL).

Because of cut-and-dried rules for scoring, wins have become a nearly useless stat.  If only they would allow some discretion by the scorekeeper!  Sure it could be abused, but the rules have already given the 'wrong' pitcher the win twice in two Tigers games! >:(
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 11, 2012, 06:33:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2012, 01:22:41 AM
And in game two, the win goes again to the 'wrong' pitcher.  Doug Fister had a shutout through 3.2 innings (and the lead), but left due to injury, so does not get the win.  Below was deserving (2.1 shutout innings), but not as much as Fister (who has been placed on the 15-game DL).

Because of cut-and-dried rules for scoring, wins have become a nearly useless stat.  If only they would allow some discretion by the scorekeeper!  Sure it could be abused, but the rules have already given the 'wrong' pitcher the win twice in two Tigers games! >:(
;)
Ehhh, Mr Ypsi,

I just can't figure you.

You're a Tiger fan, and you're complaining about which pitcher got the win?

You oughta be glad the Tiger pitching staff got the win!

;)   :)

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: OshDude on April 18, 2012, 01:02:16 AM
Jaime Moyer, 49, wins a major league game despite not touching 80 mph with a single pitch. Love it.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on April 18, 2012, 12:23:57 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on April 18, 2012, 01:02:16 AM
Jaime Moyer, 49, wins a major league game despite not touching 80 mph with a single pitch. Love it.
THis also makes him the Oldest player to ever win a game.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2012, 10:34:45 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 11, 2012, 06:33:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2012, 01:22:41 AM
And in game two, the win goes again to the 'wrong' pitcher.  Doug Fister had a shutout through 3.2 innings (and the lead), but left due to injury, so does not get the win.  Below was deserving (2.1 shutout innings), but not as much as Fister (who has been placed on the 15-game DL).

Because of cut-and-dried rules for scoring, wins have become a nearly useless stat.  If only they would allow some discretion by the scorekeeper!  Sure it could be abused, but the rules have already given the 'wrong' pitcher the win twice in two Tigers games! >:(
;)
Ehhh, Mr Ypsi,

I just can't figure you.

You're a Tiger fan, and you're complaining about which pitcher got the win?

You oughta be glad the Tiger pitching staff got the win!

;)   :)

Sorry for the late reply.

Just got back from 12 days in Peoria, burying my dad and helping my mom adjust and clear up all the inevitable loose ends.

Certainly not complaining about any Tiger getting the win!  I just find the cut-and-dried rules on wins to be often bizarre.  (Since awards, salaries, and bonuses are often tied to wins, players might be concerned as well!  Verlander seems to have a really good grounding on this - he recognizes it is highly unlikely he will match last year's record - when Valverde went 49 of 49 on saves - but hopes to be a better pitcher, regardless of record.)

BTW, Verlander is now 2-1 with a 1.72 era.  Duane Below is showing his mettle - his era is still 0.00 (with 6 shutout innings today after Rick Porcello got seriously abused by Texas in the first game)!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 21, 2012, 11:19:23 PM
I assume that you were grateful to have your dad all these years. I lost my Dad in October 1990.

Field of Dreams always gets me...

"You wanna have a catch?"

Every time that we visited in his last 2 years of life, I would intentionally make sure that we "had a catch" in the driveway of his house.

This is my father's favorite benediction. I share them with you and your family.

"May the Peace that passes all understanding keep and fill your heart, now and forevermore."
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2012, 11:59:03 PM
Thanks, Ralph.

Dad was 93, so it wasn't a total shock, but he seemed to be so well right until the end.  In helping mom straighten out things, we discovered he was (sometimes) not as well as we thought - overdue unpaid bills, unfiled taxes (which he thought he had taken to the preparer), expired license tabs on his car, etc.  My faith in humanity is restored by the reactions of everyone I dealt with: ALL late fees were waived, my daughter-in-law received license tabs (she bought his car) in 5 minutes from the DMV (DMV! :o), I found his tax materials in the back seat of his car on the 16th and the preparer did it all on time, even the most bizarre of all: 6 days before his death he took a cash advance for $60 from his credit card at a bank where he had $43,000 in his checking account - they retroactively called it a checking account withdrawal and waived the transaction fee!  If you can get through the machines and bureaucracy, people themselves are still people.  And are mostly good.

As soon as a place opens up, mom will be moving into the place they had already selected to move when the time came.  Alas, she will move alone, but it is not a spur-of-the-moment choice.  I have high hopes that she will enjoy her stay.  There is no way she would move in with any of us 'kids' - that is just not her style.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: rob on April 23, 2012, 10:33:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2012, 11:59:03 PM
Thanks, Ralph.

Dad was 93, so it wasn't a total shock, but he seemed to be so well right until the end.  In helping mom straighten out things, we discovered he was (sometimes) not as well as we thought - overdue unpaid bills, unfiled taxes (which he thought he had taken to the preparer), expired license tabs on his car, etc.  My faith in humanity is restored by the reactions of everyone I dealt with: ALL late fees were waived, my daughter-in-law received license tabs (she bought his car) in 5 minutes from the DMV (DMV! :o), I found his tax materials in the back seat of his car on the 16th and the preparer did it all on time, even the most bizarre of all: 6 days before his death he took a cash advance for $60 from his credit card at a bank where he had $43,000 in his checking account - they retroactively called it a checking account withdrawal and waived the transaction fee!  If you can get through the machines and bureaucracy, people themselves are still people.  And are mostly good.

As soon as a place opens up, mom will be moving into the place they had already selected to move when the time came.  Alas, she will move alone, but it is not a spur-of-the-moment choice.  I have high hopes that she will enjoy her stay.  There is no way she would move in with any of us 'kids' - that is just not her style.
Sorry for your loss.
Title: Babe Ruth's Jersey
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 21, 2012, 12:27:16 AM
$4.4M!  Wow! (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/20120520babe_ruth_jersey_sells_for_record_44_million/srvc=home&position=recent)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 21, 2012, 12:33:44 AM
OK, time to open a can of worms: Roger Clemens.

(I really wish the US would adopt the Scottish style of 'guilty' or 'not proven'.  It might cut down on the number of people who think Clemens has been 'vindicated', 'exonerated' or 'proven innocent'.  NO.  He has been not proven guilty - but I believe he is factually guilty.  Given the proceedings, I believe the jury reached the right verdict, and I salute that as a matter of governmental law he is therefore 'innocent until proven guilty', but that doesn't affect what I believe are the facts.)

I'm torn on this one - I believe Clemens (and Bonds) deserved the HoF for what they already did before they juiced, but I would hate to see them be first-ballot HoFers.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on June 21, 2012, 07:43:38 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 21, 2012, 12:33:44 AM
OK, time to open a can of worms: Roger Clemens.

(I really wish the US would adopt the Scottish style of 'guilty' or 'not proven'.  It might cut down on the number of people who think Clemens has been 'vindicated', 'exonerated' or 'proven innocent'.  NO.  He has been not proven guilty - but I believe he is factually guilty.  Given the proceedings, I believe the jury reached the right verdict, and I salute that as a matter of governmental law he is therefore 'innocent until proven guilty', but that doesn't affect what I believe are the facts.)

I'm torn on this one - I believe Clemens (and Bonds) deserved the HoF for what they already did before they juiced, but I would hate to see them be first-ballot HoFers.

Thoughts?
Pete Rose's actions never impacted the outcome of a game. Bonds, Clemens and others of the STERIOD ERA did. So did they impact their games like the Black Sox did...
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2798498
All some day should be in the HOF but may not make it due to the actions and decisions they made off the field.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Gray Fox on September 03, 2012, 11:49:24 PM
I don't know where to post this, but this seems good enough.

Marvin Rotblatt (born October 18, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois), nicknamed "Rotty", is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox in the 1948, 1950 and 1951 seasons. His ERAs in 1948 (7.85) and 1950 (6.23) were the highest in the majors. He failed to get a base hit in fifteen career at-bats.

In 1964, students at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota named an intramural slow-pitch softball league after Rotblatt. Although traditional intramural softball is still played at Carleton, the name Rotblatt now refers to an annual beer softball game that is played with one inning for every year of the school's nearly century-and-a-half existence.

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2012, 11:54:51 PM
Aaaargh!  One year after going 49 of 49 in save situations, Jose Valverde has become a total waste of carbon molecules!  After blowing game four of the ALDS series to force Detroit to waste Verlander in that series (Justin had a complete-game shutout in one of the most dominating games ever), he has now blown a 4-0 ninth inning lead against the damn Yankees.  Valverde's nickname is Papa Grande, which may mean 'Big Daddy' in Spanglish, but means 'Big Potato' in real Spanish.  We've already gone thru 'baked' and 'mashed' and 'smashed' potato for his shortcomings; any suggestions for how we really feel?! ::)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 14, 2012, 01:16:33 AM
Tigers win it in the 12th. ;D  All is forgiven - forget the last post.  (Though I will still have a heart attack if Valverde pitches again. :P)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 15, 2012, 12:43:11 AM
Tigers win again - Valverde did NOT pitch!  In 7 postseason games, starters have yielded 5 earned runs in 48 innings; Valverde has yielded 7 in 2.1 innings. :P

Tigers take both games in Gotham; this series is NOT returning to New York. ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on October 19, 2012, 10:11:00 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)

;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2012, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)
;D  Mischievious political question on a baseball board for my friend Mr Ypsi.

Mr Applegate approaches you beneath the streetlamp. He lights the cigarette with snap of his fingers and then  offers you your choice.

An Obama victory in the election OR

A World Series Championship for your Tigers.  (Kind of a once in a generation thing.)

;)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 01:02:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2012, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)
;D  Mischievious political question on a baseball board for my friend Mr Ypsi.

Mr Applegate approaches you beneath the streetlamp. He lights the cigarette with snap of his fingers and then  offers you your choice.

An Obama victory in the election OR

A World Series Championship for your Tigers.  (Kind of a once in a generation thing.)

;)

Unless the opponents make a deal with the devil, we don't need Mr. Applegate for BOTH to happen! 8-)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on October 19, 2012, 04:37:57 PM
The following occurred to me in regard to the 2-3-2 home game format used in MLB. In the current NL series, SF is considered to have the home field advantage, since they would host games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Among the possible scenarios in this series : if it was a 4-game sweep, neither team would have had a home field advantage; if StL wins in 5, they will have had the home field advantage (3 of the 5). If StL wins in 6 games, neither team will have had a home field advantage. And only if it goes 7 games, does SF enjoy the home field advantage. I realize this is not a profound revelation, but it's something to think about for a few seconds.
No, I don't suggest a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 20, 2012, 11:24:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 01:02:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2012, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)
;D  Mischievious political question on a baseball board for my friend Mr Ypsi.

Mr Applegate approaches you beneath the streetlamp. He lights the cigarette with snap of his fingers and then  offers you your choice.

An Obama victory in the election OR

A World Series Championship for your Tigers.  (Kind of a once in a generation thing.)

;)

Unless the opponents make a deal with the devil, we don't need Mr. Applegate for BOTH to happen! 8-)
:)  Smooth answer, Mr Ypsi!  Big cackles of laughter!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 22, 2012, 11:56:35 PM
Didn't turn on the StL @ SF game until the 9th (was watching the Lions lay a total egg in Chicago on MNF); weirdest finish I've ever seen.  Cards down 9-0, but the rain was coming down in torrents!  (Apparently MLB now has a rule that a postseason game, or at least a series-ending game, cannot be rain-shortened, so a suspension would have postponed the World Series, especially since rain is predicted to last all day tomorrow.)  I have NEVER seen baseball played in such conditions!  Puddles on the field, the whole infield was reflecting the stadium lights, and sometimes it was hard to even see the ball.

I'm hoping the first game of the WS doesn't get started then suspended, costing Justin Verlander again like last year's ALCS! :P
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: NCF on October 24, 2012, 09:08:38 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 22, 2012, 11:56:35 PM
Didn't turn on the StL @ SF game until the 9th (was watching the Lions lay a total egg in Chicago on MNF); weirdest finish I've ever seen.  Cards down 9-0, but the rain was coming down in torrents!  (Apparently MLB now has a rule that a postseason game, or at least a series-ending game, cannot be rain-shortened, so a suspension would have postponed the World Series, especially since rain is predicted to last all day tomorrow.)  I have NEVER seen baseball played in such conditions!  Puddles on the field, the whole infield was reflecting the stadium lights, and sometimes it was hard to even see the ball.

I'm hoping the first game of the WS doesn't get started then suspended, costing Justin Verlander again like last year's ALCS! :P
Although I am a National League fan (unless the Yankees are in), I wouldn't mind seeing the Tigers win so all those White (choke, choke) Sox (choke, choke) fans can only dream of what might have been!! LOL ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: BBFan62 on October 24, 2012, 11:10:46 AM
Quote from: newcardfan on October 24, 2012, 09:08:38 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 22, 2012, 11:56:35 PM
Didn't turn on the StL @ SF game until the 9th (was watching the Lions lay a total egg in Chicago on MNF); weirdest finish I've ever seen.  Cards down 9-0, but the rain was coming down in torrents!  (Apparently MLB now has a rule that a postseason game, or at least a series-ending game, cannot be rain-shortened, so a suspension would have postponed the World Series, especially since rain is predicted to last all day tomorrow.)  I have NEVER seen baseball played in such conditions!  Puddles on the field, the whole infield was reflecting the stadium lights, and sometimes it was hard to even see the ball.

I'm hoping the first game of the WS doesn't get started then suspended, costing Justin Verlander again like last year's ALCS! :P
Although I am a National League fan (unless the Yankees are in), I wouldn't mind seeing the Tigers win so all those White (choke, choke) Sox (choke, choke) fans can only dream of what might have been!! LOL ;D ;D ;D

Wait 'til next year! Oh, wait......that's the Cubbie in me coming out. Well then, should I change it to "next century"?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on October 24, 2012, 11:35:58 AM
Quote from: BBFan62 on October 24, 2012, 11:10:46 AM
Quote from: newcardfan on October 24, 2012, 09:08:38 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 22, 2012, 11:56:35 PM
Didn't turn on the StL @ SF game until the 9th (was watching the Lions lay a total egg in Chicago on MNF); weirdest finish I've ever seen.  Cards down 9-0, but the rain was coming down in torrents!  (Apparently MLB now has a rule that a postseason game, or at least a series-ending game, cannot be rain-shortened, so a suspension would have postponed the World Series, especially since rain is predicted to last all day tomorrow.)  I have NEVER seen baseball played in such conditions!  Puddles on the field, the whole infield was reflecting the stadium lights, and sometimes it was hard to even see the ball.

I'm hoping the first game of the WS doesn't get started then suspended, costing Justin Verlander again like last year's ALCS! :P
Although I am a National League fan (unless the Yankees are in), I wouldn't mind seeing the Tigers win so all those White (choke, choke) Sox (choke, choke) fans can only dream of what might have been!! LOL ;D ;D ;D

Wait 'til next year! Oh, wait......that's the Cubbie in me coming out. Well then, should I change it to "next century"?
With the Cubbies that may even be too soon. Just stick with Wait till next "?"  ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: NCF on October 24, 2012, 12:46:26 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on October 24, 2012, 11:35:58 AM
Quote from: BBFan62 on October 24, 2012, 11:10:46 AM
Quote from: newcardfan on October 24, 2012, 09:08:38 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 22, 2012, 11:56:35 PM
Didn't turn on the StL @ SF game until the 9th (was watching the Lions lay a total egg in Chicago on MNF); weirdest finish I've ever seen.  Cards down 9-0, but the rain was coming down in torrents!  (Apparently MLB now has a rule that a postseason game, or at least a series-ending game, cannot be rain-shortened, so a suspension would have postponed the World Series, especially since rain is predicted to last all day tomorrow.)  I have NEVER seen baseball played in such conditions!  Puddles on the field, the whole infield was reflecting the stadium lights, and sometimes it was hard to even see the ball.

I'm hoping the first game of the WS doesn't get started then suspended, costing Justin Verlander again like last year's ALCS! :P
Although I am a National League fan (unless the Yankees are in), I wouldn't mind seeing the Tigers win so all those White (choke, choke) Sox (choke, choke) fans can only dream of what might have been!! LOL ;D ;D ;D

Wait 'til next year! Oh, wait......that's the Cubbie in me coming out. Well then, should I change it to "next century"?
With the Cubbies that may even be too soon. Just stick with Wait till next "?"  ;D

The Cubs will never win  ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 29, 2012, 02:10:50 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 20, 2012, 11:24:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 01:02:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2012, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)
;D  Mischievious political question on a baseball board for my friend Mr Ypsi.

Mr Applegate approaches you beneath the streetlamp. He lights the cigarette with snap of his fingers and then  offers you your choice.

An Obama victory in the election OR

A World Series Championship for your Tigers.  (Kind of a once in a generation thing.)

;)

Unless the opponents make a deal with the devil, we don't need Mr. Applegate for BOTH to happen! 8-)
:)  Smooth answer, Mr Ypsi!  Big cackles of laughter!

Still too early to say on an Obama win, but have you got Mr. Applegate's number handy in terms of the World Series? ;)  Sheesh - did ANYONE foresee a Giants' sweep?  Can't blame the Tigers' pitchers (except for Verlander losing the mojo at the worst possible time, and Valverde suddenly being DONE; one year after going 49 for 49 in save situations, I doubt he will ever pitch in Detroit again).  Some combination of Giants' pitchers getting crazy-hot, and Tigers' batters getting crazy-cold.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 29, 2012, 11:10:06 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 29, 2012, 02:10:50 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 20, 2012, 11:24:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 01:02:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2012, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Buh, bye, Yankees.  Sorry 'bout the broom marks! 8-)
;D  Mischievious political question on a baseball board for my friend Mr Ypsi.

Mr Applegate approaches you beneath the streetlamp. He lights the cigarette with snap of his fingers and then  offers you your choice.

An Obama victory in the election OR

A World Series Championship for your Tigers.  (Kind of a once in a generation thing.)

;)

Unless the opponents make a deal with the devil, we don't need Mr. Applegate for BOTH to happen! 8-)
:)  Smooth answer, Mr Ypsi!  Big cackles of laughter!

Still too early to say on an Obama win, but have you got Mr. Applegate's number handy in terms of the World Series? ;)  Sheesh - did ANYONE foresee a Giants' sweep?  Can't blame the Tigers' pitchers (except for Verlander losing the mojo at the worst possible time, and Valverde suddenly being DONE; one year after going 49 for 49 in save situations, I doubt he will ever pitch in Detroit again).  Some combination of Giants' pitchers getting crazy-hot, and Tigers' batters getting crazy-cold.
:)  More cackles of laughter!

Hey, my Texas Strangers looked liked the 1951 Dodgers or the 1962 Dodgers or a bunch of other teams.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1353871-the-top-15-most-memorable-pennant-race-collapses-in-baseball-history
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: OshDude on January 09, 2013, 04:22:08 PM
Despite a deep list of quality candidates, no players were elected to the Hall of Fame this year. Did the voters get it right, were they sanctimonious with their ballots or something else? Thoughts?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on January 09, 2013, 04:27:23 PM
Maybe they all feel as John Faye, the Reds Beat writer:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/31/exercising-my-right-not-to-vote/

Quote
Cincinnati Reds

I simply can't do it. I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.

It will not be sent.

I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year. The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds was the best hitter I've seen. Clemens was the most dominant pitcher.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: augie77 on January 09, 2013, 04:51:58 PM
Ode to the steroid era.  sad.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: augie77 on January 09, 2013, 04:52:57 PM
Is there still an Oldtimers Committee for otherwise passed over players? 
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 09, 2013, 07:20:16 PM
Quote from: augie77 on January 09, 2013, 04:52:57 PM
Is there still an Oldtimers Committee for otherwise passed over players?
Yes, there were three selections from that committee.

http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2013-01-09/baseball-hall-of-fame-vote-results-bonds-clemens-peds-biggio-morris

QuoteThere still will be a Hall of Fame induction ceremony this summer—at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 28 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y. The 2013 class is composed former umpire Hank O'Day, one-time New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and 19th century player Deacon White, all of whom were elected by the Pre-Integration Committee.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: OshDude on January 09, 2013, 09:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on January 09, 2013, 04:27:23 PM
Maybe they all feel as John Faye, the Reds Beat writer:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/31/exercising-my-right-not-to-vote/

Quote
Cincinnati Reds

I simply can't do it. I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.

It will not be sent.

I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year. The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds was the best hitter I've seen. Clemens was the most dominant pitcher.
Abstaining doesn't affect the outcome as much as mailing a blank ballot like some were reported to have done.

In case anyone missed it, Aaron Sele received one vote for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. Take a minute and let that sink in.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 09, 2013, 11:20:35 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on January 09, 2013, 09:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on January 09, 2013, 04:27:23 PM
Maybe they all feel as John Faye, the Reds Beat writer:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/31/exercising-my-right-not-to-vote/

Quote
Cincinnati Reds

I simply can't do it. I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.

It will not be sent.

I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year. The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds was the best hitter I've seen. Clemens was the most dominant pitcher.
Abstaining doesn't affect the outcome as much as mailing a blank ballot like some were reported to have done.

In case anyone missed it, Aaron Sele received one vote for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. Take a minute and let that sink in.
A debt repaid? 
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on January 10, 2013, 11:11:15 AM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on January 09, 2013, 09:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on January 09, 2013, 04:27:23 PM
Maybe they all feel as John Faye, the Reds Beat writer:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/31/exercising-my-right-not-to-vote/

Quote
Cincinnati Reds

I simply can't do it. I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.

It will not be sent.

I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year. The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds was the best hitter I've seen. Clemens was the most dominant pitcher.
Abstaining doesn't affect the outcome as much as mailing a blank ballot like some were reported to have done.

In case anyone missed it, Aaron Sele received one vote for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. Take a minute and let that sink in.
I see your point since it is on a percentage scale.

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: OshDude on January 10, 2013, 06:16:28 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on January 09, 2013, 11:20:35 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on January 09, 2013, 09:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on January 09, 2013, 04:27:23 PM
Maybe they all feel as John Faye, the Reds Beat writer:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/31/exercising-my-right-not-to-vote/

Quote
Cincinnati Reds

I simply can't do it. I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.

It will not be sent.

I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year. The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds was the best hitter I've seen. Clemens was the most dominant pitcher.
Abstaining doesn't affect the outcome as much as mailing a blank ballot like some were reported to have done.

In case anyone missed it, Aaron Sele received one vote for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. Take a minute and let that sink in.
A debt repaid?
Possibly. The end of the voting results catches my attention every year. It's nothing new for someone to get a token vote – Benito Santiago and Danny Tartabull are two out-there ones off the top of my head – but Aaron Sele is a player I had not thought about in years. Seems like more than five years anyway.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 11, 2013, 12:42:47 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on January 10, 2013, 06:16:28 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on January 09, 2013, 11:20:35 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on January 09, 2013, 09:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on January 09, 2013, 04:27:23 PM
Maybe they all feel as John Faye, the Reds Beat writer:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/31/exercising-my-right-not-to-vote/

Quote
Cincinnati Reds

I simply can't do it. I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.

It will not be sent.

I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year. The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds was the best hitter I've seen. Clemens was the most dominant pitcher.
Abstaining doesn't affect the outcome as much as mailing a blank ballot like some were reported to have done.

In case anyone missed it, Aaron Sele received one vote for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. Take a minute and let that sink in.
A debt repaid?
Possibly. The end of the voting results catches my attention every year. It's nothing new for someone to get a token vote – Benito Santiago and Danny Tartabull are two out-there ones off the top of my head – but Aaron Sele is a player I had not thought about in years. Seems like more than five years anyway.
I can imagine a favor that Aaron had done for a sportswriter many years ago, e.g., an autographed baseball for a sportswriter's loved one, some kid in a children's hospital.  The HoF vote cast would serve as the tip-of-the-cap from the grateful sportswriter.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 19, 2013, 11:22:25 AM
HoF manager Earl Weaver has died at 82.  Hope he doesn't argue so strenuously with God that he gets ejected! :P
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: BBFan62 on January 19, 2013, 11:36:09 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 19, 2013, 11:22:25 AM
HoF manager Earl Weaver has died at 82.  Hope he doesn't argue so strenuously with God that he gets ejected! :P

Sad day in baseball as Stan 'The Man" Musial (age 92) joins Earl Weaver vying for a spot on the after life team. Even though you killed the Cubs, I admired your skills Mr. Musial. You were among the classiest players ever.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 22, 2013, 04:28:40 PM
Stan the Man's Obituary (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/stan-musial-the-man-dies-st-louis-cardinals-at-92-01913?gt1=39002)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 27, 2013, 01:46:40 PM
Not sure where to put this article about the newest attraction at the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs stadium this season...

Coming to a ball park near you soon (http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/lehigh-valley-ironpigs-install-urinal-video-game-system-article-1.1299831)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2013, 11:06:07 PM
Could we be witnesses to the greatest hitting season ever?

Miguel Cabrera, a notoriously slow starter who usually heats up later in the season, is WAY ahead of his Triple Crown season stats:  exactly 1/3 of the way thru the season, he is hitting .369, and is on pace for 51 HRs and an all-time record 195 RBIs.  IF he follows past seasons and heats up, watch out: he could obliterate the RBI record, beat the (non-steroid) HR record, and hit who knows what?!

Stay tuned. ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on June 12, 2013, 11:12:50 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2013, 11:06:07 PM
Could we be witnesses to the greatest hitting season ever?

Miguel Cabrera, a notoriously slow starter who usually heats up later in the season

Stay tuned. ;D

This is not true. Cabrera's career splits:

1st half: .320/.396/.564 1 HR every 20.2 PA
2nd half: .320/.398/.565 1 HR every 19.5 PA

For his career, he has hit between 53 and 59 HR's every month of the season.

And how's this for eerie?

Cabrera at home: 200 2B, 7 3B, 170 HR
Cabrera on road: 201 2B, 7 3B, 169 HR

He's pretty much just awesome at hitting all the time.

As for the greatest ever? No. Gehrig ('34 and '36) and Ruth (Every year from 1920 to 1932 except '22 and '25) would be higher on my list, as would Ted Williams' 1941 and Musial's 1948. But in the last 50 years? You might be onto something—provided we take out A-Rod's/Bonds' peak seasons
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 12, 2013, 11:40:35 AM
Thanks for looking that up - I stand corrected.  I was probably overreacting to last year, when as of June I don't think he was even leading the Tigers in any of the Triple Crown categories.  By his standards, he's mired in a 2-week slump: while still leading the majors in both categories, his BA has fallen 30 points and his RBI pace has fallen from a record 195 to a 'mere' 178! ;)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on June 12, 2013, 11:51:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 12, 2013, 11:40:35 AM
Thanks for looking that up - I stand corrected.  I was probably overreacting to last year, when as of June I don't think he was even leading the Tigers in any of the Triple Crown categories.  By his standards, he's mired in a 2-week slump: while still leading the majors in both categories, his BA has fallen 30 points and his RBI pace has fallen from a record 195 to a 'mere' 178! ;)

RBIs are fickle, since they depend more on other players than they do the hitter himself. And it's just really hard to maintain a super high batting average unless you walk a ton or have great speed.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 01, 2013, 11:58:32 PM
Miguel does have one new all-time record: no one in history ever had more than two games in a season going 4 for 4 with at least two of the hits being home runs.  Miggy did it three times in the first 78 games!

Saw something I'd never noticed before: in SI.com's previews they always list the team leaders in the three triple crown categories - for Dodgers at Rockies, all six were named Gonzalez. ;) 

(For Tigers at Blue Jays, 4 of the 6 were Cabrera - for the Tigers that was, of course, Miguel; for the Blue Jays it was the naughtiest Cabrera, Melky (served a 50-game suspension for PED's last year while a Giant).  Melky, they don't approve of THAT way to become a Giant. :P)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 07, 2013, 06:16:11 PM
Miggy had his SEVENTH 4-hit game today (but 'only' one HR :P) in the team's 87th game (so barely over halfway thru).  Anyone know what the record for 4-hit games in a season is?  (Since prior to 1941, .400 seasons were not that uncommon, I'd assume it is more than 7, but no idea if it is 8 or 13?)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on July 15, 2013, 04:55:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 07, 2013, 06:16:11 PM
Miggy had his SEVENTH 4-hit game today (but 'only' one HR :P) in the team's 87th game (so barely over halfway thru).  Anyone know what the record for 4-hit games in a season is?  (Since prior to 1941, .400 seasons were not that uncommon, I'd assume it is more than 7, but no idea if it is 8 or 13?)

This may or may not be the record, but George Sisler had 12 four-hit games in 1920.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 15, 2013, 07:43:49 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on July 15, 2013, 04:55:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 07, 2013, 06:16:11 PM
Miggy had his SEVENTH 4-hit game today (but 'only' one HR :P) in the team's 87th game (so barely over halfway thru).  Anyone know what the record for 4-hit games in a season is?  (Since prior to 1941, .400 seasons were not that uncommon, I'd assume it is more than 7, but no idea if it is 8 or 13?)

This may or may not be the record, but George Sisler had 12 four-hit games in 1920.

Thanks for the info.  Miggy may reach or break the team record of 8 - done 3 times by Harry Heilmann, twice by Ty Cobb, and, most recently, by Charlie Gehringer in 1935.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 18, 2013, 09:23:33 PM
Miggy joined another pantheon today.  In the entire history of baseball, only 3 players have had at least 40 home runs, 120 runs batted in, and a .350 batting average in 116 games: Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Miguel Cabrera.  Not too shabby company! :o
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 03, 2013, 10:21:15 PM
Nagging injuries kept Miguel Cabrera from having a shot at being the first player ever with back-to-back Triple Crowns (he missed 14 games entirely, and left early in several others).  Chris Davis had such a break-out season in HRs, I doubt Miggy would have caught him, but it would have been close; Miggy would have definitely won the RBI title.  Those missed games also kept him from being the first player ever to win the Triple Crown then increase his performance in all three categories!  He raised his batting average, matched his HRs, and was two shy on RBIs.

SI's Joe Sheehan continues his man-crush crusade for Mike Trout, touting him for this year's AL MVP (as he did last year).  Joe argues that Miggy loses tremendously for his defensive liabilities, and should not get credit for the team success because he has great teammates, like Prince Fielder.  Joe, Joe, Joe ...  HE (at least as much as you) knows he is playing out of position and is not a good third baseman.  His playing third (and accepting the ridicule) is a testament to his VALUE for the team!  If he had not been willing to move, the Tigers could have never signed Prince (who made it clear he felt he was too young to be a permanent DH - and if you think Miggy is bad at third, imagine Prince there! :o :P).

My prediction for AL MVP: 1. Cabrera  2. Chris Davis  3. Mike Trout.

(And no, I am not a Mike Trout 'hater'.  Considering their relative ages, if I was building a team from scratch, my first pick would be Trout (or possibly Bryce Harper).  Miggy will continue to be the most (or at least one of the most) devastating players for 5-7 years; barring injuries, Trout (or Harper) might be that for 12-15 years!)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on July 11, 2014, 12:00:43 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 03, 2013, 10:21:15 PM
Nagging injuries kept Miguel Cabrera from having a shot at being the first player ever with back-to-back Triple Crowns (he missed 14 games entirely, and left early in several others).  Chris Davis had such a break-out season in HRs, I doubt Miggy would have caught him, but it would have been close; Miggy would have definitely won the RBI title.  Those missed games also kept him from being the first player ever to win the Triple Crown then increase his performance in all three categories!  He raised his batting average, matched his HRs, and was two shy on RBIs.

SI's Joe Sheehan continues his man-crush crusade for Mike Trout, touting him for this year's AL MVP (as he did last year).  Joe argues that Miggy loses tremendously for his defensive liabilities, and should not get credit for the team success because he has great teammates, like Prince Fielder.  Joe, Joe, Joe ...  HE (at least as much as you) knows he is playing out of position and is not a good third baseman.  His playing third (and accepting the ridicule) is a testament to his VALUE for the team!  If he had not been willing to move, the Tigers could have never signed Prince (who made it clear he felt he was too young to be a permanent DH - and if you think Miggy is bad at third, imagine Prince there! :o :P).

My prediction for AL MVP: 1. Cabrera  2. Chris Davis  3. Mike Trout.

(And no, I am not a Mike Trout 'hater'.  Considering their relative ages, if I was building a team from scratch, my first pick would be Trout (or possibly Bryce Harper).  Miggy will continue to be the most (or at least one of the most) devastating players for 5-7 years; barring injuries, Trout (or Harper) might be that for 12-15 years!)

Of course, if batting were the only thing that mattered, Cabrera would be the easy choice the last two years. But, for what is now the third year in a row, Mike Trout has proven not only to be an elite hitter, but a better defender and baserunner, all while playing a more premium position. In short, Cabrera is the better hitter, but Trout is the better overall player. But since many voters ignore the notion that batting average and RBI are not fundamentally flawed stats, he's been overlooked.

Fortunately for Trout, this season, he's probably going to set career highs in HR and RBI, which should help him with the voting sect that refuses to see beyond the Triple Crown categories when voting for MVP.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?  Is it 2 ABs per game the team has played?

I ask because J. D. Martinez of the Tigers is having as hot a streak as any player ever.  He is currently batting .346, which would be #1 in MLB, except he is apparently a few ABs short of what is necessary to make the lists.  (I didn't look it up to check my memory, but I think he had 11 or 12 hits in the 4-game series against second-place KC.)

As Ausmus is not dumb enough to sit him during this streak, he should enter the top of the lists very soon.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 10:03:47 PM
If my memory is correct about two ABs per games the team has played, JD would currently need 192; he has 188.  So in 2-3 games after the AS break, he should break into the rankings.  Hopefully at the top! ;D

Miggy is gonna need a helluva hot streak to win his fourth straight batting title.  After a dreadful start, he was in the .220s; he went above .330 a couple of times; but is now down to .306.  Unless he gets gong, he may finish third on his own team, behind the Martinez 'brothers'.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2014, 08:18:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?

Qualified year-to-date:

In order to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories (Avg, Slg, OBP, OPS, RC, OW%, #P/PA, G/F), a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his twam has played.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 14, 2014, 09:01:10 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2014, 08:18:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?

Qualified year-to-date:

In order to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories (Avg, Slg, OBP, OPS, RC, OW%, #P/PA, G/F), a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his twam has played.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary

Oh,man.  JD played very sparingly the first two months of the season.  Even if he never sat the rest of the season he might not make it.  And he won't, since the Tigers have four very good outfielders, and a fifth, Andy Dirks, coming off the DL soon.

Based on his history, he will probably cool off soon (though this MAY be a breakout season).  He has 18 hits in the last ten games.

Maybe next year is his year to shine. ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 02, 2014, 12:36:09 AM
A modest proposal (which will never be adopted) to make baseball even more of a chess game.  Every team gets to bank two (or whatever) games, then spend them when needed.  The Tigers today won 12-1; therefore 10 runs in the bank.  A tough decision both for banking and spending.  Is ten runs the best you can do, or should you hold out for 12-13?  When to spend?  All games are created equal, but some are more equal than others.  Spend eight of them against the Injuns, or save them for co-leader KC?  (What a luxury to turn a 4-2 loss into a 5-4 win against the team you are tied with.)

As I say, it will never happen, but an intriguing thought experiment. :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 02, 2014, 01:16:48 AM
Miggy is having a tough year.  After off-season surgery, he started the year in the .220s.  He made it as high as .330+, but recently descended briefly to .299 for the first time in four months.  After going 4 for 5 today, he is at .304.  His stat line today was not too shabby: 5 4 4 3; he and the Martinez 'twins' (they are unrelated) were 12 8 7 6.

Barring a patented "Miggy streak", (something like 22 of 30) he is not going to win his fourth straight batting title, or an MVP.  But he should have his 6th straight season over .300. and 9th of the last ten years.  He had two homers today (which felt like his first since about 2008 :P); the first was a low shot that the announcers said was the hardest hit they had ever seen - and they've been around since Harmon Killebrew and Prince Fielder's daddy.  They estimated it at 8-900 feet, if the stands had not gotten in the way!

With an off-season of rest (perhaps including surgery on his ankle), Miggy should be back to normal (i.e. other-worldly) by next year.  Justin Verlander I'm more worried about - I don't know if his lousy (for him) season is just a glitch or the beginning of the inevitable decline.  Over the last 5-6 years, he has thrown more pitches than anyone else in baseball; I fear it has caught up with him.  We'll see; I'm sure he has at least one Cy Young-worthy year in him, but he may be basically toast.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 14, 2014, 04:58:18 PM
C. C. Lee today had the most embarassing thing I can ever recall for a pitcher (he is a reliver for the Indians).  He allowed a run on a wild pitch during an intentional walk!!  I've watched baseball for 60+ years and cannot remember EVER seeing a wild pitch during an intentional walk!!  How is that even possible - an intentional walk is playing catch in the backyard with your catcher?!! :o

Once we mathematically eliminate Cleveland, I will even feel sorry for the guy! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 15, 2014, 04:22:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 14, 2014, 04:58:18 PM
C. C. Lee today had the most embarassing thing I can ever recall for a pitcher (he is a reliver for the Indians).  He allowed a run on a wild pitch during an intentional walk!!  I've watched baseball for 60+ years and cannot remember EVER seeing a wild pitch during an intentional walk!!  How is that even possible - an intentional walk is playing catch in the backyard with your catcher?!! :o

Once we mathematically eliminate Cleveland, I will even feel sorry for the guy! ;D

Happened two other times this year

4/18/14: Dodgers pitcher Chris Withrow throws a wild pitch on an intentional-walk pitch out to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th

8/18/2014 - The Peoria Chiefs lost in the last at-bat for the second game in a row as a wild pitch on an intentional walk scored the winning run for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in a 5-4 Sunday afternoon game

ECSU ended their season in Appleton with a WP on an intentional walk in extra innings a few years back.  One of the worse endings I have seen in a game.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 15, 2014, 06:02:05 PM
Yeah, I'm not surprised it has happened, but I had never seen it.  I still am mystified how it could happen when you're just playing backyard catch!  (For Lee, the announcers speculated that he didn't know it was supposed to be an intentional walk, didn't see the catcher stick his glove way out, and threw it down the middle where, of course, the catcher wasn't.)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 20, 2014, 11:24:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 15, 2014, 06:02:05 PM
Yeah, I'm not surprised it has happened, but I had never seen it.  I still am mystified how it could happen when you're just playing backyard catch!  (For Lee, the announcers speculated that he didn't know it was supposed to be an intentional walk, didn't see the catcher stick his glove way out, and threw it down the middle where, of course, the catcher wasn't.)

I have seen a game won on a poor throw back to the pitcher so noting surprises me.  I have actually never seen anyone practice the intentional walk.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: dahlby on January 24, 2015, 10:33:11 AM
RIP Ernie Banks.
I lived in Chicago during his era.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 23, 2015, 08:05:32 PM
Two more rarities in the Tigers/Astros game today.  Another wild pitch during an intentional walk (I still can't fathom how that is possible at the MLB level! :o  Alas, the Tigers didn't take advantage of it.)  And Ian Kinsler hit into the 700th triple play in MLB history (dating to 1876, that is almost exactly 5 per year).  Since Miguel Cabrera was due up next, and is hitting about .450 in day games, that probably cost them the game in a 3-2 loss.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 15, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
In the entire history of the Cleveland Indians, only two players have had a career record of 30+ HRs and a .350+ batting average: Babe Ruth and Miggy Cabrera.  I'd say Miggy was in pretty good company, but I'm starting to think the Babe is in pretty good company! ;)  Miggy went 7 for 11 against Cleveland this weekend, which LOWERED his batting average against them this season!  (In 9 games, he is 22-34, 5 HRs and 15 RBIs.)  Probably that cannot continue, but at the moment he has the highest BA against a single team with 30+ ABs in the history of MLB.

And he is not leading in the voting for AL 1st B. :o ::)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: mr_b on June 15, 2015, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 15, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
In the entire history of the Cleveland Indians, only two players have had a career record of 30+ HRs and a .350+ batting average: Babe Ruth and Miggy Cabrera. 
I didn't know either Miggy or the Babe played for the Indians.  Or are you talking about players who played *against* the Indians?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 15, 2015, 10:47:34 AM
Quote from: mr_b on June 15, 2015, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 15, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
In the entire history of the Cleveland Indians, only two players have had a career record of 30+ HRs and a .350+ batting average: Babe Ruth and Miggy Cabrera. 
I didn't know either Miggy or the Babe played for the Indians.  Or are you talking about players who played *against* the Indians?

Yeah, I didn't exactly word that clearly! :P
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on June 18, 2015, 12:22:54 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 15, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
In the entire history of the Cleveland Indians, only two players have had a career record of 30+ HRs and a .350+ batting average: Babe Ruth and Miggy Cabrera.  I'd say Miggy was in pretty good company, but I'm starting to think the Babe is in pretty good company! ;)  Miggy went 7 for 11 against Cleveland this weekend, which LOWERED his batting average against them this season!  (In 9 games, he is 22-34, 5 HRs and 15 RBIs.)  Probably that cannot continue, but at the moment he has the highest BA against a single team with 30+ ABs in the history of MLB.

And he is not leading in the voting for AL 1st B. :o ::)

Cabrera is going to wind up at/near the top of a lot of all-time lists. I could see 600 HRs, 3,500 hits, and 2,000 RBI, which is insane.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM
A scoring rule that has always nagged at me - why does the ENTIRE blame (in terms of ERA) for inherited baserunners who score go to the previous pitcher?  Shouldn't the guy who actually let them score get some of the blame?  I'm thinking of this today because the Tigers' Joba Chamberlain finally had his totally misleading 1.something ERA explode to 3.something after he started the tenth and gave up 3 earned runs.  I suspect that both he and Al Albuquerque (whose ERA is also 3.something) would have ERAs well over 5.00 if they received any blame for inherited runners who scored.

While a reliever who takes over a bases loaded (or even just man on third) situation with no outs who holds the opponent to a single run has done an excellent job, a reliever who comes in with men on first and second and two outs and gives up two runs has done the job of an arsonist! :o

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?

(And maybe it would even help brain-damaged managers like Brad Ausmas make better decisions.  He lifted finally cleared-to-play Bruce Rondon after two batters - both of whom he struck out - and totally wasted the two best relievers the Tigers have: Blaine Hardy and Alex Wilson - pulling Hardy after 3 batters, and two outs, and pulling Wilson after ONE batter, an out.  It may have been a blessing that the Tigers did not tie it in their tenth inning comeback - they no longer had a single player on the bench, and essentially no bullpen - and that is in only TEN innings!  I realize Sparky Anderson is dead, but some days I think he would STILL be better than Ausmas! ::))
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 28, 2015, 08:32:57 PM
Steven Matz (Mets) made his MLB debut today, going 7.2 innings with 2 earned runs.  He got the win largely by his own efforts, since he went 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs, both MLB records for a pitching debut.  I try not to get too carried away with a single performance, so I won't say "Move, over Babe - another pitcher/slugger has arrived!" :o ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on June 30, 2015, 03:07:12 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?


Eh, maybe it'd be better, but it still wouldn't solve the issue of position of runners and outs. I mean, if you come up with runners on the corners and no one out, a 6-4-3 double play may be a great outcome, even if a run scores.

The better solution may simply be to not pay attention to reliever ERA
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 03:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on June 30, 2015, 03:07:12 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?


Eh, maybe it'd be better, but it still wouldn't solve the issue of position of runners and outs. I mean, if you come up with runners on the corners and no one out, a 6-4-3 double play may be a great outcome, even if a run scores.

The better solution may simply be to not pay attention to reliever ERA

To some degree I agree, but it is not just the relievers who are affected.  The ERA of starters can also be impacted, depending upon whether the bullpen is as good as the Royals or as pathetic as the Tigers.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on June 30, 2015, 04:44:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 03:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on June 30, 2015, 03:07:12 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?


Eh, maybe it'd be better, but it still wouldn't solve the issue of position of runners and outs. I mean, if you come up with runners on the corners and no one out, a 6-4-3 double play may be a great outcome, even if a run scores.

The better solution may simply be to not pay attention to reliever ERA

To some degree I agree, but it is not just the relievers who are affected.  The ERA of starters can also be impacted, depending upon whether the bullpen is as good as the Royals or as pathetic as the Tigers.

Sure. The general point is that ERA is a flawed stat
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 08:21:45 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on June 30, 2015, 04:44:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 03:43:43 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on June 30, 2015, 03:07:12 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?


Eh, maybe it'd be better, but it still wouldn't solve the issue of position of runners and outs. I mean, if you come up with runners on the corners and no one out, a 6-4-3 double play may be a great outcome, even if a run scores.

The better solution may simply be to not pay attention to reliever ERA

To some degree I agree, but it is not just the relievers who are affected.  The ERA of starters can also be impacted, depending upon whether the bullpen is as good as the Royals or as pathetic as the Tigers.

Sure. The general point is that ERA is a flawed stat

EVERY stat (pitching, hitting, fielding) in isolation is a flawed stat! ;)  Still, with the possible exception for starters of Quality Starts, ERA is probably the single best stat available - I just think it could be tinkered with for improvement.  (For hitters, if I had to go with just one it would be OPS - combining getting on base with hitting for power.)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: cubs on June 30, 2015, 09:49:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 08:21:45 PM
Still, with the possible exception for starters of Quality Starts, ERA is probably the single best stat available
Disagree....  Giving up three earned runs in six innings is considered a "quality" start. That works out to a 4.50 ERA for the game.

Now if the formula was two earned runs in six innings for a quality start, that is something I could get on board with.  Hell, four earned runs in 8 innings isn't considered a quality start, and that probably did more to help a team's bullpen!!!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 01, 2015, 12:59:02 AM
Quote from: cubs on June 30, 2015, 09:49:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 08:21:45 PM
Still, with the possible exception for starters of Quality Starts, ERA is probably the single best stat available
Disagree....  Giving up three earned runs in six innings is considered a "quality" start. That works out to a 4.50 ERA for the game.

Now if the formula was two earned runs in six innings for a quality start, that is something I could get on board with.  Hell, four earned runs in 8 innings isn't considered a quality start, and that probably did more to help a team's bullpen!!!

Agree to semi-disagree: even at the current definition it at least gives a team a decent chance to win.  Whatever gives the bullpen a rest, and doesn't require the offense to go too overboard is good.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on July 01, 2015, 04:40:54 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 08:21:45 PM

EVERY stat (pitching, hitting, fielding) in isolation is a flawed stat! ;)  Still, with the possible exception for starters of Quality Starts, ERA is probably the single best stat available - I just think it could be tinkered with for improvement.  (For hitters, if I had to go with just one it would be OPS - combining getting on base with hitting for power.)

There's lots wrong with ERA. Besides the reliever issue you mentioned, it doesn't take into account the quality of the fielders behind you or your ballpark. Their are better stats out there that account for some of those factors

Quality starts is garbage. It only accounts for two factors of a pitcher's performance and has an absurdly low standard to clear. As such, it treats the following two performances equally:

9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 16 K
6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 6 K
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 02, 2015, 11:42:55 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on July 01, 2015, 04:40:54 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 30, 2015, 08:21:45 PM

EVERY stat (pitching, hitting, fielding) in isolation is a flawed stat! ;)  Still, with the possible exception for starters of Quality Starts, ERA is probably the single best stat available - I just think it could be tinkered with for improvement.  (For hitters, if I had to go with just one it would be OPS - combining getting on base with hitting for power.)

There's lots wrong with ERA. Besides the reliever issue you mentioned, it doesn't take into account the quality of the fielders behind you or your ballpark. Their are better stats out there that account for some of those factors

Quality starts is garbage. It only accounts for two factors of a pitcher's performance and has an absurdly low standard to clear. As such, it treats the following two performances equally:

9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 16 K
6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 6 K

ERA, of course, partially corrects for bad fielding, since it only counts EARNED runs.  (I've long felt that unearned runs due to an error by the pitcher should be charged against his ERA.)  I prefer the basic stats (however flawed in isolation) that one can easily calculate in one's head as the game progresses over the 'advanced' stats.  (That may be heresy for a retired stats prof, but so be it! :D)

As to QS - ANY stat can be attacked with a reductio ad absurdum scenario.  Obviously QS does not by itself distinguish between a complete game, one-hit shutout and a middling (though qualifying) performance.  What I like about it as one quick-and-dirty statistic is in sorting out the starters who are reasonably consistently giving their team a decent chance to win and those who are subject to frequent meltdowns.  If you consistently get to the seventh with only three runs, you are saving a lot of wear-and-tear on your bullpen and a decent offensive team should win a majority of those games.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on July 03, 2015, 02:08:08 PM
I hosted a wood bat summer player a few years ago who had an era of 0.00 but allowed three inherited runners score for the Giants in his only appearance in 2014.  The low era did not keep him on the team as he was sent back to AAA and removed from the 40 man roster. 

The bottom line is that player evaluation is not one dimensional.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on July 06, 2015, 03:37:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM
A scoring rule that has always nagged at me - why does the ENTIRE blame (in terms of ERA) for inherited baserunners who score go to the previous pitcher?  Shouldn't the guy who actually let them score get some of the blame?  I'm thinking of this today because the Tigers' Joba Chamberlain finally had his totally misleading 1.something ERA explode to 3.something after he started the tenth and gave up 3 earned runs.  I suspect that both he and Al Albuquerque (whose ERA is also 3.something) would have ERAs well over 5.00 if they received any blame for inherited runners who scored.

While a reliever who takes over a bases loaded (or even just man on third) situation with no outs who holds the opponent to a single run has done an excellent job, a reliever who comes in with men on first and second and two outs and gives up two runs has done the job of an arsonist! :o

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?

(And maybe it would even help brain-damaged managers like Brad Ausmas make better decisions.  He lifted finally cleared-to-play Bruce Rondon after two batters - both of whom he struck out - and totally wasted the two best relievers the Tigers have: Blaine Hardy and Alex Wilson - pulling Hardy after 3 batters, and two outs, and pulling Wilson after ONE batter, an out.  It may have been a blessing that the Tigers did not tie it in their tenth inning comeback - they no longer had a single player on the bench, and essentially no bullpen - and that is in only TEN innings! I realize Sparky Anderson is dead, but some days I think he would STILL be better than Ausmas! ::))
You realize that when Sparky was with the Reds he had the name Dr. Hook? Sparky gave his pitchers very little room for error. He pulled pitchers early all the time. Not sure he would handle the pitching staff any differently. He was a good manager though. I was very sad when he left the Reds.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 06, 2015, 06:13:24 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on July 06, 2015, 03:37:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2015, 08:27:59 PM
A scoring rule that has always nagged at me - why does the ENTIRE blame (in terms of ERA) for inherited baserunners who score go to the previous pitcher?  Shouldn't the guy who actually let them score get some of the blame?  I'm thinking of this today because the Tigers' Joba Chamberlain finally had his totally misleading 1.something ERA explode to 3.something after he started the tenth and gave up 3 earned runs.  I suspect that both he and Al Albuquerque (whose ERA is also 3.something) would have ERAs well over 5.00 if they received any blame for inherited runners who scored.

While a reliever who takes over a bases loaded (or even just man on third) situation with no outs who holds the opponent to a single run has done an excellent job, a reliever who comes in with men on first and second and two outs and gives up two runs has done the job of an arsonist! :o

So ideally, position of the runners and number of outs could be factored in, but that gets potentially very complicated.  I doubt it will ever happen, but can anyone explain why a simple .5 run for each of the first guy who let 'em on and for the reliever who let 'em in wouldn't be more fair and illuminating?

(And maybe it would even help brain-damaged managers like Brad Ausmas make better decisions.  He lifted finally cleared-to-play Bruce Rondon after two batters - both of whom he struck out - and totally wasted the two best relievers the Tigers have: Blaine Hardy and Alex Wilson - pulling Hardy after 3 batters, and two outs, and pulling Wilson after ONE batter, an out.  It may have been a blessing that the Tigers did not tie it in their tenth inning comeback - they no longer had a single player on the bench, and essentially no bullpen - and that is in only TEN innings! I realize Sparky Anderson is dead, but some days I think he would STILL be better than Ausmas! ::))
You realize that when Sparky was with the Reds he had the name Dr. Hook? Sparky gave his pitchers very little room for error. He pulled pitchers early all the time. Not sure he would handle the pitching staff any differently. He was a good manager though. I was very sad when he left the Reds.

Yeah, Sparky was still called 'Dr. Hook' (or more often 'Captain Hook') in Detroit.  But he generally had good reason to pull a pitcher.  I'm fairly certain he would NOT have lifted Rondon, Hardy, or Wilson as quickly as Ausmus did.  And I can't recall him ever running out of players in just a ten inning game! ::)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 08, 2015, 10:21:26 PM
From the Way-Cool Department, this item: on Saturday, Evelyn Jones will become the oldest person ever to throw out a first pitch in a baseball game.  The Mariners are honoring her longtime devotion on her 108th birthday! ;D

Throw a perfect strike, Evelyn!  (The story didn't say, but I would hope they are not making her throw from the pitchers' mound!  Heck, at 108 years old, a strike from 5 feet would be something 99.999999% of people couldn't do [it's hard to throw a strike from 6 feet under ground. :P])
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on July 09, 2015, 12:42:14 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 08, 2015, 10:21:26 PM
From the Way-Cool Department, this item: on Saturday, Evelyn Jones will become the oldest person ever to throw out a first pitch in a baseball game.  The Mariners are honoring her longtime devotion on her 108th birthday! ;D

Throw a perfect strike, Evelyn!  (The story didn't say, but I would hope they are not making her throw from the pitchers' mound!  Heck, at 108 years old, a strike from 5 feet would be something 99.999999% of people couldn't do [it's hard to throw a strike from 6 feet under ground. :P])

I believe there is as many people alive today than had died in all previous years.  That withstanding, getting the proper grip is essential with a first pitch.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on July 10, 2015, 11:37:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 02, 2015, 11:42:55 PM

ERA, of course, partially corrects for bad fielding, since it only counts EARNED runs.  (I've long felt that unearned runs due to an error by the pitcher should be charged against his ERA.)  I prefer the basic stats (however flawed in isolation) that one can easily calculate in one's head as the game progresses over the 'advanced' stats.  (That may be heresy for a retired stats prof, but so be it! :D)

As to QS - ANY stat can be attacked with a reductio ad absurdum scenario.  Obviously QS does not by itself distinguish between a complete game, one-hit shutout and a middling (though qualifying) performance.  What I like about it as one quick-and-dirty statistic is in sorting out the starters who are reasonably consistently giving their team a decent chance to win and those who are subject to frequent meltdowns.  If you consistently get to the seventh with only three runs, you are saving a lot of wear-and-tear on your bullpen and a decent offensive team should win a majority of those games.

There's nothing wrong with preferring basic stats over advanced stats on the level of it being easier to track (or whatever else). But if we're discussing the ability of a stat to show value, they almost always paint an incomplete picture.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2015, 01:11:51 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 08, 2015, 10:21:26 PM
From the Way-Cool Department, this item: on Saturday, Evelyn Jones will become the oldest person ever to throw out a first pitch in a baseball game.  The Mariners are honoring her longtime devotion on her 108th birthday! ;D

Throw a perfect strike, Evelyn!  (The story didn't say, but I would hope they are not making her throw from the pitchers' mound!  Heck, at 108 years old, a strike from 5 feet would be something 99.999999% of people couldn't do [it's hard to throw a strike from 6 feet under ground. :P])

I caught the replay of her first pitch. and it was just great to see her with a pretty good toss - I just wish I could throw a ball as well after 55 more years.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on July 29, 2015, 11:32:59 AM
Last night's Yankees/Rangers game was a perfect example of how a pitcher's ERA can be affected by lousy defense that isn't an error.

The scene: The Yankees trail 5-1 in the 2nd inning, but have the bases loaded with no one out. Brendan Ryan hits a tailor-made double play ball to second base, but the Rangers' second baseman breaks on the ball the wrong way (the replay literally shows him going to his right, stopping, turning, and diving back to his left, where he misses the ball). It's ruled a two-run double.

If the Rangers 2nd baseman makes that play, it's 5-2, with two outs and a runner on third. Instead, it's 5-3 with no one out and runners on second and third.

The inning got way out of hand after that, but who knows what changes if that play gets made?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2015, 06:29:33 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2014, 08:18:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?

Qualified year-to-date:

In order to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories (Avg, Slg, OBP, OPS, RC, OW%, #P/PA, G/F), a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his twam has played.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary

Resurrecting this due to the situation with Miggy Cabrera.  I couldn't remember if Jim had said AB or PA.  If it was at bats, Miggy would probably not qualify this season, due to the number of intentional and 'semi-intentional' walks he's going to get the way he is hitting and the way Victor Martinez is NOT protecting him this season.  But with plate appearances, it shouldn't take him more than a couple more weeks to return to top the list of virtually every 'average' stat: today his stat line was 3 2 2 3 2 - only 3 ABs but 5 PAs, with an OBP of .800 and a slugging % of 2.000!  I had completely thrown in the towel on this season for the Tigers, but with Miggy back I have the faintest of hopes.  If we had more than 4-5 MLB pitchers on the entire staff, I might get downright giddy! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 24, 2015, 02:01:00 AM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on July 29, 2015, 11:32:59 AM
Last night's Yankees/Rangers game was a perfect example of how a pitcher's ERA can be affected by lousy defense that isn't an error.

The scene: The Yankees trail 5-1 in the 2nd inning, but have the bases loaded with no one out. Brendan Ryan hits a tailor-made double play ball to second base, but the Rangers' second baseman breaks on the ball the wrong way (the replay literally shows him going to his right, stopping, turning, and diving back to his left, where he misses the ball). It's ruled a two-run double.

If the Rangers 2nd baseman makes that play, it's 5-2, with two outs and a runner on third. Instead, it's 5-3 with no one out and runners on second and third.

The inning got way out of hand after that, but who knows what changes if that play gets made?
Sigh, only the Texas Strangers...
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on August 25, 2015, 05:56:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2015, 06:29:33 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2014, 08:18:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?

Qualified year-to-date:

In order to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories (Avg, Slg, OBP, OPS, RC, OW%, #P/PA, G/F), a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his team has played.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary

Resurrecting this due to the situation with Miggy Cabrera.  I couldn't remember if Jim had said AB or PA.  If it was at bats, Miggy would probably not qualify this season, due to the number of intentional and 'semi-intentional' walks he's going to get the way he is hitting and the way Victor Martinez is NOT protecting him this season.  But with plate appearances, it shouldn't take him more than a couple more weeks to return to top the list of virtually every 'average' stat: today his stat line was 3 2 2 3 2 - only 3 ABs but 5 PAs, with an OBP of .800 and a slugging % of 2.000!  I had completely thrown in the towel on this season for the Tigers, but with Miggy back I have the faintest of hopes.  If we had more than 4-5 MLB pitchers on the entire staff, I might get downright giddy! ;D

Your in luck - it is plate appearances. 
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 25, 2015, 11:29:56 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on August 25, 2015, 05:56:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2015, 06:29:33 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2014, 08:18:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?

Qualified year-to-date:

In order to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories (Avg, Slg, OBP, OPS, RC, OW%, #P/PA, G/F), a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his team has played.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary

Resurrecting this due to the situation with Miggy Cabrera.  I couldn't remember if Jim had said AB or PA.  If it was at bats, Miggy would probably not qualify this season, due to the number of intentional and 'semi-intentional' walks he's going to get the way he is hitting and the way Victor Martinez is NOT protecting him this season.  But with plate appearances, it shouldn't take him more than a couple more weeks to return to top the list of virtually every 'average' stat: today his stat line was 3 2 2 3 2 - only 3 ABs but 5 PAs, with an OBP of .800 and a slugging % of 2.000!  I had completely thrown in the towel on this season for the Tigers, but with Miggy back I have the faintest of hopes.  If we had more than 4-5 MLB pitchers on the entire staff, I might get downright giddy! ;D

Your in luck - it is plate appearances.

Yeah, I already caught that.  As of earlier today, the 'official' BA leader in the AL is at .320; Miggy is now at .371! ;D  Alas, the Tigers' pitching still reeks - I believe it it now 5 straight games that they have outhit the opponent and still lost every game! :o :(

Right now, Miggy would need 385.5 PAs to be listed; after tonite's game he is at 385.  So as early as tomorrow or the next day he should suddenly appear at (or near) the top of every 'average' list! :)

BTW, I believe he now has multiple hits in 10 straight games - if that is correct does anyone know if that is a record?

Can he hit .400?  Damn straight he can!!  Will he hit .400?  Probably not.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 25, 2015, 11:56:57 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 25, 2015, 11:29:56 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on August 25, 2015, 05:56:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2015, 06:29:33 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on July 14, 2014, 08:18:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 13, 2014, 06:01:14 PM
Does anyone know the rule for a player playing enough to get listed or be eligible for post-season awards?

Qualified year-to-date:

In order to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories (Avg, Slg, OBP, OPS, RC, OW%, #P/PA, G/F), a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his team has played.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=stats/glossary

Resurrecting this due to the situation with Miggy Cabrera.  I couldn't remember if Jim had said AB or PA.  If it was at bats, Miggy would probably not qualify this season, due to the number of intentional and 'semi-intentional' walks he's going to get the way he is hitting and the way Victor Martinez is NOT protecting him this season.  But with plate appearances, it shouldn't take him more than a couple more weeks to return to top the list of virtually every 'average' stat: today his stat line was 3 2 2 3 2 - only 3 ABs but 5 PAs, with an OBP of .800 and a slugging % of 2.000!  I had completely thrown in the towel on this season for the Tigers, but with Miggy back I have the faintest of hopes.  If we had more than 4-5 MLB pitchers on the entire staff, I might get downright giddy! ;D

Your in luck - it is plate appearances.

Yeah, I already caught that.  As of earlier today, the 'official' BA leader in the AL is at .320; Miggy is now at .371! ;D  Alas, the Tigers' pitching still reeks - I believe it it now 5 straight games that they have outhit the opponent and still lost every game! :o :(

Right now, Miggy would need 385.5 PAs to be listed; after tonite's game he is at 385.  So as early as tomorrow or the next day he should suddenly appear at (or near) the top of every 'average' list! :)

BTW, I believe he now has multiple hits in 10 straight games - if that is correct does anyone know if that is a record?

Can he hit .400?  Damn straight he can!!  Will he hit .400?  Probably not.

I see now from the recap that his multiple hits streak is 'only' seven games - but I bet it is 9 of ten.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: bulk19 on August 26, 2015, 12:06:53 AM
Hey Mr. Ypsi - Long time no argue. Ha...  ;)
Hornsby had a 13-game streak of multi-hit games, but SABR found a Count who holds the record at 15...

http://sabr.org/cmsFiles/Files/records_FEB2010.pdf
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on August 26, 2015, 10:38:33 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 25, 2015, 11:29:56 PM

Yeah, I already caught that.  As of earlier today, the 'official' BA leader in the AL is at .320; Miggy is now at .371! ;D  Alas, the Tigers' pitching still reeks - I believe it it now 5 straight games that they have outhit the opponent and still lost every game! :o :(

Right now, Miggy would need 385.5 PAs to be listed; after tonite's game he is at 385.  So as early as tomorrow or the next day he should suddenly appear at (or near) the top of every 'average' list! :)

BTW, I believe he now has multiple hits in 10 straight games - if that is correct does anyone know if that is a record?

Can he hit .400?  Damn straight he can!!  Will he hit .400?  Probably not.

Two things, neither of which are intended as slights on Cabrera's season:

1. It's easier to hit for a super high average when you have fewer ABs. It's not a coincidence that Williams' .406 came in a year in which he had 456 ABs, that Gwynn's .394 came in a year in which he had 419, Brett's .390 came in a year in which he had 449, and Williams' .388 came in a year in which he had 420. It's not impossible to sustain it over 600 ABs (Carew's 1977 being an example) but it's a lot harder.

2. As for Cabrera hitting .400 this season, let's assume he keeps up his current pace for ABs, and plays in every game from here on out. He'd get 135 more ABs, putting him at 456 for the season. To hit .400 with that many at-bats, he'd need 182 hits. He's currently got 119.

So he'd need to go 63-for-135, and hit .466 the rest of the year. Which has been done before—Brett hit .470 over a 247 at-bat stretch in '80 (which illustrates the first point even better).

Still, he's a lock for his 4th batting title, and it will be interesting to see where he winds up on these career lists.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 26, 2015, 11:53:17 PM
Miggy went a measly 1-3 (plus a walk) tonite to fall to a mere .370. :(  Since his one hit was a two-run tater, I forgive him! ;D

And a shout-out to Justin Verlander, whom I had earlier written off as 'getting old'.  His previous six outings had yielded an ERA of 1.67, with a record of one win, two losses, and three no decisions.  He finally found the secret to getting a win when the hitters aren't hitting - throw a no-hitter for eight innings, and finish with a complete game, one-hit shut-out! :D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Westside on August 27, 2015, 02:47:53 PM
While it has been an extremely disappointing year to be a Mariners fan (oof :'(); I am very surprised how little press Nelson Cruz is getting right now. If Seattle was anywhere near the playoffs, he would be leading the MVP charge.

He is on pace to be the first player in some 40 years to lead the league in home runs (4 ahead of 2nd) and hits (tied with Kinsler). Quite an impressive feat.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on August 27, 2015, 08:04:37 PM
Former Chapman baseball player Tyler Hadzinsky, left his role as a financial services senior consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City to take a position in baseball operations in the St. Louis Cardinals' front office. Hadzinsky was a star player in baseball and soccer at Chapman. Tyler was part of Chapman teams that played in several DIII Baseball Championship Series(aka World Series for DIII baseball). Tyler could be part of team in the MLB to make it to the World Series.

Story from earlier this year.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/103903044/front-office-hopefuls-aim-to-make-dreams-a-reality
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 01:28:19 AM
Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 13, 2015, 11:02:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 01:28:19 AM
Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

Thankfully for Verlander, he's a lot better than Morris, who was deservedly kept out (How anyone voted for Morris and not Mike Mussina is laughable.) Verlander will likely be in if he can rebound and pitch solidly for a few years, though I don't think he would be voted in if his career ended now.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 05:09:56 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on October 13, 2015, 11:02:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 01:28:19 AM
Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

Thankfully for Verlander, he's a lot better than Morris, who was deservedly kept out (How anyone voted for Morris and not Mike Mussina is laughable.) Verlander will likely be in if he can rebound and pitch solidly for a few years, though I don't think he would be voted in if his career ended now.

Jack Morris's claim rests mainly on post-season heroics - he was one of the greatest post-season pitchers ever.  In 1984 for the Tigers, he had two complete game victories.  In 1991 for the Twins he was the WS MVP.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 13, 2015, 09:47:35 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 05:09:56 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on October 13, 2015, 11:02:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 01:28:19 AM
Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

Thankfully for Verlander, he's a lot better than Morris, who was deservedly kept out (How anyone voted for Morris and not Mike Mussina is laughable.) Verlander will likely be in if he can rebound and pitch solidly for a few years, though I don't think he would be voted in if his career ended now.

Jack Morris's claim rests mainly on post-season heroics - he was one of the greatest post-season pitchers ever.  In 1984 for the Tigers, he had two complete game victories.  In 1991 for the Twins he was the WS MVP.

Except that he wasn't, actually. He was 7-4 in the postseason with a 3.80 ERA. In no way is that "one of the best ever." I mean:

Lefty Gomez 6-0, 2.86
Bob Gibson 7-2, 1.89
Allie Reynolds 7-2 2.79
Red Ruffing 7-2, 2.63
John Smoltz 15-4, 2.67
Curt Schilling 11-2, 2.23
David Wells 10-5, 3.17
Dave Stewart 10-6, 2.77
Chris Carpenter 10-4, 3.00

I could go on, but you get the point. Morris' postseason was not historical. Morris had a great 1991 World Series and a 1984 Postseason. Which, okay, it's great. It's also not really all that unique from other pitchers' best postseasons.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 10:42:49 PM
I surrender!  I was a Tigers fan in that magical year of 1984 (when they barely even needed Jack to wipeout the Padres), and perhaps got carried away with his 1991 performance (especially his 10-inning, complete game win in game seven).  I'll grant that his career was borderline HoF overall, and his postseason record was only above average overall, but can you grant me that game seven in 1991 was one for the ages! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 14, 2015, 09:52:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 13, 2015, 10:42:49 PM
I surrender!  I was a Tigers fan in that magical year of 1984 (when they barely even needed Jack to wipeout the Padres), and perhaps got carried away with his 1991 performance (especially his 10-inning, complete game win in game seven).  I'll grant that his career was borderline HoF overall, and his postseason record was only above average overall, but can you grant me that game seven in 1991 was one for the ages! ;D

Oh it totally was. I mean, in essence, Morris' entire HOF case has been built around that. It's created this narrative that he was this insane big game pitcher, this "ace"—actually, he probably wasn't the best pitcher on any teams he pitched on that went to the World Series, despite his Game 1 starts. But when you dominate a Game 7 of arguably the greatest—and most well-remembered—World Series of the past 30, 40, years, I mean, that's huge.

Morris was a good pitcher, don't get me wrong. But his myth WAY outstrips the reality of his career.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2015, 02:25:28 PM
A feel good article about Mr Cub.

http://www.wsj.com/article_email/chicagoans-thoughts-turn-to-mr-cub-1445032357-lMyQjAxMTI1MjE2NzIxMDcwWj

I got this link from one of my SABR friends in our Banks-Bragan chapter in Dallas-Ft Worth.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 19, 2015, 11:52:46 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 19, 2015, 02:25:28 PM
A feel good article about Mr Cub.

http://www.wsj.com/article_email/chicagoans-thoughts-turn-to-mr-cub-1445032357-lMyQjAxMTI1MjE2NzIxMDcwWj

I got this link from one of my SABR friends in our Banks-Bragan chapter in Dallas-Ft Worth.

Great story!  Thanks for posting it, Ralph.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2016, 11:29:12 PM
Something weird in the Tigers/Astros game tonight.  I'm sure it is not unique, but I can't recall ever witnessing it before.  Justin Upton (NOT a slow runner by any measure) was on second, Miggy Cabrera hits a double, Justin only went to third!  On camera, it was clear that Miggy's shot would not be caught, but I assume Justin feared it would be.  Then the third base coach held him up, though (to me, at least) it was clear that a runner with Upton's speed could have beaten a throw to the plate by ANYONE.  Like I say, I'm sure it has happened some time before, but I can't recall ever seeing consecutive doubles NOT yielding a run.

Fortunately, the Tigers prevailed by a 5-3 score, but if my man Miggy misses his second Triple Crown by one RBI, Upton and the third base coach are off my Christmas card list! >:(
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2016, 12:51:52 AM
Cameron Maybin is off to what has to be an historic start for a 'new' team (he was a Tiger for his rookie season, but only batted .143).  He was on the DL for the start of the season, but has now played in 9 games, and has a nine game hitting streak.  In 8 of those games he has more than one hit.  His last three game he has two hits each, and his BA keeps FALLING!  He is now 'down' to .545!

He was traded to the Marlins in 2008, and has basically been a 'journey-man' ever since (until this year).  I might wonder if the Tigers made an error, except that he was the key demand of the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera trade!  Currently it looks like Detroit 2, Florida 0.  (Maybin has scored 9 runs in 9 games; 4 of them were driven in by Miggy.)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 05, 2016, 07:07:45 PM
Yet another example of why no sane person would ever bet on MLB.  Less than three weeks ago, Chris Sale (generally considered the best current pitcher in the AL) was 9-0; Jose Quintana had the best ERA in the AL.  In four starts by each since then, the White Sox are 0-8! :o  That includes yesterday, when Mike Pelfrey (0-for his Tiger career) beat Sale (who fell to 9-2), and today when a resuscitated Justin Verlander just plain out-pitched Quintana (who probably lost his lead in ERA).

It may be, as numerous managers and commentators have said, that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher", but ya can't even count on consistency from starting pitchers! ::)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jack Parkman on June 06, 2016, 09:27:22 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 05, 2016, 07:07:45 PM
Yet another example of why no sane person would ever bet on MLB.  Less than three weeks ago, Chris Sale (generally considered the best current pitcher in the AL) was 9-0; Jose Quintana had the best ERA in the AL.  In four starts by each since then, the White Sox are 0-8! :o  That includes yesterday, when Mike Pelfrey (0-for his Tiger career) beat Sale (who fell to 9-2), and today when a resuscitated Justin Verlander just plain out-pitched Quintana (who probably lost his lead in ERA).

It may be, as numerous managers and commentators have said, that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher", but ya can't even count on consistency from starting pitchers! ::)

I'm sane (for the most part) and I bet on Kershaw, Sale and Arieta for the first 5-6 weeks of the year, then shut it down after making my money.  Baseball is tough to bet on since every day is different.  I do, however, appreciate what those 3 did for my checking account early in the year.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 08, 2016, 01:23:06 AM
Quote from: Jack Parkman on June 06, 2016, 09:27:22 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 05, 2016, 07:07:45 PM
Yet another example of why no sane person would ever bet on MLB.  Less than three weeks ago, Chris Sale (generally considered the best current pitcher in the AL) was 9-0; Jose Quintana had the best ERA in the AL.  In four starts by each since then, the White Sox are 0-8! :o  That includes yesterday, when Mike Pelfrey (0-for his Tiger career) beat Sale (who fell to 9-2), and today when a resuscitated Justin Verlander just plain out-pitched Quintana (who probably lost his lead in ERA).

It may be, as numerous managers and commentators have said, that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher", but ya can't even count on consistency from starting pitchers! ::)

I'm sane (for the most part) and I bet on Kershaw, Sale and Arieta for the first 5-6 weeks of the year, then shut it down after making my money.  Baseball is tough to bet on since every day is different.  I do, however, appreciate what those 3 did for my checking account early in the year.

That was good (and/or lucky) betting on those three, and wise to shut it down at least on Sale (probably could have kept it going a while longer on Kershaw and Arieta).  Both my eyes and my gut tell me that Verlander is going into 'Cy Young' mode and Zimmermann seems to be in a magic place (his two losses were both on 'not bad' outings, but he got his 7th win on his only horrible outing of the year).

Last night was fun in a 'laugher' win way - 11-0.  (You know it is a total laugher when Romine and Saltalamacchia (both below the Mendoza line)  PH for Cabrera and Victor Martinez (both over .300) AND BOTH GET ON BASE - and get driven in by J. D. Martinez!)  Tonight was joyous in a different way - Aaron Sanchez had a one-hit shutout thru 8, then the Tigers erupted - tied it in the bottom of the ninth and won it (with bases loaded and no outs) in the tenth.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 23, 2016, 10:49:24 PM
Another oddity in Detroit today - the Tigers won in the bottom of the tenth on a wild pitch by the Seattle pitcher!  I'm not sure how rare that is, but a fan friend and I couldn't recall the last time the Tigers were ever involved in a 'walk off' wild pitch.

Reliever Kyle Ryan, recently recalled from Toledo, went from probable goat to hero - his throwing error on an attempted pick-off in the top of the tenth sent the runner all the way to third with no outs, but he emerged unscathed when the runner was thrown out at the plate and instead got the win.

I've gotta feel sorry for Seattle, who now have FOUR starting pitchers on the DL - their scheduled starter today (already a fill in for an injured pitcher) did not even get to the first pitch, suffering elbow pain during warm-up.  Kudos to their bullpen who pitched the entire game and got them to extra innings.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Purple Heys on June 24, 2016, 09:04:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 23, 2016, 10:49:24 PM
Another oddity in Detroit today - the Tigers won in the bottom of the tenth on a wild pitch by the Seattle pitcher!  I'm not sure how rare that is, but a fan friend and I couldn't recall the last time the Tigers were ever involved in a 'walk off' wild pitch.

Reliever Kyle Ryan, recently recalled from Toledo, went from probable goat to hero - his throwing error on an attempted pick-off in the top of the tenth sent the runner all the way to third with no outs, but he emerged unscathed when the runner was thrown out at the plate and instead got the win.

I've gotta feel sorry for Seattle, who now have FOUR starting pitchers on the DL - their scheduled starter today (already a fill in for an injured pitcher) did not even get to the first pitch, suffering elbow pain during warm-up.  Kudos to their bullpen who pitched the entire game and got them to extra innings.

I don't feel sorry for the Pilots...errr...Mariners.  Go Angels!   ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2016, 12:15:10 AM
Quote from: Purple Heys on June 24, 2016, 09:04:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 23, 2016, 10:49:24 PM
Another oddity in Detroit today - the Tigers won in the bottom of the tenth on a wild pitch by the Seattle pitcher!  I'm not sure how rare that is, but a fan friend and I couldn't recall the last time the Tigers were ever involved in a 'walk off' wild pitch.

Reliever Kyle Ryan, recently recalled from Toledo, went from probable goat to hero - his throwing error on an attempted pick-off in the top of the tenth sent the runner all the way to third with no outs, but he emerged unscathed when the runner was thrown out at the plate and instead got the win.

I've gotta feel sorry for Seattle, who now have FOUR starting pitchers on the DL - their scheduled starter today (already a fill in for an injured pitcher) did not even get to the first pitch, suffering elbow pain during warm-up.  Kudos to their bullpen who pitched the entire game and got them to extra innings.

I don't feel sorry for the Pilots...errr...Mariners.  Go Angels!   ;D

I've got nothing against the Angels, but that's harsh!  Geez, FOUR starters out, including King Felix. :(  But if someone doesn't slow down Texas soon, you're ALL history anyway.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2016, 10:45:15 PM
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:

After the fact, the umps changed the score of the Indians win over the Tigers last night from 7-4 to 7-5.  Bottom of the ninth, one out, Kinsler on second, Maybin on first, Cabrera hits a fly to deep right field.  Rajai Davis (a former Tiger and a favorite of mine) just manages to run it down, but initially bobbles it.  Kinsler and Maybin, thinking he dropped it, take off without tagging up.  Davis manages to catch it a second time before it hits the ground.  He now has a choice of runners to double up and end the game; the ball goes to first.  End of game?  Not so fast - the umps belatedly ruled that Kinsler scored before the final out.  EXCEPT that he had never tagged up!

I have no clue on the correct call.  My heart says Miggy went from his third double play of the game to a SF and RBI, so 'good call!'; my head says the umps screwed up.  Since they had already won the game, the Indians made no protest (and never bothered throwing to second for the 28th out! ;D).  Anyone want to chime in on whether the umps corrected a scoring error, or made one?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on June 26, 2016, 01:20:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2016, 10:45:15 PM
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:

After the fact, the umps changed the score of the Indians win over the Tigers last night from 7-4 to 7-5.  Bottom of the ninth, one out, Kinsler on second, Maybin on first, Cabrera hits a fly to deep right field.  Rajai Davis (a former Tiger and a favorite of mine) just manages to run it down, but initially bobbles it.  Kinsler and Maybin, thinking he dropped it, take off without tagging up.  Davis manages to catch it a second time before it hits the ground.  He now has a choice of runners to double up and end the game; the ball goes to first.  End of game?  Not so fast - the umps belatedly ruled that Kinsler scored before the final out.  EXCEPT that he had never tagged up!

I have no clue on the correct call.  My heart says Miggy went from his third double play of the game to a SF and RBI, so 'good call!'; my head says the umps screwed up.  Since they had already won the game, the Indians made no protest (and never bothered throwing to second for the 28th out! ;D).  Anyone want to chime in on whether the umps corrected a scoring error, or made one?

The ruling is correct.  The ball should have gone to third to eliminate the run.  Once the ball is touched, the runners can advance by tagging up.  The run did score before the third out and should count.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 03, 2016, 08:59:24 AM
Spahn versus Marichal. For your enjoyment.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/07/july_2_1963_the_day_marichal_and_spahn_took_work_ethic_to_a_higher_level.html
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 06, 2016, 01:10:23 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 25, 2016, 12:15:10 AM
Quote from: Purple Heys on June 24, 2016, 09:04:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 23, 2016, 10:49:24 PM
Another oddity in Detroit today - the Tigers won in the bottom of the tenth on a wild pitch by the Seattle pitcher!  I'm not sure how rare that is, but a fan friend and I couldn't recall the last time the Tigers were ever involved in a 'walk off' wild pitch.

Reliever Kyle Ryan, recently recalled from Toledo, went from probable goat to hero - his throwing error on an attempted pick-off in the top of the tenth sent the runner all the way to third with no outs, but he emerged unscathed when the runner was thrown out at the plate and instead got the win.

I've gotta feel sorry for Seattle, who now have FOUR starting pitchers on the DL - their scheduled starter today (already a fill in for an injured pitcher) did not even get to the first pitch, suffering elbow pain during warm-up.  Kudos to their bullpen who pitched the entire game and got them to extra innings.

I don't feel sorry for the Pilots...errr...Mariners.  Go Angels!   ;D

I've got nothing against the Angels, but that's harsh!  Geez, FOUR starters out, including King Felix. :(  But if someone doesn't slow down Texas soon, you're ALL history anyway.

My sympathy for the Mariners is now tempered by what has happened to the Tigers.  Monday, TWO Tiger starters went on the DL (Daniel Norris and UWSP's Jordan Zimmermann).  Tuesday, Anabel Sanchez was the emergency replacement for JZ - he showed why he was no longer in the rotation, yielding 7 earned runs in 4.1 innings.  (Since Sanchez led the AL in ERA in 2013, and was only 29, it is hard to fault the Tigers for signing him to a huge long-term contract, but in retrospect it was one of the worst deals in history - his ERA has risen every year since, and now has reached 6.56. :o)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 16, 2016, 10:58:47 PM
Every so often my mind goes down 'memory lane': Mark (The Bird) Fidrych and the 1984 Tigers.

While they obviously didn't need him (the 1984 Tigers began the season with an all-time best 35-5 record, and never looked back - winning 108 games before sweeping to the WS title), it sometimes occurs to me that if the doctors hadn't totally missed the easily reparable rotator cuff tear in The Bird (who went 19-9 in his rookie season, then won only 10 games the entire rest of his career), he would have been right in his prime in 1984!  OMG - they might have won 120 games and been universally hailed as the best team of all time!

Fidrych, Herb Score, and Lyman Bostock are the names I'm coming up with for likely HOF careers cut tragically short by injury (or death, for Bostock).  Others?

(I'm not including potentially HOF careers cut tragically short by alcohol or other drug addictions.  Such players as Dwight Goodin, Bob Welch, and Steve Howe may otherwise be eligible for the list, but addiction is a treatable condition and they were unable or unwilling to be adequately treated.  Fidrych [undiagnosed reparable shoulder injury], Score [line drive to the face which partially destroyed his vision], and Bostock [gun shots intended for someone else], are in a different category.)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 18, 2016, 11:24:31 PM
Miguel Cabrera today became the 100th player in MLB history with 2,500 hits.  He is one of only 8 to do so by age 33, and the youngest to reach that milestone since Hank Aaron in 1967.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 18, 2016, 11:36:58 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 16, 2016, 10:58:47 PM
Fidrych, Herb Score, and Lyman Bostock are the names I'm coming up with for likely HOF careers cut tragically short by injury (or death, for Bostock).  Others?

(I'm not including potentially HOF careers cut tragically short by alcohol or other drug addictions.  Such players as Dwight Goodin, Bob Welch, and Steve Howe may otherwise be eligible for the list, but addiction is a treatable condition and they were unable or unwilling to be adequately treated.  Fidrych [undiagnosed reparable shoulder injury], Score [line drive to the face which partially destroyed his vision], and Bostock [gun shots intended for someone else], are in a different category.)

I grew up watching Tony Conigliaro do the sports on the ABC affiliate.  Add him to your list.

There are plenty that never made the majors that ended their careers in the minors or in college.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 18, 2016, 11:55:56 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 18, 2016, 11:36:58 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 16, 2016, 10:58:47 PM
Fidrych, Herb Score, and Lyman Bostock are the names I'm coming up with for likely HOF careers cut tragically short by injury (or death, for Bostock).  Others?

(I'm not including potentially HOF careers cut tragically short by alcohol or other drug addictions.  Such players as Dwight Goodin, Bob Welch, and Steve Howe may otherwise be eligible for the list, but addiction is a treatable condition and they were unable or unwilling to be adequately treated.  Fidrych [undiagnosed reparable shoulder injury], Score [line drive to the face which partially destroyed his vision], and Bostock [gun shots intended for someone else], are in a different category.)

I grew up watching Tony Conigliaro do the sports on the ABC affiliate.  Add him to your list.

There are plenty that never made the majors that ended their careers in the minors or in college.

Oh, no doubt, but those are pure speculation.  I'm talking about guys who had already done enough in the Majors that eventual HoF status did not seem at all implausible.  Tony C. is a good addition to my (admittedly very incomplete) list.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 19, 2016, 03:48:27 PM
Saberhagen, Eric Davis, Mattingly, Santana (probably), Lincecum (probably), Brandon Webb, Nomar.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on September 19, 2016, 06:04:00 PM
Not sure all of those apply, but Donny Baseball certainly does. Guy still hit even when he had to hit with all arms.

One that I'd go with and I think be able to defend convincingly is Kerry Wood. Was the best pitcher in the NL as a rookie at 21. Very few guys at any age ever led their league in both hits/9 and K/9 in the same season. His rookie year K/9 is the 3rd highest ever, behind seasons authored by a couple of guys named Pedro and Randy.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 19, 2016, 11:00:41 PM
Bombers, there are undoubtedly countless players who MIGHT have made the HoF if PERFECTLY healthy.  I'm focused on players whose careers were totally derailed by injury.  Even HoF players COULD have been better - IMO Mickey Mantle would probably have been the GOAT if not for leg injuries and his lack of training.  (His male ancestors all died young, so he never expected to live past 40 or 50, so he partied; I've seen several sources say he was THE fastest runner in MLB when he started - combine that with his power and you have GOAT.)

Your guys all had some bad breaks, but in terms of MY criteria (seemingly HoF careers totally demolished by bad luck), I'm sticking with Fidrych, Score, Bostock, Conigliaro, and (now) Wood.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 21, 2016, 02:08:56 PM
LF:  Super Joe Charboneau - lifestyle, injuries, bad luck were reasons he never had much left after his rookie year.

P Darryl Kyle career was not ended by a physical injury
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 21, 2016, 05:17:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 19, 2016, 11:00:41 PM
Bombers, there are undoubtedly countless players who MIGHT have made the HoF if PERFECTLY healthy.  I'm focused on players whose careers were totally derailed by injury.  Even HoF players COULD have been better - IMO Mickey Mantle would probably have been the GOAT if not for leg injuries and his lack of training.  (His male ancestors all died young, so he never expected to live past 40 or 50, so he partied; I've seen several sources say he was THE fastest runner in MLB when he started - combine that with his power and you have GOAT.)

Your guys all had some bad breaks, but in terms of MY criteria (seemingly HoF careers totally demolished by bad luck), I'm sticking with Fidrych, Score, Bostock, Conigliaro, and (now) Wood.

Brandon Webb was a three time all-star who won a Cy Young and was runner up twice, and who never threw a single pitch in his 30s.

Johan Santana won two Cy Youngs by 27, missed his entire age 32 season, and was done with before turning 34.

In what way were they less qualified than Kerry Wood?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 21, 2016, 05:32:01 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 21, 2016, 05:17:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 19, 2016, 11:00:41 PM
Bombers, there are undoubtedly countless players who MIGHT have made the HoF if PERFECTLY healthy.  I'm focused on players whose careers were totally derailed by injury.  Even HoF players COULD have been better - IMO Mickey Mantle would probably have been the GOAT if not for leg injuries and his lack of training.  (His male ancestors all died young, so he never expected to live past 40 or 50, so he partied; I've seen several sources say he was THE fastest runner in MLB when he started - combine that with his power and you have GOAT.)

Your guys all had some bad breaks, but in terms of MY criteria (seemingly HoF careers totally demolished by bad luck), I'm sticking with Fidrych, Score, Bostock, Conigliaro, and (now) Wood.

Brandon Webb was a three time all-star who won a Cy Young and was runner up twice, and who never threw a single pitch in his 30s.

Johan Santana won two Cy Youngs by 27, missed his entire age 32 season, and was done with before turning 34.

In what way were they less qualified than Kerry Wood?

Um, in my ignorance of their situations? :-[

Yeah, they appear to qualify.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 22, 2016, 12:25:01 PM
To clarify, I didn't mean to be snarky.

I think it sort of makes sense, but at the same time is often overlooked: One of the big reasons HOFers become HOFers are because they stay healthy. All Hall of Famers had Hall of Fame talent, but lots of people with Hall of Fame talent don't make the Hall of Fame (especially pitchers). To take other examples:

Saberhagen
Age 20-25: 178 starts, 92-61, 3.23 ERA, two Cy Youngs, WS MVP
Age 26-37: 193 starts, 76-55, 3.47 ERA

Eric Davis' 162 game averages for 1986-1987:
.286/.389/.560, 40 HR, 107 RBI, 80 SB

The thing that makes it hard to spot a guy like Davis and Saberhagen is that instead of having their careers literally ended by an injury, they just missed a ton of time in small increments. Davis, for example, never played in 140 games a season, and played in 100 in just 8 of his 17 seasons. After turning 25, Saberhagen pitched for another 11 years, but he never made a ton of starts in any of them. Mattingly continued to play half a dozen years after hurting his back, he just lost all his power, and with it any hope of going to the Hall.

We always think of the Conigliaro-type players because it's easy to remember, but we forget the guys for whom injuries had  more of a gradual, long term affect
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 05:04:48 PM
Bombers, excellent points.  I'm likely to overlook the 'dinged enough to greatly impair, but still playing' types unless they are a player for the Tigers (or a former Tiger that I particularly liked).  I admit to being primarily a Tigers fan, not a fan of MLB in general.  So, yeah, the Fidrych, Bostock types stick in mind; the Saberhagen, Davis types get overlooked.  Only rarely is a player SO surpassing that they can be greatly impaired and still make the HoF (Mantle), or die tragically prematurely but go in anyway (Clemente - IIRC, didn't they waive the five-year waiting period, since his place was so obvious?  I still think Thurman Munson should be in, but I guess he needed another couple of good years, and his airplane death was only tragic, not heroic like Roberto's.)

It will be interesting to see what happens when Bonds and Clemens become eligible!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 22, 2016, 07:01:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 05:04:48 PM


It will be interesting to see what happens when Bonds and Clemens become eligible!

They've been eligible for four years. They are not going to be elected
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 07:22:17 PM
Well, it happened again. :o  In the ninth inning of this afternoon's make-up game of Tigers @ Twins (rained out last night), a Twins' reliever threw a run-scoring wild pitch during an intentional walk!  (This one turned out not to matter since PH Victor Martinez put the next pitch over the wall - just turned his grand slam into a 3-run HR!)  I remain mystified how a professional pitcher (much less a MLBer) can throw a wild pitch during an intentional walk! ::)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 07:57:39 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 22, 2016, 07:01:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 05:04:48 PM


It will be interesting to see what happens when Bonds and Clemens become eligible!

They've been eligible for four years. They are not going to be elected

More evidence of how casually I follow MLB other than the Tigers (and how time gets distorted as one ages :P).  I can't believe it has been NINE years since they went away! ;)  Clemens I have no sympathy for, since there are multiple claims he 'juiced' his entire career.  Bonds is a somewhat different case, since it was quite obvious physically when he began.  I think he had probably ALREADY established HoF credentials while still clean, but he got greedy - a moral failing (so NO I would not vote for him).  IMO, Hank Aaron is still the career HR leader, and Roger Maris still the single-season champ (though with an asterisk IIRC that his 60th came after the 154th game, in which case he and the Babe are both champs of different length seasons).
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 25, 2016, 02:11:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 07:57:39 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 22, 2016, 07:01:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 22, 2016, 05:04:48 PM


It will be interesting to see what happens when Bonds and Clemens become eligible!

They've been eligible for four years. They are not going to be elected

More evidence of how casually I follow MLB other than the Tigers (and how time gets distorted as one ages :P).  I can't believe it has been NINE years since they went away! ;)  Clemens I have no sympathy for, since there are multiple claims he 'juiced' his entire career.  Bonds is a somewhat different case, since it was quite obvious physically when he began.  I think he had probably ALREADY established HoF credentials while still clean, but he got greedy - a moral failing (so NO I would not vote for him).  IMO, Hank Aaron is still the career HR leader, and Roger Maris still the single-season champ (though with an asterisk IIRC that his 60th came after the 154th game, in which case he and the Babe are both champs of different length seasons).

How quickly we get off topic.  Are we going to remove Ty Cobb because he was not nice (well just plain mean) - a moral failing as well.  Put as many asterisks you want but the records are what they are.  I do not condemn a player who in response to a big contract, wants to be better to justify the big bucks.  Nor a player that uses steroids to recover quickly from an injury to get back asap.  I doubt that Big Poppi will find it a difficult path to the HoF despite his positive drug test where Arod will likely be blackballed without one.

A player on the juice could have the same effect on his stats as the dead ball era had on a players numbers.  Much as I would not want it to be part of the game, it was and should not be a reason to keep a player out that should be in the Hall.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 25, 2016, 04:24:12 PM
Jose Fernandez died yesterday at age 24 in a boating accident.  He was NL ROY in 2013, and already a two-time all-star (basically losing 2014-15 to Tommie John surgery).   Another addition to the list of potential HoFers? :(  (I didn't follow his career enough to have any idea of his potential, but this year he broke the Marlins' all-time record for Ks in a season [and led MLB in Ks per 9 innings].)

Sounds like a candidate to me, the more I read.  To add to the tragedy, among his survivors are his mother (whom he rescued when their boat fleeing Cuba capsized when he was 15), his wife and his unborn daughter.  RIP, Jose.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 26, 2016, 07:58:21 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 25, 2016, 02:11:16 PM

How quickly we get off topic.  Are we going to remove Ty Cobb because he was not nice (well just plain mean) - a moral failing as well.  Put as many asterisks you want but the records are what they are.  I do not condemn a player who in response to a big contract, wants to be better to justify the big bucks.  Nor a player that uses steroids to recover quickly from an injury to get back asap.  I doubt that Big Poppi will find it a difficult path to the HoF despite his positive drug test where Arod will likely be blackballed without one.

A player on the juice could have the same effect on his stats as the dead ball era had on a players numbers.  Much as I would not want it to be part of the game, it was and should not be a reason to keep a player out that should be in the Hall.

The idea that Bonds' HR totals must be ignored, and Babe Ruth's—who only completed against white players—were taken at face value half a century is pure lunacy
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 26, 2016, 11:33:57 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 26, 2016, 07:58:21 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 25, 2016, 02:11:16 PM

How quickly we get off topic.  Are we going to remove Ty Cobb because he was not nice (well just plain mean) - a moral failing as well.  Put as many asterisks you want but the records are what they are.  I do not condemn a player who in response to a big contract, wants to be better to justify the big bucks.  Nor a player that uses steroids to recover quickly from an injury to get back asap.  I doubt that Big Poppi will find it a difficult path to the HoF despite his positive drug test where Arod will likely be blackballed without one.

A player on the juice could have the same effect on his stats as the dead ball era had on a players numbers.  Much as I would not want it to be part of the game, it was and should not be a reason to keep a player out that should be in the Hall.

The idea that Bonds' HR totals must be ignored, and Babe Ruth's—who only completed against white players—were taken at face value half a century is pure lunacy

There is a major difference: none of Babe Ruth's opponents played against black players either (and, in fact, based on his looks, some people speculated that the Babe had some 'Negro' ancestry!)  He was not responsible for the racism of his era.  Bonds on the other hand did not play against ALL juicers!  Perhaps I'm naive, but I doubt that even at the worst of the steroid era any more than 25-30% of players were juicing.  Playing in an all-white league was an unchosen 'fact of life'; 'juicing' was a deliberate choice to cheat.

ANY comparisons across eras is fraught with problems.  But since the HoF tries to lump together the greatest across eras, let's at least TRY to weed out the deliberate cheaters. 

IMO, Shoeless Joe Jackson should NOT be barred - his stats in the WS clearly show he was not a part of the conspiracy by the 'Black Sox', and some evidence even suggests he tried to warn owner Comiskey about the plot, but he was barred for life (during his prime) by Kenesaw Mountain Landis (a major participant in the "Red Scare' hysteria of the times).  Pete Rose is an iffier case: so far as I know, there is no evidence he ever bet against his team (which IMO would be disqualifying), but even betting for his team only some of the time could effect line-ups and pitching decisions.  I think the lifetime ban was more a reaction to his multi-year lying to investigators.  A close call, but I'd probably vote FOR him.

Unless there is clear legitimate medical reason for steroid use, I have very little sympathy for PED users.  It seems pretty clear that Barry Bonds' PED use was solely to 'game the system'.  After what was probably already a HoF career, he got greedy and broke (in every sense of the term :o) all-time HR records.  I was a big fan of Bobby Bonds; I have ZERO sympathy for Barry Bonds.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on September 27, 2016, 11:41:12 AM
On Jose Fernandez..could have been. Fantastic young pitcher. So sad what happened. Probably no one ever wanted to be a MLB player more.

The tragedy of Barry Bonds is that he was a hall of fame player BEFORE the steroids. AFTER them, I don't think he can be.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: cubs on September 27, 2016, 11:58:53 AM
Quote from: ElRetornodelEspencio on September 19, 2016, 06:04:00 PM
Not sure all of those apply, but Donny Baseball certainly does. Guy still hit even when he had to hit with all arms.

One that I'd go with and I think be able to defend convincingly is Kerry Wood. Was the best pitcher in the NL as a rookie at 21. Very few guys at any age ever led their league in both hits/9 and K/9 in the same season. His rookie year K/9 is the 3rd highest ever, behind seasons authored by a couple of guys named Pedro and Randy.
You can now unfortunately add Jose Fernandez in there now as well....  Some mind-boggling stats when you look at where Fernandez sits among the all time best:

-Here's a complete list of starters since 1901 to finish their career with a 150 ERA+:  Pedro Martinez and Jose Fernandez

-Here's a list of starters with a .667 win% four times thru age 23:  Tommy Bond (1876-'79,) Dwight Gooden and Jose Fernandez

-Fernandez had a career 2.43 FIP, 11.2 SO/9, and an ERA+ of 150.  He's the only player in MLB history to do that in his career.

-Fernandez average a 61.9 game score per start.  Only Kershaw, Koufax, and Walter Johnson topped that average.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 27, 2016, 04:32:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 26, 2016, 11:33:57 PM

There is a major difference: none of Babe Ruth's opponents played against black players either (and, in fact, based on his looks, some people speculated that the Babe had some 'Negro' ancestry!)  He was not responsible for the racism of his era.  Bonds on the other hand did not play against ALL juicers!  Perhaps I'm naive, but I doubt that even at the worst of the steroid era any more than 25-30% of players were juicing.  Playing in an all-white league was an unchosen 'fact of life'; 'juicing' was a deliberate choice to cheat.

The point is, Ruth's competition was undeniably weaker compared to the players who played post-integration, yet no one seemed in a hurry to talk about how his numbers were somehow less than official or magical. The idea that we have to ignore steroid numbers, but that Ruth's numbers in a white-only league were sacred is laughable.

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 27, 2016, 09:11:09 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 27, 2016, 04:32:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 26, 2016, 11:33:57 PM

There is a major difference: none of Babe Ruth's opponents played against black players either (and, in fact, based on his looks, some people speculated that the Babe had some 'Negro' ancestry!)  He was not responsible for the racism of his era.  Bonds on the other hand did not play against ALL juicers!  Perhaps I'm naive, but I doubt that even at the worst of the steroid era any more than 25-30% of players were juicing.  Playing in an all-white league was an unchosen 'fact of life'; 'juicing' was a deliberate choice to cheat.

The point is, Ruth's competition was undeniably weaker compared to the players who played post-integration, yet no one seemed in a hurry to talk about how his numbers were somehow less than official or magical. The idea that we have to ignore steroid numbers, but that Ruth's numbers in a white-only league were sacred is laughable.

I quite agree that players before integration were playing in a different competitive environment than those after (with at least a two decade transition period while MLB became blacker and more Hispanic), but since the HoF TRIES to deal with the entire history of baseball and pick the greatest, I have no clue as to the solution.  I suppose we could just kick out everyone who played in 'whites only' baseball (since their stats are not 'real'), but that seems a bit drastic! ;))

The point I'm trying to make is that the players had no control over the integration of MLB (though BOO to those players who harassed Jackie Robinson and the other path-breakers, and a huge cheer for the player (Pee Wee Reese?) who threw his arms around Jackie when he was heckled in one park), but players did (and do) have a choice about CHEATING.  Comparing era's stats is nearly impossible since the game is always changing (the 'dead ball' era, integration, lowering the pitcher's mound, adding the DH, etc.), but one thing we can TRY to do is keeping CHEATERS out of the 'temple'.

So, yes, the stats from the 'whites only' days will have to count (for lack of an alternative reality); the stats from cheaters are IMO invalid and discarded.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on September 28, 2016, 02:37:08 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 27, 2016, 09:11:09 PM

The point I'm trying to make is that the players had no control over the integration of MLB (though BOO to those players who harassed Jackie Robinson and the other path-breakers, and a huge cheer for the player (Pee Wee Reese?) who threw his arms around Jackie when he was heckled in one park), but players did (and do) have a choice about CHEATING.  Comparing era's stats is nearly impossible since the game is always changing (the 'dead ball' era, integration, lowering the pitcher's mound, adding the DH, etc.), but one thing we can TRY to do is keeping CHEATERS out of the 'temple'.

the stats from cheaters are IMO invalid and discarded.

I always find it humorous that writers are working overtime to keep steroid users out of the Hall of Fame, whereas Gaylord Perry can literally write a book admitting that he cheated for decades and of course, no one cares, because apparently some kinds of cheating are not actually cheating, because reasons and stuff.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 28, 2016, 08:10:51 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 28, 2016, 02:37:08 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 27, 2016, 09:11:09 PM

The point I'm trying to make is that the players had no control over the integration of MLB (though BOO to those players who harassed Jackie Robinson and the other path-breakers, and a huge cheer for the player (Pee Wee Reese?) who threw his arms around Jackie when he was heckled in one park), but players did (and do) have a choice about CHEATING.  Comparing era's stats is nearly impossible since the game is always changing (the 'dead ball' era, integration, lowering the pitcher's mound, adding the DH, etc.), but one thing we can TRY to do is keeping CHEATERS out of the 'temple'.

the stats from cheaters are IMO invalid and discarded.

I always find it humorous that writers are working overtime to keep steroid users out of the Hall of Fame, whereas Gaylord Perry can literally write a book admitting that he cheated for decades and of course, no one cares, because apparently some kinds of cheating are not actually cheating, because reasons and stuff.

At least not enough voters cared.  He wouldn't be in MY HoF, but they didn't ask me. :P
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 29, 2016, 02:59:07 PM
If there was a way to isolate those who used banned drugs and those who did not, then I might agree that doping would be an automatic disqualification.  Unfortunately there is no method to do so and as such should not be an automatic disqualification.

The voters are apparently taking the notion that it is.  Lets face it, Bonds and A-Rod were destine for the Hall and would have put HOF numbers up with or without steroids.  I will be curious in five years,  when Big Poppi is eligible, to see if a popular player can make it in - one that put up HOF numbers only after juicing.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on October 01, 2016, 02:20:54 AM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 27, 2016, 04:32:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 26, 2016, 11:33:57 PM

There is a major difference: none of Babe Ruth's opponents played against black players either (and, in fact, based on his looks, some people speculated that the Babe had some 'Negro' ancestry!)  He was not responsible for the racism of his era.  Bonds on the other hand did not play against ALL juicers!  Perhaps I'm naive, but I doubt that even at the worst of the steroid era any more than 25-30% of players were juicing.  Playing in an all-white league was an unchosen 'fact of life'; 'juicing' was a deliberate choice to cheat.

The point is, Ruth's competition was undeniably weaker compared to the players who played post-integration, yet no one seemed in a hurry to talk about how his numbers were somehow less than official or magical. The idea that we have to ignore steroid numbers, but that Ruth's numbers in a white-only league were sacred is laughable.

Babe Ruth was absolutely beyond doubt a great player. He was even more than that. He singlehandedly changed how the game was played. He doubled up the single season home run record that had stood for more than 30 years. The career home run record before him was 138. He had more than that between 1919-1921. He led the league in home runs with 11 in 1918...when he was still a pitcher, which he was well above average at (his career adjusted ERA+ is the same as Justin Verlander). His career WAR is 10% higher than anyone else that ever played. His career OPS+ is over 200, meaning basically he was twice as good as the average player. 2nd best ever is Ted Williams at 190. The curve starts to resemble normality after that. Those two are outliers.

If he hadn't pitched the first 4 years of his career, he would have hit close to 900 home runs, he would still have the record for runs scored, HR and RBI. And the only thing he ever juiced on was hot dogs and beer lol.

You can argue about how great Ruth was, but it's stupid to talk about him like he was some product of his era. He MADE his era, and made the game what it became.

If you ask someone who the greatest hitters of all time are, if Ruth and Williams aren't the first two names they say, just ignore the rest.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on October 01, 2016, 02:27:00 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 29, 2016, 02:59:07 PM
If there was a way to isolate those who used banned drugs and those who did not, then I might agree that doping would be an automatic disqualification.  Unfortunately there is no method to do so and as such should not be an automatic disqualification.

The voters are apparently taking the notion that it is.  Lets face it, Bonds and A-Rod were destine for the Hall and would have put HOF numbers up with or without steroids.  I will be curious in five years,  when Big Poppi is eligible, to see if a popular player can make it in - one that put up HOF numbers only after juicing.

The people in the game know. No isolation necessary.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 03, 2016, 09:36:34 AM
Quote from: ElRetornodelEspencio on October 01, 2016, 02:20:54 AM


Babe Ruth was absolutely beyond doubt a great player. He was even more than that. He singlehandedly changed how the game was played. He doubled up the single season home run record that had stood for more than 30 years. The career home run record before him was 138. He had more than that between 1919-1921. He led the league in home runs with 11 in 1918...when he was still a pitcher, which he was well above average at (his career adjusted ERA+ is the same as Justin Verlander). His career WAR is 10% higher than anyone else that ever played. His career OPS+ is over 200, meaning basically he was twice as good as the average player. 2nd best ever is Ted Williams at 190. The curve starts to resemble normality after that. Those two are outliers.

If he hadn't pitched the first 4 years of his career, he would have hit close to 900 home runs, he would still have the record for runs scored, HR and RBI. And the only thing he ever juiced on was hot dogs and beer lol.

You can argue about how great Ruth was, but it's stupid to talk about him like he was some product of his era. He MADE his era, and made the game what it became.

If you ask someone who the greatest hitters of all time are, if Ruth and Williams aren't the first two names they say, just ignore the rest.

I never claimed Ruth was a product of his era, but he was helped by it.

WAR is about how good you are relative to a baseline level of replacement player. The lower the baseline, the more the elite players can clear it by. The baseline in Ruth's era was lower, because the talent pool was just smaller. According to data from April of 2016, 40% of the players on the Opening Day 25-man rosters were not white. (And of course, there are a lot more white people in the U.S. today than there were in 1920, just because the population has tripled in that time) There's just no way around the fact stuff like this has made the overall talent pool deeper than it was in Ruth's era, even with expansion.

Forget the steroid thing for a second. It shouldn't be lost on us that the two players who were 1st and 3rd on the all-time home run list before steroids made it a mess would not have been allowed to play had they been born when Ruth was.

Ruth was an undeniably transcendent player, for all the reasons you listed. But we can't handwave away the demographic differences between baseball in the 1920s and today.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 03, 2016, 05:18:09 PM
I want to reiterate something that may have gotten lost in translation.

My point on Ruth is not to dispute his greatness, because that's not possible.

It was in response to Ypsi's point about the validity of a specific thing: Bonds' home run total. My point was simply that, if Bonds' total is going to be discounted because of steroids, it seems pretty silly not to discount Ruth's because systemic racism and discrimination artificially depressed the talent pool of the league he played in.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 03, 2016, 06:09:12 PM
I'm not denying that the talent Bonds faced was almost certainly better than what Ruth faced, but there are two factors that at least somewhat decrease the apparent difference.  1.  The talent is now distributed across 30 teams instead of 16.  2.  In Ruth's day, baseball was pretty much the only game in town.  I can't help but wonder how many potential MLB HoFers are instead in the NFL or NBA?  (And don't give me Michael Jordan's failure is his lark in baseball - with his physical talents and competitive spirit, if he had always aimed for baseball I have little doubt he'd be in Cooperstown! ;))

On the flip side, the Babe would nearly always face the same pitcher 3 or 4 times a game; today twice is more the norm before facing a fresh arm (and if you're a superstar it may even be a guy brought in just to face you).  That's the fundamental flaw in trying to have a single, hopefully rational, HoF - no two eras are even playing the same game! :P
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 03, 2016, 08:07:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 03, 2016, 06:09:12 PM
I'm not denying that the talent Bonds faced was almost certainly better than what Ruth faced, but there are two factors that at least somewhat decrease the apparent difference.  1.  The talent is now distributed across 30 teams instead of 16.  2.  In Ruth's day, baseball was pretty much the only game in town.  I can't help but wonder how many potential MLB HoFers are instead in theNFL or NBA?  (And don't give me Michael Jordan's failure is his lark in baseball - with his physical talents and competitive spirit, if he had always aimed for baseball I have little doubt he'd be in Cooperstown! ;))

On the flip side, the Babe would nearly always face the same pitcher 3 or 4 times a game; today twice is more the norm before facing a fresh arm (and if you're a superstar it may even be a guy brought in just to face you).  That's the fundamental flaw in trying to have a single, hopefully rational, HoF - no two eras are even playing the same game! :P

Again, Ruth is a deserving Hall of Famer, and a deserving inner circle of the inner circle Hall of Famer. But his 714/60 should be looked at with, at least, an equal amount of skepticism as Bonds 762/73. It's not his fault, of course, that African American players couldn't play in his day, but we can (and should, IMO) make those adjustments for that context.

I mean, there's a million other differences that work for/against players. The ballparks are different, relief pitchers play a key role, there are night games, travel is different, pitchers on the whole throw harder, they throw types of pitches Ruth likely rarely saw—sliders were not terribly common—training methods are different for pitchers and hitters. It's nearly impossible to adjust for all these things (and frankly, I think we go too far with that at times)

IMO, we can acknowledge the greatness of pre-integration players. But it's strange to me to see the numbers from the steroid era so thoroughly scrutinized while the numbers from Ruth's era are generally considered legitimate and pure.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 03, 2016, 09:38:20 PM
Bombers,

A great summing up of where the debate stands.  I don't disagree with a thing you said.

I'm not trying to argue the numbers, per se: just TO ME the single season record is 60 for 154 games and 61 for 162 games; the career record is not 714 (no one ever accused Hank Aaron of anything worse than being an African-American [usually in somewhat less polite terminology ::)] who dared to surpass the sainted Babe Ruth) but 755.  I'm not asking for the record books to be changed (that gets into too many issues and conflicts that probably defy rational explication), but I personally choose not to recognize 762 or 73 (or 70 or 66 or any other single season records by known cheaters).
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 05, 2016, 07:49:47 PM
Earlier this season, I was bemused by the countdown in Ichiro's combined hits total (Japan and ML) to Pete Rose's record.  Maybe we can solve Mr. Ypsi's home run quandary just by putting Oh at the top home run career list with 868.

The NCAA has a HR/game record and this might be the ticket for disparate seasons.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 01:17:23 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on October 05, 2016, 07:49:47 PM
Earlier this season, I was bemused by the countdown in Ichiro's combined hits total (Japan and ML) to Pete Rose's record.  Maybe we can solve Mr. Ypsi's home run quandary just by putting Oh at the top home run career list with 868.

The NCAA has a HR/game record and this might be the ticket for disparate seasons.

I could live with that! ;D  (Though I'm not entirely certain that Japanese baseball is above AAA.)

Like I said, I'm not asking MLB to change any records - too many variables involved to declare some things count and others don't.  But in MY mind, the career record is held by Hank Aaron and the single season record is shared by Babe Ruth (154 games) and Roger Maris (162 games).  (And as a Mickey Mantle fan, I'm still peeved about the batting order in 1961.  What pitcher in his right mind would risk walking Maris with Mantle up next?  Switch #3 and #4 in the batting order and I'd bet Mickey would have the (MY) single-season record! ;))
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 06, 2016, 10:05:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 01:17:23 AM
But in MY mind...the single season record is shared by Babe Ruth (154 games) and Roger Maris (162 games). 

Not being argumentative, simple thought questions based on this statement:

1. Do you consider the all-time hits record to be split between Rose and Cobb*? Rose clearly picked up more than 68 hits during team games 155-162 over the course of his career. (I don't have time to look at each season, but one year, he picked up 12. So I feel confident in that statement)

2. If a modern-day player—say Jose Altuve—was hitting .406 after his team's 154th game, but finished the season at .398, would you consider him a .400 hitter in the same vein as Ted Williams?

3. Is the all-time postseason HR record a three way share between Mantle (18, WS only), Jackson (18, WS/ALCS, one year of ALDS) and Bernie Williams (22, ALDS/ALCS/WS his whole career)? (I know you are disqualifying Manny due to steroids)

4. If Altuve had a 53-game hitting streak after game 154, but extended it to 57 by game 158, is his hitting streak considered the new standard, or is it shared with DiMaggio's?

*To make this simple, let's not include Ichiro's combined totals
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 11:26:26 PM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on October 06, 2016, 10:05:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 01:17:23 AM
But in MY mind...the single season record is shared by Babe Ruth (154 games) and Roger Maris (162 games). 

Not being argumentative, simple thought questions based on this statement:

1. Do you consider the all-time hits record to be split between Rose and Cobb*? Rose clearly picked up more than 68 hits during team games 155-162 over the course of his career. (I don't have time to look at each season, but one year, he picked up 12. So I feel confident in that statement)

2. If a modern-day player—say Jose Altuve—was hitting .406 after his team's 154th game, but finished the season at .398, would you consider him a .400 hitter in the same vein as Ted Williams?

3. Is the all-time postseason HR record a three way share between Mantle (18, WS only), Jackson (18, WS/ALCS, one year of ALDS) and Bernie Williams (22, ALDS/ALCS/WS his whole career)? (I know you are disqualifying Manny due to steroids)

4. If Altuve had a 53-game hitting streak after game 154, but extended it to 57 by game 158, is his hitting streak considered the new standard, or is it shared with DiMaggio's?

*To make this simple, let's not include Ichiro's combined totals

1. A career is a career.  If Cobb wanted to keep the record forever, he should have postponed retirement! ;D

2.  I'd consider he had a helluva season.  If .400 is THAT important to him, fake an injury while he's still above the line! :P  (I admire tremendously that Williams was right at .400 going into a final day DH and his manager offered to sit him to protect the mark - Teddy Ballgame refused and raised his average to .406!)

3.  I have no interest in postseason overall records - they are mainly a product of how good the TEAMS you played on were.  I assume virtually all the records are held by Yankees from their dominant era.  I'd take Ernie Banks over nearly all of them, except he never got the chance.

4.  In my world the solution is simple: a games streak is a games streak, and the hell with winter.  If Altuve (or I'll substitute Miggy ;)) finishes a season with 33 consecutive games, then starts the next with 24 more, in my eyes he outdid Joe D.  I realize that is not how the MLB record book works, but it is how MY record book works! :D 
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 06, 2016, 11:45:17 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 11:26:26 PM

1. A career is a career.  If Cobb wanted to keep the record forever, he should have postponed retirement! ;D


That's odd. Why are you only splitting up the single season HR record into 154/162 game records? Didn't Rose get the same advantage Maris did (extra games in the schedule), just more frequently?

I'm trying to understand your logic, but you don't seem to be applying it consistently at all.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on October 07, 2016, 02:59:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 01:17:23 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on October 05, 2016, 07:49:47 PM
Earlier this season, I was bemused by the countdown in Ichiro's combined hits total (Japan and ML) to Pete Rose's record.  Maybe we can solve Mr. Ypsi's home run quandary just by putting Oh at the top home run career list with 868.

The NCAA has a HR/game record and this might be the ticket for disparate seasons.

I could live with that! ;D  (Though I'm not entirely certain that Japanese baseball is above AAA.)


It's not. The American players there probably are about that level. Most of the Japanese ones aren't.

This is all ridiculous. Is the sport harder now than it was in the 20s? Of course it is. Does that mean numbers in the 20s shouldn't count? No.

One could just as easily suggest that if Babe Ruth had been around in an era with modern weight training, nutrition regimen, video analysis, swing metrics, etc. that he would have been even better. It's all unanswerable.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 07, 2016, 11:08:57 AM
Quote from: Bombers798891 on October 06, 2016, 11:45:17 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 06, 2016, 11:26:26 PM

1. A career is a career.  If Cobb wanted to keep the record forever, he should have postponed retirement! ;D


That's odd. Why are you only splitting up the single season HR record into 154/162 game records? Didn't Rose get the same advantage Maris did (extra games in the schedule), just more frequently?

I'm trying to understand your logic, but you don't seem to be applying it consistently at all.

I'm not really splitting the record - just recognizing that only the Babe (and a few juiced-up guys) has ever hit 60 HRs in the first 154 games of a season.  If careers had defined time limits I might do the same for Rose and Cobb, but, barring career-ending injury or death, career lengths are open-ended.  (And note the  ;D on my Cobb comment - 'logic' is not necessarily required in such statements! ;))
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 07, 2016, 07:52:19 PM
In fairness (and 'consistency' ;)), my commenting on the Babe being the only non-cheater with 60+ HRs in the first 154 games is in conflict with my belief that a 'consecutive games streak' is just that - winter breaks be damned.  It would not surprise me if some non-cheater (Hank Greenberg, perhaps? or Jimmie Foxx?) had a streak of 154 games over a two-year period of 60+ HRs.  But aside from a game-by-game check of box scores, I don't know how to check this - I'm curious, but not THAT curious! ;D  (So, while the Babe is the only non-PED guy with 60 HRs in the first 154 games, he may or may not be the only non-PED player with 60 [or more] HRs in a 154 game stretch!)

This is important to me to salvage my 'Tiger Perfect Game' in bowling. ::)  I've never rolled a 300, but I did have a series where I finished the first game with four strikes, then started the second with eight more (then collapsed and only finished with a 244 >:().  (In case anyone missed the reference, the 'Tiger Slam' was the term used for when Tiger Woods possessed all four Majors at the same time, but not in the same year so no 'Grand Slam'.) 
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on October 11, 2016, 01:01:43 PM
Tiger Perfect Game  ;D I like that one. If someone records 27 outs (or 21 in some leagues) without giving up a hit, is that a Tiger No Hitter? :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 11, 2016, 09:07:38 PM
Quote from: ElRetornodelEspencio on October 11, 2016, 01:01:43 PM
Tiger Perfect Game  ;D I like that one. If someone records 27 outs (or 21 in some leagues) without giving up a hit, is that a Tiger No Hitter? :)

Well, if I'm already willing to ignore winters, why not?! ;D  Henceforth, if a pitcher records 27 consecutive outs across two games, he's got a Tiger Perfect Game (if there was a walk or error, he's still got a Tiger No Hitter.) :D

There's already at least a couple of games that in my view should be considered perfect games (no 'Tiger' necessary):  Armando Galarraga's perfecto marred by Jim Joyce's bad call on the 27th batter.  Joyce was more distraught when he saw the replay than Armando appeared to be (he just smiled, shook his head, and promptly got the 28th out).  The next day Joyce was the home plate ump; Galarraga took out the line-up card and they embraced - one of the finest sportsmanship gestures ever.  And, of course, Harvey Haddix's TWELVE perfect innings, before losing in the 13th.  I understand the reasoning (it was not a complete game perfect game - therefore not a 'perfect game'), but come on!  TWELVE perfect innings!

There's also a small category (I think 3 or 4 times, though I'm not coming up with a specific example at the moment - I think Verlander may have done it, but I'm real fuzzy on details) of what I think of a 'quasi-perfect' game - the pitcher allows a runner (whether by hit, walk, or error), but the runner is erased by a pick-off or DP, and the pitcher still faces only the minimum 27 batters.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 12, 2016, 04:02:51 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 11, 2016, 09:07:38 PM
There's also a small category (I think 3 or 4 times, though I'm not coming up with a specific example at the moment - I think Verlander may have done it, but I'm real fuzzy on details) of what I think of a 'quasi-perfect' game - the pitcher allows a runner (whether by hit, walk, or error), but the runner is erased by a pick-off or DP, and the pitcher still faces only the minimum 27 batters.

On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth, then a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, walked the Washington Senators' first batter, Ray Morgan, on four straight pitches. Ruth, who had already been shouting at umpire Brick Owens about the quality of his calls, became even angrier and, in short order, was ejected. Enraged, Ruth charged Owens, swung at him, and had to be led off the field by a policeman. Ernie Shore came in to replace Ruth, while catcher Sam Agnew took over behind the plate for Pinch Thomas. Morgan was caught stealing by Agnew on the first pitch by Shore, who proceeded to retire the next 26 batters. All 27 outs were made while Shore was on the mound. Once recognized as a perfect game by Major League Baseball, this still counts as a combined no-hitter.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 12, 2016, 04:07:05 PM
There have been fifteen occasions in Major League Baseball history when a pitcher—or, in one case, multiple pitchers—recorded at least 27 consecutive outs after one or more runners reached base. In four instances, the game went into extra innings and the pitcher(s) recorded more than 27 consecutive outs

Check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_perfect_games


The closest I have seen a perfect game was an out, double and 26 consecutive outs to end the game.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 12, 2016, 11:05:54 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on October 12, 2016, 04:02:51 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 11, 2016, 09:07:38 PM
There's also a small category (I think 3 or 4 times, though I'm not coming up with a specific example at the moment - I think Verlander may have done it, but I'm real fuzzy on details) of what I think of a 'quasi-perfect' game - the pitcher allows a runner (whether by hit, walk, or error), but the runner is erased by a pick-off or DP, and the pitcher still faces only the minimum 27 batters.

On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth, then a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, walked the Washington Senators' first batter, Ray Morgan, on four straight pitches. Ruth, who had already been shouting at umpire Brick Owens about the quality of his calls, became even angrier and, in short order, was ejected. Enraged, Ruth charged Owens, swung at him, and had to be led off the field by a policeman. Ernie Shore came in to replace Ruth, while catcher Sam Agnew took over behind the plate for Pinch Thomas. Morgan was caught stealing by Agnew on the first pitch by Shore, who proceeded to retire the next 26 batters. All 27 outs were made while Shore was on the mound. Once recognized as a perfect game by Major League Baseball, this still counts as a combined no-hitter.

Thanks, Jim.  I vaguely remembered such a game (and almost included it as a third game that should be considered a perfect game), but I would have messed it up!  I thought it included Babe Ruth, but thought he was the pitcher who came in and did that remarkable pitching feat (also, I couldn't recall if the original starter had been injured or ejected). ;)

Thanks also for that Wikipedia link.  I just got around to reading it - brought back some memories, and taught me some new stuff. :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 22, 2017, 07:53:16 PM
From the article...

CHICAGO -- In an effort to discourage those within the organization from selling their World Series rings, the Chicago Cubs are asking non-players to sign an agreement giving the team the right to buy back the ring for $1.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19189422/chicago-cubs-ask-non-players-sign-agreement-discouraging-sale-world-series-rings
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 16, 2017, 09:36:18 PM
From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings! :o  Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on June 17, 2017, 09:21:28 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 16, 2017, 09:36:18 PM
From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings! :o  Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes! ;D

It is hard enough to get three ABs in three consecutive innings
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 17, 2017, 07:26:01 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on June 17, 2017, 09:21:28 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 16, 2017, 09:36:18 PM
From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings! :o  Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes! ;D

It is hard enough to get three ABs in three consecutive innings

Yeah, how it came about is kinda interesting.  After Kinsler led off with a HR, the Tampa pitcher suddenly became Cy Young temporarily, getting the next nine outs in order (meaning Kinsler was the third out of inning three).  The Tigers' then decided he was NOT Cy Young, and sent nine men to the plate in both the fourth and fifth innings, scoring 5 runs each inning, but leaving poor Ian as the ninth batter in each inning.  Since they now led 11-2, Ausmus decided to give Ian the rest of the game off. ;)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 18, 2017, 11:15:48 PM
So, his line was 4-1-1-1 with a BA of .250 and a Slg Pct of 1.000?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 18, 2017, 11:28:25 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 18, 2017, 11:15:48 PM
So, his line was 4-1-1-1 with a BA of .250 and a Slg Pct of 1.000?

Yeah, but nothing that unusual about that.  Several Tigers seem to make a habit of hitting a homer but otherwise producing nothing. :P
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 04, 2017, 09:52:30 AM
Appropriate baseball reading for the Fourth of July

http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-day-lou-gehrig-proclaimed-himself-the-luckiest-man-on-the-face-of-the-earth
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 16, 2017, 10:28:53 PM
Not sure how rare this is, but first time for Miguel Cabrera.  In the bottom of the eleventh, he had a 'walk-off walk'!  Two Blue Jays' pitchers totally imploded: a walk, a sac bunt, new pitcher; an out, a fielding error, a walk, and the walk to Miggy.

He'd had scads of walk-off hits, and 16 previous bases-loaded walks, but this was his first walk-off walk!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on July 17, 2017, 01:11:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 16, 2017, 10:28:53 PM
Not sure how rare this is, but first time for Miguel Cabrera.  In the bottom of the eleventh, he had a 'walk-off walk'!  Two Blue Jays' pitchers totally imploded: a walk, a sac bunt, new pitcher; an out, a fielding error, a walk, and the walk to Miggy.

He'd had scads of walk-off hits, and 16 previous bases-loaded walks, but this was his first walk-off walk!

It is probably more common than you think.  I see my share of games in person and on TV and have seen the walk off hit, home run, walk, balk, error, pb, wp.  Not sure I have ever seen a walk-off strikeout.

I am always surprised how rare having three assists in an inning is, ~0.1-0.2% of innings played
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 17, 2017, 09:21:33 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on June 17, 2017, 09:21:28 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 16, 2017, 09:36:18 PM
From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings! :o  Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes! ;D

It is hard enough to get three ABs in three consecutive innings

A much more satisfying three-inning stretch for Ian Kinsler tonite:  in the first three innings in KC (against Cy Young candidate Jason Vargas [12-3, 2.60 ERA]) he went double, triple, triple!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 16, 2017, 07:27:47 AM
Rather than starting a new topic, I will post this link here.

The Last American Baseball-Glove Maker Refuses to Die
In a small town outside Dallas, niche manufacturer Nokona is hanging on. How?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-08-14/the-last-american-baseball-glove-maker-refuses-to-die
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2017, 12:14:33 PM
Joey Gallo (Texas Rangers) is hitting a pathetic .208, having just 69 hits all season.  But 34 of those hits are home runs!  Having over 49% of your hits be homers has just got to be some kind of a record. :o
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 17, 2017, 12:41:17 AM
A very elementary question for whomever:

What is the difference between a two-seam and four-seam fastball?  Based on the names, I assume there is a difference in grip, but what is the difference (real or perceived) in the behavior of the ball?  Some pitchers throw only one or the other, but many go back and forth, so I assume they at least believe the ball acts differently.

(BTW, Joey Gallo had both a double and a HR in tonight's game, so he now has 35 HRs and 36 hits of every other shade!)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on August 17, 2017, 10:12:34 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2017, 12:14:33 PM
Joey Gallo (Texas Rangers) is hitting a pathetic .208, having just 69 hits all season.  But 34 of those hits are home runs!  Having over 49% of your hits be homers has just got to be some kind of a record. :o

Near as I can tell, McGwire and Bonds topped out at 46-47%. Neither were poor hitters however. They simply drew a lot of walks
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 20, 2017, 05:51:35 PM
An incredible pitchers' duel in Detroit today (at least early on): for four innings it was a double perfect game.  Justin Verlander walked a Dodger in the top of the fifth, while Maeda stayed perfect in the bottom of the fifth, so still a double no-hitter after five.  In the top of the 6th, former Tiger Curtis Granderson hit a solo HR to break up both Verlander's no-hitter and shutout.  But when the Tigers finally broke thru on Maeda, they did so big time - five hits and four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

I think I recall a double no-hitter lasting 5 innings, but pretty sure a double perfect game for 4 innings is a first (at least for me).
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on August 20, 2017, 10:35:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 20, 2017, 05:51:35 PM
An incredible pitchers' duel in Detroit today (at least early on): for four innings it was a double perfect game.  Justin Verlander walked a Dodger in the top of the fifth, while Maeda stayed perfect in the bottom of the fifth, so still a double no-hitter after five.  In the top of the 6th, former Tiger Curtis Granderson hit a solo HR to break up both Verlander's no-hitter and shutout.  But when the Tigers finally broke thru on Maeda, they did so big time - five hits and four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

I think I recall a double no-hitter lasting 5 innings, but pretty sure a double perfect game for 4 innings is a first (at least for me).

For you is right.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/no-hitter-hitters-both-teams-hits-double-dual-pitchers-teams/1amb0mpgsu0hb13byfujqcv9nt

https://calltothepen.com/2016/05/02/cincinnati-reds-and-chicago-cubs-pitch-dual-no-hitters/

https://sportslifer.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/the-10-greatest-pitching-duels-in-mlb-history/
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on August 20, 2017, 10:46:32 PM
This is the greatest MLB pitching game I have been in the stands to watch.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198309110.shtml

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 21, 2017, 01:14:34 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on August 20, 2017, 10:35:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 20, 2017, 05:51:35 PM
An incredible pitchers' duel in Detroit today (at least early on): for four innings it was a double perfect game.  Justin Verlander walked a Dodger in the top of the fifth, while Maeda stayed perfect in the bottom of the fifth, so still a double no-hitter after five.  In the top of the 6th, former Tiger Curtis Granderson hit a solo HR to break up both Verlander's no-hitter and shutout.  But when the Tigers finally broke thru on Maeda, they did so big time - five hits and four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

I think I recall a double no-hitter lasting 5 innings, but pretty sure a double perfect game for 4 innings is a first (at least for me).

For you is right.



https://sportslifer.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/the-10-greatest-pitching-duels-in-mlb-history/
IMHO, #10, the May 28, 2000, Red Sox 2-0 win over the Yankees is a paean to recent history and a chance to include a "Red Sox-Yankees" game.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 21, 2017, 01:23:15 PM
My most memorable MLB pitching game I have been in the stands to watch.


https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX198908220.shtml

Nolan Ryan's 5000th strikeout, Rickie Henderson.

The AL West leading A's beat the Rangers 2-0 and Eck got the save.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: hopefan on August 22, 2017, 05:06:59 AM
Hadn't noted this page before... but my 2nd biggest baseball thrill (behind Maz's HR in the '60 series), is written about in the accompanying article...

why a thrill??... well, I was in attendance... to see the Buccos beat Koufax and Drysdale (in their prime) in a doubleheader.   I've often wondered if Koufax and Drysdale EVER took a doubleheader loss besides this day in 1965...


https://www.bucsdugout.com/2015/9/2/9229773/pennant-race-flashback-september-1-1965
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on August 22, 2017, 11:44:35 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 21, 2017, 01:14:34 PM

IMHO, #10, the May 28, 2000, Red Sox 2-0 win over the Yankees is a paean to recent history and a chance to include a "Red Sox-Yankees" game.

Probably. But it's also sort of a boring list if we don't make any adjustment for era, so it's all games in the deadball era, or an era where guys went 11 or more innings—which is how I'd categorize 8 of the other 9 games listed—and Dodger Stadium in 1965 wasn't exactly a hitter's haven. The pitchers in question were also great. Sure, Roy Halladay once threw 10 scoreless innings to beat the Nate Cornejo-led Tigers, but well, Nate Cornejo.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 23, 2017, 10:03:23 PM
Hard luck story for today:

The Dodgers' Rich Hill had a perfect game into the 9th, when a fielding error by a teammate wrecked that.  He still had a no-hitter into the tenth, when Josh Hamilton hit a lead-off, walk-off homer.

I can't recall: since he went nine, does he get credit for a no-hitter or not?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on August 24, 2017, 04:08:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 23, 2017, 10:03:23 PM
Hard luck story for today:

The Dodgers' Rich Hill had a perfect game into the 9th, when a fielding error by a teammate wrecked that.  He still had a no-hitter into the tenth, when Josh Hamilton hit a lead-off, walk-off homer.

I can't recall: since he went nine, does he get credit for a no-hitter or not?

No. A no-hitter requires a complete game. A similar fate befell Pedro Martinez in 1995
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 30, 2017, 09:04:19 PM
In the 13th season of a career which will probably end in Cooperstown (and, I hope, in Detroit first), Justin Verlander FINALLY got his first MLB RBI! ;D  That put the Tigers up 1-0; he left the game leading 5-1 after 6.  Tigers won 6-2. 

He is probably roughly the pitcher that Babe Ruth was, but he sure ain't the hitter - that moves him to 4 of 41 for his career.

(Though he sure had a blast crowing to his fellow pitchers a couple of years ago when he had two hits in one game!)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 01, 2017, 08:14:38 PM
Six weeks ago, Justin Wilson, Justin Upton, and Justin Verlander were three of the best Tigers.  As of midnight last night, the Tigers are Justin-less.  The resale market for Tigers tickets has reportedly completely collapsed - one poster claimed he couldn't get even $6 for his $21 face-value tickets.  Apparently a AAA team at MLB prices is not an easy sell! :o
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2018, 10:01:34 PM
Oh, the humanity!! 

The Toronto Blue Jays were no-hit tonight by James Paxton (Seattle Mariners), who is a native Canadian!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: 108 Stitches on May 09, 2018, 12:29:53 AM
you don't say, eh...
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on May 09, 2018, 01:34:02 PM
The stat I like is that of the three no-hitters, all were in different countries.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 04, 2018, 10:24:29 PM
Yankee slugger Aaron Judge struck out FIVE times in the nightcap of the DH in Detroit.  I'm assuming that has got to set a new all-time record in futility!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on June 05, 2018, 11:28:11 AM
Many players have struck out five times in a game before.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 01, 2018, 12:22:24 AM
The no-pitch/one walk appearance...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/indians-reliever-oliver-perez-made-history-without-throwing-single-pitch-190924574.html
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 02, 2018, 09:51:41 PM
Just read a fascinating article on the Tigers' Gates Brown, considered by many to be the most clutch pinch-hitter in MLB history.  He oudid himself in the WS-winning year of 1968, with a .450 BA as a PH (a team-leading .370 overall), including .611(!) in 8th inning appearances, and .488 in 8th, 9th, and extra-inning appearances!

He quit the Tigers after the WS win in 1984, an embittered man.  He believed it was racism that kept him from ever being a regular starter in the outfield, and that led the Tigers to offer him what he considered to be an insultingly modest raise after he led the Tigers to offensive glory in 1984 as the hitting coach.

He died of a heart attack at 74 in 2013.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 10, 2018, 09:40:22 PM
A mildly strange game at Comerica Park tonite (not that I haven't seen it a number of times before) - after 8 innings, the Tigers have been outhit by the Twins 8-3; yet lead 5-2!  At 35, Ervin Santana should understand that walks can be just as toxic as hits - he only walked two, but both soon scored on HRs.  Despite not pitching very well, UWSP's Jordan Zimmermann is the beneficiary of the Tiger's timely (if not numerous) hits.

Yesterday, former Tiger (now Astro's ace) Justin Verlander had a complete meltdown.  Vs. Seattle, he picked off a runner at second, but was called for a balk, sending the runner to third instead of ending the inning.  He then gave up back-to-back HRs.  I don't know what he said to the ump, but he was ejected before he even hit the foul lines.  The result was by far his worst outing as an Astro (whom he greatly helped to his first WS title last season): 6 earned runs in two innings.  Unless he goes on a totally dominant run, that may cost him his third Cy Young, that looked like a foregone conclusion a few weeks ago.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 10, 2018, 09:54:00 PM
Final from Comerica: Twins 10 hits, 3 runs; Tigers 3 hits, 5 runs.

The losing team out-hitting the winning team is not unusual, but the margin of difference seems quite rare to me.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 11, 2018, 05:17:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 10, 2018, 09:40:22 PM
A mildly strange game at Comerica Park tonite (not that I haven't seen it a number of times before) - after 8 innings, the Tigers have been outhit by the Twins 8-3; yet lead 5-2!  At 35, Ervin Santana should understand that walks can be just as toxic as hits - he only walked two, but both soon scored on HRs.  Despite not pitching very well, UWSP's Jordan Zimmermann is the beneficiary of the Tiger's timely (if not numerous) hits.

Yesterday, former Tiger (now Astro's ace) Justin Verlander had a complete meltdown.  Vs. Seattle, he picked off a runner at second, but was called for a balk, sending the runner to third instead of ending the inning.  He then gave up back-to-back HRs.  I don't know what he said to the ump, but he was ejected before he even hit the foul lines.  The result was by far his worst outing as an Astro (whom he greatly helped to his first WS title last season): 6 earned runs in two innings.  Unless he goes on a totally dominant run, that may cost him his third Cy Young, that looked like a foregone conclusion a few weeks ago.
Channeling my best Bernard Malamud, it's gotta be due to a woman. 


(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.BzIMgTx31ViltViFM4YmNwHaH2%26pid%3D15.1&f=1)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 11, 2018, 10:31:42 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 11, 2018, 05:17:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 10, 2018, 09:40:22 PM
A mildly strange game at Comerica Park tonite (not that I haven't seen it a number of times before) - after 8 innings, the Tigers have been outhit by the Twins 8-3; yet lead 5-2!  At 35, Ervin Santana should understand that walks can be just as toxic as hits - he only walked two, but both soon scored on HRs.  Despite not pitching very well, UWSP's Jordan Zimmermann is the beneficiary of the Tiger's timely (if not numerous) hits.

Yesterday, former Tiger (now Astro's ace) Justin Verlander had a complete meltdown.  Vs. Seattle, he picked off a runner at second, but was called for a balk, sending the runner to third instead of ending the inning.  He then gave up back-to-back HRs.  I don't know what he said to the ump, but he was ejected before he even hit the foul lines.  The result was by far his worst outing as an Astro (whom he greatly helped to his first WS title last season): 6 earned runs in two innings.  Unless he goes on a totally dominant run, that may cost him his third Cy Young, that looked like a foregone conclusion a few weeks ago.
Channeling my best Bernard Malamud, it's gotta be due to a woman. 


(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.BzIMgTx31ViltViFM4YmNwHaH2%26pid%3D15.1&f=1)

Malamud may well be correct, but in this case it would be supremely ironic:  just this past week, Verlander was quoted saying Kate Upton may have saved his life!  Not long after his greatest seasons, his career seemed headed into the toilet - velocity down, injury after injury, wins getting more and more scarce, pundits (and many fans) saying he was done for.  He claimed that he might have jumped off a bridge if not for the love and steadying influence of the woman who is now his wife.  I suspect it was a fair amount of hyperbole, but considering the resurrection of his career as an Astro (except for the meltdown ::)), I think we can conclude that she has been more good than jinx! ;D

I THINK he is already a lock for the HoF (though I'd feel more certain with another good year or two).  I just hope he will remember that his start and his greatest achievements (other than the WS ring) were as a Tiger.  I would be extremely peeved if he decided to go in as an Astro rather than in the olde English D.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 12, 2018, 02:50:11 PM
In Cooperstown, Nolan Ryan is listed as "Primary Team LA/California Angels", but his ballcap says "T", Texas Rangers with other mention  of the NY Mets and Astros.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 12, 2018, 04:45:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 12, 2018, 02:50:11 PM
In Cooperstown, Nolan Ryan is listed as "Primary Team LA/California Angels", but his ballcap says "T", Texas Rangers with other mention  of the NY Mets and Astros.

Nolan Ryan is one of my all-time favorites.  In fact, younger son's middle name is Ryan.  (I suspect wife picked the name for Ryan O'Neal, but I know who he's really named after!)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 18, 2018, 12:06:31 AM
The 5-4 Triple Play.

http://www.newser.com/story/263454/this-kind-of-triple-play-not-seen-in-106-years.html
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 01, 2018, 10:35:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 10, 2018, 09:54:00 PM
Final from Comerica: Twins 10 hits, 3 runs; Tigers 3 hits, 5 runs.

The losing team out-hitting the winning team is not unusual, but the margin of difference seems quite rare to me.

Maybe not as rare as I thought - tonite at Yankee Stadium the Tigers outhit the pinstripers, 9-2, yet lost 2-1. :( 

Daniel Norris, in his first game back from groin surgery in late April, had a perfect game thru 4, but walked the leadoff batter in the 5th, got an out, then yielded a two-run HR.  The offensively-impaired Tigers got plenty enough hits, but none at the crucial times.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 03, 2018, 12:27:01 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 01, 2018, 10:35:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 10, 2018, 09:54:00 PM
Final from Comerica: Twins 10 hits, 3 runs; Tigers 3 hits, 5 runs.

The losing team out-hitting the winning team is not unusual, but the margin of difference seems quite rare to me.

Maybe not as rare as I thought - tonite at Yankee Stadium the Tigers outhit the pinstripers, 9-2, yet lost 2-1. :( 

Daniel Norris, in his first game back from groin surgery in late April, had a perfect game thru 4, but walked the leadoff batter in the 5th, got an out, then yielded a two-run HR.  The offensively-impaired Tigers got plenty enough hits, but none at the crucial times.

This begs the question, what is the largest deficits in hits for the winning team. 
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 03, 2018, 12:34:28 PM
9 for this game: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA193409180.shtml

Not sure of a higher one.

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on September 03, 2018, 06:16:21 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 03, 2018, 12:34:28 PM
9 for this game: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA193409180.shtml

Not sure of a higher one.
The St Louis Browns... Makes sense to me.

Whom else?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 04, 2018, 06:02:49 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on September 03, 2018, 06:16:21 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 03, 2018, 12:34:28 PM
9 for this game: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA193409180.shtml

Not sure of a higher one.
The St Louis Browns... Makes sense to me.

Whom else?

12 - https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198908150.shtml
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on September 04, 2018, 07:37:52 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 04, 2018, 06:02:49 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on September 03, 2018, 06:16:21 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on September 03, 2018, 12:34:28 PM
9 for this game: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA193409180.shtml

Not sure of a higher one.
The St Louis Browns... Makes sense to me.

Whom else?

12 - https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198908150.shtml
I remember that game!  I felt so bad for Charlie Hough.  He was a workhorse that season for the Texas Strangers.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 20, 2018, 11:14:08 PM
Wild start to the game at Comerica tonite.  After two innings, the Tigers led the Royals 9-5! :o  (After that the game got downright routine - Tigers won 11-8.)

Can't recall the last time BOTH starters stunk so badly.  Tigers' starter Matthew Boyd (who I STILL think will eventually be a star) was pulled with one out in the second, having yielded 6 hits and five runs (though only two earned).  Royals' starter Jorge Lopez was even worse: he yielded 5 hits, 4 runs in the first, then 3 and 3 in the second without getting a single out.  "Game scores" (an MLB.com invention?), where starting pitchers begin at 40 and go up or down from there (haven't investigated the specific rules) had Boyd at 10 (which is horrid) and Lopez at -9 (which I can't ever recall a negative score).  When I called my Tiger fan buddy after the second (who hadn't tuned in), I said you've got to check out the "pitching duel of the decade"! :o
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Bombers798891 on October 16, 2018, 03:31:01 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 20, 2018, 11:14:08 PM
Wild start to the game at Comerica tonite.  After two innings, the Tigers led the Royals 9-5! :o  (After that the game got downright routine - Tigers won 11-8.)

"Game scores" (an MLB.com invention?), where starting pitchers begin at 40 and go up or down from there (haven't investigated the specific rules)

http://m.mlb.com/glossary/advanced-stats/game-score
(http://m.mlb.com/glossary/advanced-stats/game-score)

had Boyd at 10 (which is horrid) and Lopez at -9 (which I can't ever recall a negative score).

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dyaln-bundy-just-delivered-the-worst-pitching-performance-in-mlb-history (https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dyaln-bundy-just-delivered-the-worst-pitching-performance-in-mlb-history)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 18, 2018, 04:31:49 PM
Leisure reading for the MLB post-season

https://komonews.com/news/erics-heroes/erics-heroes-a-bellevue-boy-his-uncle-and-babe-ruths-10-million-dollar-bat
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 26, 2019, 08:22:26 AM
Good morning to all.  The comments on the website state that Vin Scully got to announce this historic occurrence.


https://www.facebook.com/Fun.Pics.Stuff/photos/a.547783901915385/2689452311081856/?type=3&eid=ARCVuzQBMMqBRFpnP7NtAOCd5eLzVPp76bjGQqISBpcXd-Kzzve4tPzmE384QzPCwoxsEY4QG0uZwcpi&ifg=1 (https://www.facebook.com/Fun.Pics.Stuff/photos/a.547783901915385/2689452311081856/?type=3&eid=ARCVuzQBMMqBRFpnP7NtAOCd5eLzVPp76bjGQqISBpcXd-Kzzve4tPzmE384QzPCwoxsEY4QG0uZwcpi&ifg=1)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2019, 12:32:53 AM
Shane Greene, the Tigers' closer, has set a first in the entire history of MLB: 7 saves in the team's first ten games!  I was surprised that it had never happened before, until I thought it through.  First, only a relative handful of teams win at least 7 of their first ten games.  Secondly, those good enough to win 7+ will probably have at least a few blow-outs, where there is no save.  Thirdly, until relatively recent times, such teams would probably have at least one pitcher winning a complete game, so no save.

I'm still surprised it had NEVER happened before, but understand why it would be an extreme rarity.  The Tigers are definitely offensively impaired (27 runs in 10 games), but have been blessed with outstanding pitching so far (the starters have a combined 2.02 era, yet have only ONE win amongst them - all the rest are losses or no decisions)!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2019, 11:05:02 PM
Someone to keep an eye on.  Casey Mize, the #1 pick in the 2018 MLB draft, was just promoted from single A to double A, because he was so totally dominating single A (1 run, 25 Ks, in 26 innings).  Double A may not be a challenge either - in his first game he pitched a no-hitter!  The Tigers may well have found their eventual replacement for Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2019, 11:20:42 PM
Two more (VERY obscure) achievements today:

Stephen Strasburg became the quickest ever (in terms of innings pitched) to reach 1,500 strike-outs.  He did it in 1,273.1 innings, besting Chris Sales' previous record of 1,290.

And Noah (Thor) Syndergaard became only the 7th man in MLB history to pitch a 1-0 shut-out where the only run was the winning pitcher's home run.  The last one to do it was Bob Welch of the Dodgers (and the EMU Hurons, my employer for most of my career) in 1983.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 15, 2019, 06:34:37 PM
Book review of Bud Selig's memoir, For the Good of the Game, with Phil Rogers

http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/index.php/bookreview/for-the-good-of-the-game-the-inside-story-of-the-surprising-and-dramatic-transformation-of-major-league-baseball
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 26, 2019, 09:41:44 PM
My family and I attended that game!

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2019/08/30-years-ago-nolan-ryan-threw-his-5000th-k/
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on August 27, 2019, 12:22:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 26, 2019, 09:41:44 PM
My family and I attended that game!

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2019/08/30-years-ago-nolan-ryan-threw-his-5000th-k/

Here is the game I saw Ryan pitched.  It was one of the best pitching performances for both teams.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198309110.shtml
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 18, 2019, 07:22:58 PM
FYI. Major negotiations between MLB and MiLB

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-floats-proposal-that-would-eliminate-42-minor-league-teams
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on October 21, 2019, 12:53:23 PM
I can see MLB deciding to apply the Arizona Fall League model for all levels of MLB-affiliated player development.
They could build a complex of 5 or 6 baseball fields in a few different locations and run games day and night. MLB staff could then monitor their prospects without needing to travel much themselves.
MLB likely sees no value in minor league players taking frequent multi-hour bus rides and consuming dubious nutrition. MLB could better control how prospects' non-game hours are spent.
MLB surely would have no qualms about abandoning minor league cities and towns around the country.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 22, 2019, 12:12:58 PM
If I had the cash for a MLB team, I would like to own my minor league teams to keep my triple AAA teams close to home but far enough away to expand my fan base and try to get stadiums that mirror the big league footprint for better evaluation.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on December 23, 2019, 10:52:18 AM
NEW YORK – Computer plate umpires could be called up to the major leagues at some point during the next five seasons.

Umpires agreed to cooperate with Major League Baseball in the development and testing of an automated ball-strike system as part of a five-year labor contract announced Saturday, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.


https://www.foxnews.com/sports/computer-plate-umps-allowed-in-new-labor-deal
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Shamrock on January 25, 2020, 11:20:31 AM
This story makes my 52 year-old heart happy!

[url]https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/bartolo-colon-not-ready-to-retire.html/url]
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on January 31, 2020, 08:01:29 PM
Under the category of amazing productivity,
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walshed01.shtml
this guy had 79 complete games over a two year period.
In all 4,858 regular season pitching starts in MLB 2019, only 45 complete games were thrown.
Could it be that long, rattly train rides were good therapy for pitchers' shoulders and elbows?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on February 12, 2020, 06:33:24 PM
Lit up by the 2017 Astros, he [Mike Bolsinger] never pitched in MLB again. Now he's suing.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/02/11/lit-up-by-2017-astros-he-never-pitched-mlb-again-now-hes-suing/
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 13, 2020, 01:01:04 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on February 12, 2020, 06:33:24 PM
Lit up by the 2017 Astros, he [Mike Bolsinger] never pitched in MLB again. Now he's suing.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/02/11/lit-up-by-2017-astros-he-never-pitched-mlb-again-now-hes-suing/

I think he has a case.  We hosted Jake Dunning when he played for the Alaska Goldpanners out of a Florida community college.  fast forward to a Giants-Pittsburgh game.  He gets lit up and demoted with that turns out to me his last MLB outing.  I expect this is a pretty common situation for pitchers on the edge.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ithaca798891 on February 13, 2020, 03:13:12 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on February 13, 2020, 01:01:04 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on February 12, 2020, 06:33:24 PM
Lit up by the 2017 Astros, he [Mike Bolsinger] never pitched in MLB again. Now he's suing.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/02/11/lit-up-by-2017-astros-he-never-pitched-mlb-again-now-hes-suing/

I think he has a case.  We hosted Jake Dunning when he played for the Alaska Goldpanners out of a Florida community college.  fast forward to a Giants-Pittsburgh game.  He gets lit up and demoted with that turns out to me his last MLB outing.  I expect this is a pretty common situation for pitchers on the edge.

I don't think he has a case at all. Certainly, it's possible his performance was negatively affected by the Astros doing whatever.

Of course, he had a 5.49 ERA heading into that game. And had pitched at below replacement level in 2016, and 2014. He was worth 1.2 WAR in 2015. So it's also possible he wasn't very good.

That he pitched better in the minors later that year is basically par for his course.

ERA

2014
Minors: 3.93
Majors: 5.50

2015
Minors: 2.31
Majors: 3.62

2016
Minors: 4.64
Majors: 6.83

Yes, the difference was more drastic, but given his MLB performance in 2014 and 2016, and up to that start in 2017 was poor, he probably just wasn't that good.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: SJSUPhil on April 12, 2020, 10:14:38 PM
Quote from: Shamrock on January 25, 2020, 11:20:31 AM
This story makes my 52 year-old heart happy!

[url]https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/bartolo-colon-not-ready-to-retire.html/url]

Me too, but I've got a few years on ya'. :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 20, 2020, 07:55:43 PM
My local SABR chapter is emailing anecdotes from MLB. Here is today's.

In the 1950s, the New York Giants used to play an exhibition game every spring up at West Point against the Army baseball team.  Leo was the Giants manager and always coached third when he managed.  One year some of the Cadets really began riding him.  At one point, a particularly loud-mouthed Cadet yelled at Durocher, "How did a pipsqueak guy like you ever become a big league manager?"

Durocher turned to the stands and responded, "I got my congressman to appoint me."
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 17, 2020, 04:59:47 PM
The Los Angeles Browns?

I had never heard this.

https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/the-story-of-the-los-angeles-browns-changed-baseball-forever
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on May 18, 2020, 01:54:26 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 17, 2020, 04:59:47 PM
The Los Angeles Browns?

I had never heard this.

https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/the-story-of-the-los-angeles-browns-changed-baseball-forever

Baseball was doing quite well on the west coast. the sf seals were as good as any team and the Browns would have been at best the second best team on the coast.

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 18, 2020, 08:06:47 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on May 18, 2020, 01:54:26 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 17, 2020, 04:59:47 PM
The Los Angeles Browns?

I had never heard this.

https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/the-story-of-the-los-angeles-browns-changed-baseball-forever

Baseball was doing quite well on the west coast. the sf seals were as good as any team and the Browns would have been at best the second best team on the coast.
Yeah, the San Francisco Seals had a local boy to play for them. His name was Dimaggio, Joe Dimaggio. You've heard of him. Joe, along with his older brother Vince and younger brother Dom, played for the Seals in the 1930's.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 21, 2020, 11:18:07 PM
The Tigers FINALLY beat the Indians!  After nine straight losses overall, and TWENTY straight to Cleveland, they won tonite 10-5.  The hero of the game was Isaac Paredes - in his fifth major league game he hit a grand slam in the seven run fourth inning to turn a 3-5 deficit to a 7-5 advantage.  The Tiger bullpen (a deserved source of derision in past seasons) continued their dominance this season to totally shut down the Tribe.

Time for the kitty-cats to go on a run! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 19, 2020, 10:14:24 PM
Justin Verlander announced today that he will undergo Tommy John surgery.  He is signed with Houston thru next season, but the usual recovery time for the surgery would mean losing the entire 2021 season.  Since he is already 37, probably there are not very many teams willing to risk signing such a pitcher in free agency.  On the other hand, he IS the reigning AL Cy Young winner - SOMEBODY will take a chance on him.

My question to you:  I THINK he is already a lock for the HoF, but another good season or two couldn't hurt.  IF he is (effectively) finished, will he be in?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on September 20, 2020, 10:33:39 AM
If we look at the Similar Pitchers list here :
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/verlaju01.shtml
we see that three of the eight retired ones are HOFers.
When I think of HOF pitchers, Juan Marichal comes to mind. He had 244 complete games and 52 shutouts. Verlander has 26 complete games and 9 shutouts. Marichal topped 26 CGs in two different individual seasons and threw 10 shutouts in 1965.
I realize we have to accept lowered standards for a lot of things these days, so Verlander could very well be a lock for the HOF.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on September 20, 2020, 09:21:20 PM
Mr Ypsi, did you ever see Mark Fidrych in person? If yes, detailed memories would be appreciated.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 21, 2020, 07:24:00 AM
I think that if we allow Juan Marichal to be the standard, there would be fewer pitchers in the HOF.  Somewhere in a box is the handout on Marichal I got when the Giants honored his career.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 21, 2020, 10:18:10 AM
Quote from: RogK on September 20, 2020, 09:21:20 PM
Mr Ypsi, did you ever see Mark Fidrych in person? If yes, detailed memories would be appreciated.

Only once in person.  He beat the Yankees, and displayed his full range of lovable eccentricities.  Beyond that, my memory is too clouded for details.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on September 21, 2020, 11:23:17 AM
I do respect Verlander for his very good ERA (3.33) accomplished over 2988 innings. That's a lot of innings and were done in a time of DHs, relatively small playing fields (fair and foul territories) and of course "juiced" baseballs.
Do any of you guys know if there's an online comparison of all current and some prior ballparks in terms of square feet of outfield (or all fair territory) and foul ground?
I'm guessing Oakland is the only current park with substantial foul territory, which helps pitchers.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on September 22, 2020, 10:29:18 PM
this chart
http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/Stadium_statistics.html
includes columns for estimated square feet of fair and foul territory.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 23, 2020, 04:21:35 PM
Quote from: RogK on September 22, 2020, 10:29:18 PM
this chart
http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/Stadium_statistics.html
includes columns for estimated square feet of fair and foul territory.

It is real surprising how much fout territory there is for Oakland.  I looked up Candlestick, another multi-purpose stadium and it is not close to the record foul territory for Oakland.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on September 23, 2020, 05:24:06 PM
Yeah, other contemporary round stadia like Shea, Three Rivers, the Vet, Busch II, Astrodome, Kingdome had box seats fill in area around the infield, but Oakland left it very open.
Your mention of Candlestick reminds me that on one visit to SF circa 1993, I stayed at a small hotel I think on Bush St near Chinatown. Around 5pm, as I passed the front desk on my way out to the street, the lady at the desk saw me carrying the rolled up blanket from my room and immediately said, "Going to the Giants game, huh?" Yep, I was.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on September 26, 2020, 08:48:57 PM
Huntingdon catcher Joe Odom made his MLB debut on July 28th

https://d3baseball.prestosports.com/notables/2020/09/Odom-makes-mlb-debut
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on January 23, 2021, 12:18:05 PM
Hank Aaron had 3016 hits that were not home runs, along with his 755 homers.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 02, 2021, 04:37:58 PM
MLB's apparent intent to restrict infielders' positioning in Double-A baseball this season is a pile of nonsense in my opinion.
I see no need for it. If a batter is hindered by defensive shifts, he should figure out how to hit through the available gaps.
Further, implementation of a "shift ban" seems extremely problematic.
Presumably new lines would be drawn on the field to designate where each fielder has to stay. Stay until when? When the pitch is thrown? When the batter hits the ball?
Which umpire(s) has the duty of monitoring for violations?
Endless arguments and/or frequent video reviews will ensue : "that 3rd baseman got a running start and crossed into shortstop territory before the ball left the pitcher's hand!"
What is the penalty for violating the shift ban, for crossing a line 1 second too early? Same as a balk? Dead ball? Or does the hitting team have 30 seconds to decide to ask for a do-over if they don't like the result of the play? Is the glove of the offending fielder removed for the next 4 batters?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2021, 08:58:19 PM
I totally agree with you about this BS rule.  If they shift, go with the old-timers motto: hit 'em where they ain't!  Instead of an unenforcible (and wildly subjective) rule about defensive shifts, why not just add 2-3 extra fielders? (That's known as sarcasm, folks! ;))  COMPLETE BS!!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2021, 09:12:24 PM
Back to MLB.  The first HR of this season came yesterday by my man Miggy! ;D  It occurred during a snow flurry so strong that neither Miggy, the outfielders, or the umpires were sure whether or not it was a HR!  It bounced back onto the field, so Miggy went from a trot to a sprint and slid into second.  After about a minute, it was officially ruled a HR, and the 2nd base umpire told Miggy to get up and trot on home!  That (plus Matt Boyd having a 5.2 inning outing of shut-out ball) bodes well for Detroit exceeding (dismal) expectations.  I'm gonna be wildly optimistic and predict c. .500 rather than the last place nearly everyone else is predicting.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2021, 06:37:58 PM
Since opening day, Miggy has shown his age.  My new favorite Tiger (tentative - don't want to commit after only 8 at bats!) is Akil Baddoo.  Akil was a Minnesota Twins draft choice stuck in Single A.  The Tigers apparently saw something in him and selected him the draft.  He was so impressive in spring training, that he was on the major league roster.  On Sunday, he hit a HR on the first pitch he ever saw above class A.  On Monday, he hit a grand slam against his former organization (but the Tigers were down 16-1 at the time, so the Twins were probably not particularly worried).  Today, he entered as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the tenth and singled in the winning run. ;D

I suspect the Twins are wondering "what the f*** have we ignored! :o
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on May 21, 2021, 12:31:51 AM
Mr. Ypsi, on this web site, you can spell out "fern" ... you don't have to use asterisks.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 21, 2021, 05:34:22 PM
'fern' was NOT the word I had in mind! ;D  But Akil Baddoo may have been a one-week phenom - he's been in a deep slump for about a month now. :(

A reminder not to get too excited by short-term results.  Spencer Turnbull was 0-5 going into Tuesday - he threw a no-hitter that night. ;)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Gray Fox on June 01, 2021, 10:31:57 AM
A very unusual play in MLB.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/27/cubs-baez-base-running/
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 01, 2021, 02:19:00 PM
Quote from: Gray Fox on June 01, 2021, 10:31:57 AM
A very unusual play in MLB.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/27/cubs-baez-base-running/

A nice post for #4000!  Congrats!
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Gray Fox on June 01, 2021, 03:13:27 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 01, 2021, 02:19:00 PM
Quote from: Gray Fox on June 01, 2021, 10:31:57 AM
A very unusual play in MLB.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/27/cubs-baez-base-running/

A nice post for #4000!  Congrats!
I'd say thanks, but that would be 4001.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Caz Bombers on July 01, 2021, 04:39:04 PM
Bombers to Bombers: Tim LoCastro (Ithaca) traded from Arizona to the Yankees.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 01, 2021, 10:11:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 21, 2021, 05:34:22 PM
'fern' was NOT the word I had in mind! ;D  But Akil Baddoo may have been a one-week phenom - he's been in a deep slump for about a month now. :(

A reminder not to get too excited by short-term results.  Spencer Turnbull was 0-5 going into Tuesday - he threw a no-hitter that night. ;)

Reminder to self: don't get TOO carried away with one-month results, either.  Akil Baddoo has now become a very legitimate lead-off hitter, and a dark-horse candidate for ROY.

Meanwhile, Miguel Cabrera has risen from the dead and gone from well below the Mendoza line to the .240s - hitting well over .400 for the last 10-15 games.  Before the season, the 'experts' predicted he would achieve 500 homers before the end of the season, but not reach 3,000 hits until next season - I now think he will achieve both milestones before the end of 2021 (barring injury, f course).
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on July 29, 2021, 12:22:32 AM
Bizarre game in Minneapolis this afternoon.  The Twins hit SEVEN home runs - and lost by a field goal! :o  The Tigers win 17-14 (MUCH more likely score for a Lions-Vikings game than Tigers-Twins)! ;D

It's been 60 years since the Tigers scored that many runs without a single homer.  I've found no mention of whether a team has ever hit seven HRs and lost before, but that has just got to be damn near a record.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: mr_b on July 29, 2021, 11:21:21 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 29, 2021, 12:22:32 AM
Bizarre game in Minneapolis this afternoon.  The Twins hit SEVEN home runs - and lost by a field goal! :o  The Tigers win 17-14 (MUCH more likely score for a Lions-Vikings game than Tigers-Twins)! ;D

It's been 60 years since the Tigers scored that many runs without a single homer.  I've found no mention of whether a team has ever hit seven HRs and lost before, but that has just got to be damn near a record.

This happened to the White Sox back in 2016.  They hit seven homers against Toronto and still lost, 10-8.  Here is the box score:

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=201606250CHA (https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=201606250CHA)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 30, 2021, 04:20:19 PM
Quote from: mr_b on July 29, 2021, 11:21:21 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 29, 2021, 12:22:32 AM
Bizarre game in Minneapolis this afternoon.  The Twins hit SEVEN home runs - and lost by a field goal! :o  The Tigers win 17-14 (MUCH more likely score for a Lions-Vikings game than Tigers-Twins)! ;D

It's been 60 years since the Tigers scored that many runs without a single homer.  I've found no mention of whether a team has ever hit seven HRs and lost before, but that has just got to be damn near a record.

This happened to the White Sox back in 2016.  They hit seven homers against Toronto and still lost, 10-8.  Here is the box score:

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=201606250CHA (https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=201606250CHA)
I would expect 6-3 to be an average score in a Vikings-Lions game.  :)
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 22, 2021, 06:18:55 PM
It felt like forever (Miggy went on a 4-33 slump after hitting #499), but Cabrera finally punched HR #500 in Toronto today.  He's only the 28th member of that rather exclusive club.

Sometime later this season or early in 2022 he should join an even more exclusive club - he is just 45 hits shy of becoming only the 7th player in history with 500 HRs and 3,000 hits.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 28, 2021, 06:20:50 PM
In last night's game against the Jays, Victor Reyes hit a go-ahead inside-the-park HR pinch hitting for Zach Short (fantastic name for a shortstop - if only he could hit ;D).  According to Jason Beck's write-up, it is the FiRST go-ahead, PH inside-the park HR of the expansion era (since 1961).

Something my computer skills are not up to determining - just HOW rare are inside-the-park home runs?  According to another story I saw, this was only the second by a Tiger this year - the other one was by CATCHER Eric Haase (an inside-the-park HR by a catcher must be downright vanishingly rare! :o)  Unless I hear otherwise, I'm gonna assume inside-the-park HRs are far more rare than grand slams, but not quite as rare as triple plays; anyone got stats on this?
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: mr_b on August 29, 2021, 06:06:56 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on August 28, 2021, 06:20:50 PM
In last night's game against the Jays, Victor Reyes hit a go-ahead inside-the-park HR pinch hitting for Zach Short (fantastic name for a shortstop - if only he could hit ;D).  According to Jason Beck's write-up, it is the FiRST go-ahead, PH inside-the park HR of the expansion era (since 1961).

Something my computer skills are not up to determining - just HOW rare are inside-the-park home runs?  According to another story I saw, this was only the second by a Tiger this year - the other one was by CATCHER Eric Haase (an inside-the-park HR by a catcher must be downright vanishingly rare! :o)  Unless I hear otherwise, I'm gonna assume inside-the-park HRs are far more rare than grand slams, but not quite as rare as triple plays; anyone got stats on this?
SABR has been working on this topic.  This article appears to be dated (http://research.sabr.org/journals/inside-the-park-home-runs), but IPHs appear to be much more common than triple plays.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 28, 2021, 11:28:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on July 01, 2021, 10:11:50 PM
Meanwhile, Miguel Cabrera has risen from the dead and gone from well below the Mendoza line to the .240s - hitting well over .400 for the last 10-15 games.  Before the season, the 'experts' predicted he would achieve 500 homers before the end of the season, but not reach 3,000 hits until next season - I now think he will achieve both milestones before the end of 2021 (barring injury, f course).

Of course, Miggy got to 500 HRs (now at 502) but the experts were PROBABLY right about 3,000 hits.  Tonite he got to 2,987, but with only 5 games left it is possible, but highly improbable, that he will reach 3,000 this season.  But barring injury he should join only 6 other players in the VERY exclusive club of those with BOTH 500+ HRs AND 3,000+ hits early in April 2022.

A couple of weeks ago I got excited that he just might pull it off this season (he had 9 hits in a three-game stretch), but even he can't maintain a pace like that for long - he then had like 4 hits over the next 5 games.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on September 29, 2021, 11:22:09 PM
0-for-4 tonite :(, but a lesser stat I hadn't previously noticed.  He also has 598 doubles.  Only TWO players have ever had 500 HRs, 3,000 hits and 600 doubles: Albert Pujols and Henry Aaron.  Miggy will (barring injury) soon make it three.  Pretty good company, I'd say! ;D
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 20, 2021, 08:36:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 29, 2021, 11:22:09 PM
0-for-4 tonite :(, but a lesser stat I hadn't previously noticed.  He also has 598 doubles.  Only TWO players have ever had 500 HRs, 3,000 hits and 600 doubles: Albert Pujols and Henry Aaron.  Miggy will (barring injury) soon make it three.  Pretty good company, I'd say! ;D

Only one has made it into the Hall of Fame.  Just saying.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on October 22, 2021, 10:16:01 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on October 20, 2021, 08:36:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on September 29, 2021, 11:22:09 PM
0-for-4 tonite :(, but a lesser stat I hadn't previously noticed.  He also has 598 doubles.  Only TWO players have ever had 500 HRs, 3,000 hits and 600 doubles: Albert Pujols and Henry Aaron.  Miggy will (barring injury) soon make it three.  Pretty good company, I'd say! ;D

Only one has made it into the Hall of Fame.  Just saying.

True, but only due to the technicality that both Pujols and Cabrera are still playing. ;D  I'd say that both are 100% lead-pipe cinch first ballot picks as soon as they are eligible, and both should be very close to unanimous.
Title: Re: MLB Topics - Pitch clocks
Post by: Ralph Turner on November 11, 2021, 08:12:53 PM
What 19 execs had to say about it...

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/are-pitch-clocks-coming-to-mlb-heres-what-19-executives-had-to-say/
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 08, 2022, 12:41:25 AM
In 2022, we will be impressed by a pitcher who throws 6 or 7 innings in a game.
This evening, I "stumbled onto" this box score :
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA193308130.shtml
A 17 inning game that took 3 hrs 49 min, and saw three pitchers used.
The Sox' Ted Lyons pitched 9 innings in relief.
Detroit's Vic Sorrell got the win by going the full 17 !
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 09, 2022, 09:38:50 AM
Quote from: RogK on April 08, 2022, 12:41:25 AM
In 2022, we will be impressed by a pitcher who throws 6 or 7 innings in a game.
This evening, I "stumbled onto" this box score :
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA193308130.shtml
A 17 inning game that took 3 hrs 49 min, and saw three pitchers used.
The Sox' Ted Lyons pitched 9 innings in relief.
Detroit's Vic Sorrell got the win by going the full 17 !

Methinks the days of Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Ron Guidry and the like have just about gone the way of the Dusenberg and Edsel cars.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 09, 2022, 01:29:07 PM
Those cars may have been defective; those pitchers weren't.
Incidentally, last season MLB pitchers combined for 50 complete games in 4858 starts, 1.0%.
By contrast, Bob Gibson completed 255 of his 482 career starts, 52.9%.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: IC798891 on April 11, 2022, 03:13:17 PM
Quote from: RogK on April 09, 2022, 01:29:07 PM
Those cars may have been defective; those pitchers weren't.
Incidentally, last season MLB pitchers combined for 50 complete games in 4858 starts, 1.0%.
By contrast, Bob Gibson completed 255 of his 482 career starts, 52.9%.

Now do the 1980 As. Threw 94 complete games, and ruined the careers of an entire rotation in the process
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 11, 2022, 06:20:59 PM
Quote from: IC798891 on April 11, 2022, 03:13:17 PM
Quote from: RogK on April 09, 2022, 01:29:07 PM
Those cars may have been defective; those pitchers weren't.
Incidentally, last season MLB pitchers combined for 50 complete games in 4858 starts, 1.0%.
By contrast, Bob Gibson completed 255 of his 482 career starts, 52.9%.

Now do the 1980 As. Threw 94 complete games, and ruined the careers of an entire rotation in the process

Pitcher:                   CG's                IP           W/L                 ERA

Rick Langford           28                 290          19-12                  3.,26
Mike Norris              24                 284 1/3     22- 9                   2.53
Matt Keough            20                 250           16-13                 2.92
Steve McCatty          11                 221 2/3     14-14                  3.86
Brian Kingman          10                211 1/3       8-20                 3.83
Bob Lacey*                 1                  79 2/3       3- 2                   2.94 

*-pitched primarily as a closer. Combined W/L starters records 79-68.
However. that squad also had a team BA of .259 (11th of 14 AL teams that year). and ranked 6th in the AL in HR's (137) Rest of the bullpen went 1-9. Billy Martin was the manager then. ('79 A's did much worse).
Martin got the Manager of the Year Award in '80.

The year Martin got the heat for was '81. (for overworking his starters). Per Wikipedia, "Baseball writer Rob Neyer estimates that" Langford threw 129 pitches per CG, (18 CG's); Norris 131 PPCG (12); Keough 131 PPCG (10); McCatty 131 PPCG (16) Kingman only pitched 3 CGs and  100 1/3 total  innings in '81.

Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 11, 2022, 07:42:30 PM
Thanks for the data, WLCALUM83.
I forgot that Billy Martin emphasized complete games in '81 too. They had 60 in 109 games (strike shortened season).
When today's pitchers provide 140 or 120 innings, I don't think they should be paid as if they're providing 230 or more.
Here are MLB average innings per team in recent full seasons :
2016 1444
2017 1442
2018 1450
2019 1447
2021 1420
The drop in 2021 can be attributed to starting extra innings with a free runner on 2nd. And did they do 7 inning double headers in 2021, or was that 2020? I could look it up.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: IC798891 on April 14, 2022, 02:19:19 PM
Quote from: WLCALUM83 on April 11, 2022, 06:20:59 PM

Pitcher:                   CG's                IP           W/L                 ERA

Rick Langford           28                 290          19-12                  3.,26
Mike Norris              24                 284 1/3     22- 9                   2.53
Matt Keough            20                 250           16-13                 2.92
Steve McCatty          11                 221 2/3     14-14                  3.86
Brian Kingman          10                211 1/3       8-20                 3.83
Bob Lacey*                 1                  79 2/3       3- 2                   2.94 


The year Martin got the heat for was '81. (for overworking his starters). Per Wikipedia, "Baseball writer Rob Neyer estimates that" Langford threw 129 pitches per CG, (18 CG's); Norris 131 PPCG (12); Keough 131 PPCG (10); McCatty 131 PPCG (16) Kingman only pitched 3 CGs and  100 1/3 total  innings in '81.

Yeah. Back to back, it's no surprise the entire staff was shot.

Something, something, Nolan Ryan, though.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 14, 2022, 08:37:11 PM
Some data, potentially of interest to at least 3 people :
2021 MLB innings pitched by individuals --
number of pitchers who threw in the range shown
220 or more : 0
210-219 : 1
200-209 : 3
190-199 : 3
180-189 : 13
170-179 : 9
160-169 : 10
yes, a whopping* 39 pitchers from 30 teams pitched at least 1 inning per game played by his team, enough to traditionally qualify for the ERA title ... *sarcasm
150-159 : 16
140-149 : 13
130-139 : 11
120-129 : 17
110-119 : 13
100-109 : 20
90-99 : 17
81-89 : 13
a total of 159 pitchers from 30 teams who pitched at least 1/2 inning per game played by his team
80 or fewer innings : 750
909 guys pitched in MLB in 2021, 30 per team ... the GMs probably get a headache or two
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 19, 2022, 01:50:11 PM
guys who pitched in MLB / number of teams, extracted from baseball-reference
"average quantity of pitchers per team" (guys who pitched on multiple teams are counted only once)
1980 = 15,                      1982 = 14,   1983 = 15,   1984 = 15
1985 = 16,   1986 = 16,   1987 = 16,   1988 = 17,   1989 = 17
1990 = 19,   1991 = 18,   1992 = 17,   1993 = 18
                   1996 = 19,   1997 = 19,   1998 = 19,   1999 = 20
2000 = 20,   2001 = 20,   2002 = 20,   2003 = 20,   2004 = 21
2005 = 20,   2006 = 21,   2007 = 22,   2008 = 22,   2009 = 22
2010 = 21,   2011 = 22,   2012 = 22,   2013 = 23,   2014 = 23
2015 = 24,   2016 = 25,   2017 = 25,   2018 = 27,   2019 = 28
                   2021 = 30
I excluded shortened seasons
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: IC798891 on April 19, 2022, 02:38:38 PM
Quote from: RogK on April 19, 2022, 01:50:11 PM
guys who pitched in MLB / number of teams, extracted from baseball-reference
"average quantity of pitchers per team" (guys who pitched on multiple teams are counted only once)
1980 = 15,                      1982 = 14,   1983 = 15,   1984 = 15
1985 = 16,   1986 = 16,   1987 = 16,   1988 = 17,   1989 = 17
1990 = 19,   1991 = 18,   1992 = 17,   1993 = 18
                   1996 = 19,   1997 = 19,   1998 = 19,   1999 = 20
2000 = 20,   2001 = 20,   2002 = 20,   2003 = 20,   2004 = 21
2005 = 20,   2006 = 21,   2007 = 22,   2008 = 22,   2009 = 22
2010 = 21,   2011 = 22,   2012 = 22,   2013 = 23,   2014 = 23
2015 = 24,   2016 = 25,   2017 = 25,   2018 = 27,   2019 = 28
                   2021 = 30
I excluded shortened seasons

The evolution of the game continues

In 1900, 82.2% of starts were complete games
By 1950, the number dropped to 40%
By 1980, the number dropped to 20%
By 2010, the number dropped to 3%
Last year, the number was 1%

This year, we've yet to have one in 300 starts. Sports evolve
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: RogK on April 19, 2022, 05:41:44 PM
In recent years, MLB allegedly has used "juiced" baseballs in some games, but not all.
I'd be in favor of a deadened baseball in all games. Many batters would be forced to learn to hit to RF CF and LF.
A deadened ball might also allow pitchers to be more useful than they are now. A guy who throws 170 innings now might be able to provide his team with 230.
If MLB does implement a pitch clock next season, it could induce pitchers to throw more offspeed stuff, maybe resulting in a capacity to stay in the game longer? Not sure what longterm effect a pitch clock would have on pitching styles.
I completely oppose a "shift ban" -- that simply rewards inflexible batters. Plus, there would be numerous disputes about whether an infielder moved too early into territory where he's prohibited to be (until the pitch is thrown? until the ball is hit?). I wonder what the penalty would be for such an infielder.
Title: Re: MLB Topics
Post by: IC798891 on May 03, 2022, 07:51:14 AM
Tim Locastro, former Ithaca College star, has really carved out an outstanding niche for himself in the major leagues. He was, for several years, the literal fastest player in the league, and still boasts elite, top-end speed.

Last night, he came on as a pinch runner in the 9th inning of a tied game, stole second, and then scored on a single. The perfect encapsulation of his unique skill set.