2020 Regular Season Thread

jack presley

A few months later than we all hoped but the regular season kicks off in Washington tonight (weather permitting) so here's a thread for all things MLB for the next 60 games. Enjoy the season.

Much like Liverpool, whoever wins this season, will get a nice * beside their name
But I'd rather that, than no title.

Lets go Dodgers

Dont think I'll bother with mlb.tv this season. All/majority of the Dodgers games are going to be in the Pacific Time zone, so can't see myself getting to see (m)any. Will pony up for the postseason, and watch whatever BT show during the season

jack presley

Deleted User wrote: »

Much like Liverpool, whoever wins this season, will get a nice * beside their name
But I'd rather that, than no title.

Lets go Dodgers

Dont think I'll bother with mlb.tv this season. All/majority of the Dodgers games are going to be in the Pacific Time zone, so can't see myself getting to see (m)any. Will pony up for the postseason, and watch whatever BT show during the season

I thought that Liverpool asterisk talk died when they won on the pitch playing a full quota of games? Unless some think it's tainted because they were allowed 5 subs and water breaks for the last 9 games when they had a 22 point lead. But that's major clutching of straws and I don't think even a hardcore Man Utd fan would fight that battle with a straight face. But that's for a different thread and I'm sure it's been argued to death over on the Soccer forum.

For baseball, 60 games doesn't have the feel of a real season alright so the title will be tainted a bit (unless the Mets win it and then it will be the greatest achievement in sports history ). I just hope they get through the 60 games and the playoffs without any further disruptions or reductions in games. How about finding Toronto a home too!

I've got BT Sports again this year so there'll be a fair amount of games shown there so I'm passing on MLB.TV too this year.

ShyMets

jack presley wrote: »

I thought that Liverpool asterisk talk died when they won on the pitch playing a full quota of games? Unless some think it's tainted because they were allowed 5 subs and water breaks for the last 9 games when they had a 22 point lead. But that's major clutching of straws and I don't think even a hardcore Man Utd fan would fight that battle with a straight face. But that's for a different thread and I'm sure it's been argued to death over on the Soccer forum.

For baseball, 60 games doesn't have the feel of a real season alright so the title will be tainted a bit (unless the Mets win it and then it will be the greatest achievement in sports history ). I just hope they get through the 60 games and the playoffs without any further disruptions or reductions in games. How about finding Toronto a home too!

I've got BT Sports again this year so there'll be a fair amount of games shown there so I'm passing on MLB.TV too this year.

I have both. I find BT Sports pretty good. But they do seem to go through days where they show no games. Not even late ones. With MLB TV at least I get to watch any Mets game that's on at a reasonable hour

circular flexing

Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 so won't play today.

jack presley

circular flexing wrote: »

Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 so won't play today.

Probably going to see lots of this once the games start.

jack presley

I see that stupid playoff ideas where 16 teams gets in and the division winners pick their opponents has been approved for this year. Ridiculous idea. I can reluctantly put up with putting a man on 2nd in the 10th but this is just stupid. Sure why not let every team in?

Players getting $50m extra for agreeing to it.

circular flexing

jack presley wrote: »

I see that stupid playoff ideas where 16 teams gets in and the division winners pick their opponents has been approved for this year. Ridiculous idea. I can reluctantly put up with putting a man on 2nd in the 10th but this is just stupid. Sure why not let every team in?

Players getting $50m extra for agreeing to it.

I don't see any mention of division winners picking their opponents. Would assume it's 1 v 8, 2 v 7 etc...


In other news, Kershaw is on the IL with back stiffness.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

I thought that Liverpool asterisk talk died when they won on the pitch playing a full quota of games? Unless some think it's tainted because they were allowed 5 subs and water breaks for the last 9 games when they had a 22 point lead. But that's major clutching of straws and I don't think even a hardcore Man Utd fan would fight that battle with a straight face. But that's for a different thread and I'm sure it's been argued to death over on the Soccer forum.

For baseball, 60 games doesn't have the feel of a real season alright so the title will be tainted a bit (unless the Mets win it and then it will be the greatest achievement in sports history ). I just hope they get through the 60 games and the playoffs without any further disruptions or reductions in games. How about finding Toronto a home too!

I've got BT Sports again this year so there'll be a fair amount of games shown there so I'm passing on MLB.TV too this year.

Yea, I signed up for BT Sports for the football once it came back so will do the same for MLB this year. Looks like they have a fairly full slate for the opening weekend to start

Just watching the first inning of the opener here. Sounds like they have the regular stadium PA, music between outs etc but no fake crowd noise...yet!

jack presley

circular flexing wrote: »

I don't see any mention of division winners picking their opponents. Would assume it's 1 v 8, 2 v 7 etc...

Yeah, you're right. Buster Olney was reporting it but he seems to have jumped the gun a bit.

I still don't agree with 16 teams in the playoffs, no matter what way they do it.

circular flexing

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah, you're right. Buster Olney was reporting it but he seems to have jumped the gun a bit.

I still don't agree with 16 teams in the playoffs, no matter what way they do it.

I feel like this will become permanent. It'll mean more TV money (playoff games are always worth more), more national press coverage and less meaningless August/September games. Probably the only sticking point would be revenue sharing.

Don't forget, the world series was best team in AL vs NL for a long time, the ALCS/NLCS only started in 1969, the ALDS/NLDS only started in 1994 so evolution is natural. Of course there is an argument that it dilutes the playoffs a bit but I don't buy that.

circular flexing

Blue Jays are going to play in Buffalo, after Pittsburgh and Baltimore didn't work out.

circular flexing

Cespedes is back! Will be interesting to see who the Mets go to in the 9th.

jack presley

circular flexing wrote: »

Cespedes is back! Will be interesting to see who the Mets go to in the 9th.

Let’s get through the 8th first..!!

circular flexing

jack presley wrote: »

Let’s get through the 8th first..!!

Fair point


The home run hits sound better in empty stadiums.

jack presley

Looks like Diaz warming up. Will we get Mariners Díaz or Mets Díaz?

circular flexing

jack presley wrote: »

Looks like Diaz warming up. Will we get Mariners Díaz or Mets Díaz?

Both versions in the end. Some hard contact but also good strikeout pitches.

jack presley

He was a bit wild during the Freeman at-bat but he gets it done.

Nice concise game. I much prefer pitchers duels to run fests.

ShyMets

Watching the Cubs v Brewers. Looks like Fox are CGIng the crowd in. Especially when there is a home run. All a bit cringy

jack presley

Strasburg scratched from tonight's start. Hand injury, not Covid related.

jack presley

ShyMets wrote: »

Watching the Cubs v Brewers. Looks like Fox are CGIng the crowd in. Especially when there is a home run. All a bit cringy

yeah, they explained it earlier on in the broadcast "Just a bit of fun, don't be complaining about it" or something to that effect was said.

Fair play to the crowd on the rooftops. Probably the only spectators in the country.

ShyMets

jack presley wrote: »

yeah, they explained it earlier on in the broadcast "Just a bit of fun, don't be complaining about it" or something to that effect was said.

Fair play to the crowd on the rooftops. Probably the only spectators in the country.

Ah, explains it. I missed the first couple of innings.

How are they getting away with the guys on the rooftops

jack presley

ShyMets wrote: »

Ah, explains it. I missed the first couple of innings.

How are they getting away with the guys on the rooftops

They mentioned that too!!

Apparently they got some dispensation from the city authorities as long as there's social distancing.

jack presley

I thought I'd hate it but I'm actually liking this 3 batter minimum rule. OK, 2 days so only a small sample but it seems to really make the managers think before they bring in a pitcher and look ahead as opposed to just the next batter.

jack presley

And 2019 Diaz is back....

ShyMets

jack presley wrote: »

And 2019 Diaz is back....

And there I was all set to go to bed

jack presley

ShyMets wrote: »

And there I was all set to go to bed

Yeah, me too. Now I'm in the 'will I open another beer?' dilemma stage.

jack presley

jack presley wrote: »

I thought I'd hate it but I'm actually liking this 3 batter minimum rule. OK, 2 days so only a small sample but it seems to really make the managers think before they bring in a pitcher and look ahead as opposed to just the next batter.

...but I still hate this runner on 2nd in extra innings rule.

Edit - And not just because the Mets are making a balls of it. That post was typed before this inning started.

kmart6

Anyone watching the Yankees/Nets and not getting any of the replays being shown? Watching the fox feed via MLB TV, they are talkin about them but only seeing the first and last frames, if even.

ShyMets

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah, me too. Now I'm in the 'will I open another beer?' dilemma stage.

Went to bed in the end and watched the condensed game back on MLB TV. Shouldn't have bothered. Total impulsion in the 10th

Igotadose

jack presley wrote: »

And 2019 Diaz is back....

Sigh. Where's the whiskey bottle...

jack presley

4 Marlins have tested positive. Could be a cluster and you'd wonder are there more players going to be positive over the next few days.

jack presley

Rough start for Shohei Ohtani. 3 hits, 3 walks and gives up 4 runs without recording an out.

ShyMets

jack presley wrote: »

Rough start for Shohei Ohtani. 3 hits, 3 walks and gives up 4 runs without recording an out.

Pretty horrendous. Though he hasn't pitched in a long time. Looked very rusty

On a side note, enjoying the A's commentary team

Igotadose

jack presley wrote: »

Rough start for Shohei Ohtani. 3 hits, 3 walks and gives up 4 runs without recording an out.

Almost as bad as Rick Porcello.

ShyMets

Igotadose wrote: »

Almost as bad as Rick Porcello.

Corey Oswalt didn't exactly cover himself in glory. He's been sent back to Brooklyn

jack presley

Marlins still in Philadelphia. Home opener v Baltimore tonight looks like getting cancelled.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1287736207120781316

jack presley

Yankees v Phillies off tonight too as the Phillies are all quarantining after being in the vicinity of the Marlins over the weekend.

Doesn't look good does it?

ShyMets

jack presley wrote: »

Yankees v Phillies off tonight too as the Phillies are all quarantining after being in the vicinity of the Marlins over the weekend.

Doesn't look good does it?

The theory is they may have contracted it in Atlanta when they were playing and exhibition last week. Potentially not good for the Braves & Mets

jack presley

This is bonkers. They had a team meeting to decide whether to play or not after 3 players test positive....!!! What kind of idiot is allowing that?

https://twitter.com/matt_breen/status/1287761917067636738

Itssoeasy

Hopefully this an isolated outbreak and it's contained to the marlins and Phillies and it isn't a sign of things to come. I hope that's the case anyway.

jack presley

https://twitter.com/onionsports/status/1287847230892908547?s=21

circular flexing

I honestly didn't expect the season to fall apart so quickly. The Marlins/Philies players should isolate for 14 days but of course they won't so it's only going to spread further. This should also serve as a warning shot to NFL.

circular flexing

White Sox - Indians is off too. White Sox coach is showing symptoms. (edit: turns out it's weather delay)

jack presley

Yankees/Phillies and Orioles/marlins both off again tonight.

Yankees now travel home to play their next series tomorrow against........the Phillies!

jack presley

Things getting serious now Manfred and MLB.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1288142815696957441

I presume they'll look to play at a neutral site somewhere.

circular flexing

https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1288134254854053888

circular flexing

Marlins season is now on pause, whatever that means.

ShyMets

circular flexing wrote: »

Marlins season is now on pause, whatever that means.

And 4 more Marlins players have tested positive. 17 in total

jack presley

They've done a bit of juggling of the fixtures (someone on Twitter likened it to juggling of chainsaws). Marlins are off till Sunday and the Phillies till Friday. The Yankees who were supposed to play the Phillies are now playing the Orioles instead. God only knows what's going to happen if there's an outbreak somewhere else although MLB announced today that there were 0 positive tests from on-field personnel in the other 29 clubs.

Relief Pitcher Joe Kelly has really gone up in the estimation of most Dodger fans after last nights game against the Astros.
Threw at a few players with breaking balls, and got all mouthy with Correa after striking him out, causing the benches to clear.
Saw some Red Sox fans even get excited by it all last night

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29556054/benches-clear-dodgers-joe-kelly-throws-astros-alex-bregman-taunts-carlos-correa