MLB 2015 Season Thread

jack presley · 28-04-2015 6:17pm

circular flexing wrote: »

But if pitchers didn't bat then you wouldn't get to see Bartolo Colon bat and that alone is worth keeping DHing out of NL.

Also, plenty of position players struggle to hit over .250 also (and even some DHs) - should we stop them batting too and just have 9 DHs instead?

The Mets DHs went 1-13 this weekend against the Yankees. Maybe they should have let the pitchers bat instead!

Seriously though, I love it when pitchers bat. It's probably because of the unexpectedness of them getting a hit that makes it great when they do actually get on base. I still have nightmares from a few years back when Felix Hernandez hit a grand slam against Johan Santana. So I think it's worth putting up with the 90% of mediocrity for that 1 in 10 excitement when the fielding team think they have an out in the bag and the pitcher whacks one into gap.

I'm also a fan of low scoring pitching duels so that might explain my lack of enthusiasm for seeing more Big Papis.

jack presley · 28-04-2015 6:21pm

Time to bring helmets to games! Between yer one getting the ball int he head last week and some bloke getting hit with a bat last night, it's getting dangerous to be in the expensive seats!

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25165912/addison-russell-feels-terribly-bad-after-fan-struck-with-flying-bat

8-10 · 28-04-2015 6:54pm

circular flexing wrote: »

But if pitchers didn't bat then you wouldn't get to see Bartolo Colon bat and that alone is worth keeping DHing out of NL.

Also, plenty of position players struggle to hit over .250 also (and even some DHs) - should we stop them batting too and just have 9 DHs instead?

Sorry hang on nobody's stopping them from batting. The DH is optional in the AL not mandatory. If the pitcher is good enough then you can still bat him. If you're against the change then just don't name a DH in the lineup.

jack presley · 28-04-2015 7:51pm

8-10 wrote: »

Doubt any of them will go ahead

Tomorrow's game going ahead at 2pm behind closed doors and they've moved the Rays series to St. Petersburg but Baltimore will still be the home team. And the 2 White Sox games are going to be made up as a double header at the end of May.

8-10 · 28-04-2015 11:35pm

jack presley wrote: »

Tomorrow's game going ahead at 2pm behind closed doors and they've moved the Rays series to St. Petersburg but Baltimore will still be the home team. And the 2 White Sox games are going to be made up as a double header at the end of May.

Surprised there's a game tomorrow even if it is closed to the public. Will be a weird one.

MoyVilla9 · 29-04-2015 10:16am

Tanaka to the DL. Felt a little sick when I read that this morning, the Yankees chances of reaching the playoffs rely on getting as many starts as possible from him and Pineda.

boccy23 · 29-04-2015 11:30am

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Tanaka to the DL. Felt a little sick when I read that this morning, the Yankees chances of reaching the playoffs rely on getting as many starts as possible from him and Pineda.

Sad alright. He had looked great in his last outing as well.

Took a big chance with no surgery last year. May have been better off now by the looks of it.

jack presley · 29-04-2015 12:01pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Tanaka to the DL. Felt a little sick when I read that this morning, the Yankees chances of reaching the playoffs rely on getting as many starts as possible from him and Pineda.

Still have an amazing bullpen so although he's a big loss, they should still be alright if they can stay in games early.

Hitters need to step up too.

mmarch2 · 29-04-2015 2:12pm

Hey all,

Been a weird couple of days in Baltimore. Saturday night I went to the game with 7 other people. We got through the Baltimore Harbor about 4 minutes before they started rioting in the gallery. We were heading to Pickle's Pub (an Oriole bar right outside Camden Yards) but the police had lined up and prevented us from getting there.. Instead we watched television from outside Dempsey's, a bar located in the warehouses of Camden Yards. We saw the protests which were occurring about 500 feet away. I don't know how much footage you guys have seen regarding the looting/riots in Baltimore the past days but it has been pretty bad. On Saturday, there were 30-40 rioters at Pickle's Pub throwing tables, assaulting, and throwing bottles at Orioles fans at Pickle's pub.

The game was like being inside a bubble, there was no mention of what was taking place outside the stadium; however, as we sat at the 300 level on the 3rd base side, we could see 3-5 police and news station helicopters constantly circling around right outside. We also could hear firetruck and police sirens the entire time and hear the shouting in the streets. After the game, we were locked into the stadium due to police orders. After finally getting out, we left and headed in the opposite direction towards Federal Hill, Baltimore which is normally a very safe area without any incident.

Monday night was awful, as over 200 people were arrested and 150 fires were set in the city along with rioting and looting all over.

Today should certainly be an interesting day as the game will be closed off to the public.

mmarch2 · 29-04-2015 2:28pm

8-10 wrote: »

Surprised there's a game tomorrow even if it is closed to the public. Will be a weird one.

I believe they decided to go ahead with the game because yesterday with the National Guard, Maryland State Police & surrounding county police being brought in things have calmed down a bit. As a precaution, they closed off the game to the public so the national guard and police would not have to divert their forces to protect Orioles fans.

Needless to say I have never seen anything like this before. I can't imagine how weird it will be for the players!

I also believe they moved the Rays series to Florida because this Saturday will be the biggest planned protest/possible riot thus far.

jack presley · 29-04-2015 2:43pm

mmarch2 wrote: »

I also believe they moved the Rays series to Florida because this Saturday will be the biggest planned protest/possible riot thus far.

So with today's game behind closed doors and 3 in St.Petersburg, that'll be 4 games in a row for Baltimore with no crowd!

My first experience of baseball was back in '88 when I was on a holiday to Florida as a kid and I watched an inning or two of a Spring Training game between the Reds and the Royals (I think it was them two anyway). It was at a theme park called Boardwalk and Baseball and one of the teams had their ST base there. Admission to the game came as part of the theme park admission so I went along out of curiously but I was literally one of only about 5 people in the crowd in a stadium that probably held about 5,000. I'd imagine it'll be like that today.

I remember the sound of the ball hitting the glove being a lot louder than I expected it to be.

boccy23 · 29-04-2015 2:53pm

jack presley wrote: »

So with today's game behind closed doors and 3 in St.Petersburg, that'll be 4 games in a row for Baltimore with no crowd!

My first experience of baseball was back in '88 when I was on a holiday to Florida as a kid and I watched an inning or two of a Spring Training game between the Reds and the Royals (I think it was them two anyway). It was at a theme park called Boardwalk and Baseball and one of the teams had their ST base there. Admission to the game came as part of the theme park admission so I went along out of curiously but I was literally one of only about 5 people in the crowd in a stadium that probably held about 5,000. I'd imagine it'll be like that today.

I remember the sound of the ball hitting the glove being a lot louder than I expected it to be.

I went to a game in the old Joe Robbie stadium when the Miami Marlins were there and they played the Montreal Expos. It was in 2000. Derek Lee hit a monster home run to center field.

Had a look on Baseball Reference and there was 7864 in attendance. But it silent. You could hear all the base coaches, the ball hitting the mits, the talk in the dugout even.

jack presley · 29-04-2015 2:58pm

boccy23 wrote: »

I went to a game in the old Joe Robbie stadium when the Miami Marlins were there and they played the Montreal Expos. It was in 2000. Derek Lee hit a monster home run to center field.

Had a look on Baseball Reference and there was 7864 in attendance. But it silent. You could hear all the base coaches, the ball hitting the mits, the talk in the dugout even.

If the records say thee were 7864 there, you can probably assume the real figure was about half that. Baseball attendance figures include all season ticket sales, even if they're not there on that day.

boccy23 · 29-04-2015 3:26pm

jack presley wrote: »

If the records say thee were 7864 there, you can probably assume the real figure was about half that. Baseball attendance figures include all season ticket sales, even if they're not there on that day.

Would definitely agree with that. It felt as if there was about 786 at the game.

8-10 · 29-04-2015 4:45pm

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/why-this-ex-pitcher-with-a-brain-injury-will-be-padre-for-life-428747331782

Padres showing why they are one of the classiest franchises in MLB

8-10 · 29-04-2015 6:00pm

mmarch2 wrote: »

I believe they decided to go ahead with the game because yesterday with the National Guard, Maryland State Police & surrounding county police being brought in things have calmed down a bit. As a precaution, they closed off the game to the public so the national guard and police would not have to divert their forces to protect Orioles fans.

Needless to say I have never seen anything like this before. I can't imagine how weird it will be for the players!

Is the mlb.tv game of the day

jack presley · 29-04-2015 7:07pm

8-10 wrote: »

Is the mlb.tv game of the day

I'd never specifically tune into a Baltimore v White Sox game but for some reason, an empty stadium has made this game alluring to me.

jack presley · 29-04-2015 7:15pm

You learn something new every day. Never knew until now that it was against the rules to go into the stands to catch a fly ball. You can lean in and catch it but you can't jump into the stands and catch it in there.

jack presley · 29-04-2015 7:21pm

jack presley wrote: »

I'd never specifically tune into a Baltimore v White Sox game but for some reason, an empty stadium has made this game alluring to me.

It's gas seeing the fans outside the gates cheering.

Itssoeasy · 29-04-2015 7:25pm

Just turned on the game between the oriels and the white sox and its a really weird situation and its weird that the fans allowed to stand outside the stadium but not actually in it. The echoing is strange.

jack presley · 29-04-2015 7:30pm

Ubaldo doesn't go all Ubaldo anymore does he? Is a 6 run lead safe with him? I might switch over to the Yankees.

That_Guy · 30-04-2015 3:34pm

Just saw this article on Twitter. Great little read about that behind closed doors game last night.

http://www.punditarena.com/other-sports/thepateam/first-major-league-baseball-game-behind-closed-doors-gets-really-weird/

MoyVilla9 · 30-04-2015 3:41pm

jack presley wrote: »

You learn something new every day. Never knew until now that it was against the rules to go into the stands to catch a fly ball. You can lean in and catch it but you can't jump into the stands and catch it in there.

I found this out last year when Wheel's Wheeler got this overturned. Personally I think that if you catch it you should get your out, regardless of where you are.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v34285269/nyymin-twins-challenge-a-foulball-catch-in-the-9th

jack presley · 03-05-2015 6:59pm

I thought this was funny. Like buses. None for ages then 2 in a row!

http://deadspin.com/angels-diamondbacks-both-lose-on-runners-hit-by-batted-1701859596

rockonollie · 04-05-2015 12:05am

They may have loaded their farm system and big lead roster.....but they're still the Cubs

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/logan-schafer-races-around-the-bases-as-cubs-defense-falls-apart-215140203.html

Thidp · 04-05-2015 3:25am

Ron Roenicke fired.

jack presley · 04-05-2015 9:36am

rockonollie wrote: »

They may have loaded their farm system and big lead roster.....but they're still the Cubs

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/logan-schafer-races-around-the-bases-as-cubs-defense-falls-apart-215140203.html

That definitely needs the Benny Hill music on that. But I can't laugh really, I've to watch Wilmer Flores at SS every day and it's painful to watch the amount of double plays he fails to make that then come around to score.

MoyVilla9 · 06-05-2015 7:34pm

Harper 3-3 with 3HR's so far today. Decent afternoon.

jack presley · 09-05-2015 9:28am

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Harper 3-3 with 3HR's so far today. Decent afternoon.

2 more homers last night. Certainly in the zone these past 2 outings.

Waitsian · 09-05-2015 12:57pm

jack presley wrote: »

That definitely needs the Benny Hill music on that. But I can't laugh really, I've to watch Wilmer Flores at SS every day and it's painful to watch the amount of double plays he fails to make that then come around to score.

...with Benny Hill music.

jack presley · 10-05-2015 2:44pm

8-10 wrote: »

Kris Bryant hits his first HR in the majors tonight, you heard it here first

Only 2 weeks out with that prediction ha ha. Watch now though, they'll be like buses.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12858861&ex_cid=sportscenterTW

jack presley · 10-05-2015 2:48pm

You gotta love the triple play!

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/123396934/pirates-stun-cardinals-with-mlbs-first-4-5-4-triple-play

Morrison J · 13-05-2015 2:07am

Wasn't going to start a new thread so said I'd throw it in here.

Decent documentary on Dock Ellis. Most famous for throwing a no hitter while high on LSD. On the US Netflix if ye have it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCH4fAHtKBo

jack presley · 14-05-2015 9:42pm

Thank God the Mets won those 10 games in a row earlier in the season because they're horrible to watch since. They've had great great start pitching all week in Chicago but couldn't score a run to save their lives then today they score 5 runs but the pitching's been awful and now a passed ball puts the Cubs 1 up after 7. 4 game sweep coming up!

On a brighter note, Kluber was pretty impressive last night wasn't he?

jack presley · 15-05-2015 11:23pm

Bloody hell. I stopped watching the Cubs Pirates when it was 7-1. Now it's 10-10. Time to tune in again.

8-10 · 16-05-2015 6:24pm

It's scary to think how many home runs Stanton would get if he played his home games in a hitter's park. Another ball crushed in the 1st inning that was a fly out in Marlins Park but would have been well gone in most other parks.

jack presley · 16-05-2015 7:12pm

8-10 wrote: »

It's scary to think how many home runs Stanton would get if he played his home games in a hitter's park. Another ball crushed in the 1st inning that was a fly out in Marlins Park but would have been well gone in most other parks.

Apparently he's had 3 HRs in the past 5 days of over 465 feet!

8-10 · 16-05-2015 7:28pm

jack presley wrote: »

Apparently he's had 3 HRs in the past 5 days of over 465 feet!

Yep another massive one in the 3rd inning today, 480ft or so! He's a monster.

jack presley · 16-05-2015 8:25pm

8-10 wrote: »

It's scary to think how many home runs Stanton would get if he played his home games in a hitter's park. Another ball crushed in the 1st inning that was a fly out in Marlins Park but would have been well gone in most other parks.

That shot there in the 7th would probably have been a HR in a lot of other parks too!

Coeus · 16-05-2015 10:24pm

jack presley wrote: »

That shot there in the 7th would probably have been a HR in a lot of other parks too!

Imagine he played for the Rockies, all those games in Coors field. I think we would see some 500+ foot homers from him over the course of a season...

jack presley · 17-05-2015 8:24pm

Shelby Miller just lost a no hitter with 2 down in the 9th. Would have been the first of the year.

jack presley · 17-05-2015 8:52pm

Nearly got no hit today and now the Marlins have sacked their manager.

Waitsian · 17-05-2015 9:49pm

jack presley wrote: »

Shelby Miller just lost a no hitter with 2 down in the 9th. Would have been the first of the year.

I'll never forget the look on Blue Jays Brandon Morrow's face when Longoria broke up his no-no in the 9th, with 2 outs. Evan hit a single and Brandon struck out the next batter to finish it out. He finished with 17 Ks and 2 BB. I think it was 2010.

8-10 · 18-05-2015 1:09pm

Anybody know much about the Nationals' or Rockies' farm systems?

Off to see their Double-A affiliates play on Monday and wondering if there's anybody worth looking out for?

jack presley · 18-05-2015 1:21pm

8-10 wrote: »

Anybody know much about the Nationals' or Rockies' farm systems?

Off to see their Double-A affiliates play on Monday and wondering if there's anybody worth looking out for?

I don't know anything about either to be honest but hold onto the lineup card and see in a couple of years did any of them make it.

Back in '08 I saw Buster Posey play in a minor league game. At the time he was just another player in the field to me and it was only by chance a few years later that I came across the box score for the game and saw his name. A couple of others from that game made the Majors too, Dominic Brown for the Phillies and Rubén Tejada for the Mets but neither made the impact that Posey has.

jack presley · 18-05-2015 1:24pm

Bit of a Jerry Jones situation brewing in Miami. The GM has just named himself manager of the Marlins. He has 0 coaching experience in the majors.

edit - should change that to no professional coaching experience full stop. He's only ever coached at high school. He is in baseball's scouting hall of fame if that helps! What a joke. Lucky there's no Rooney Rule in baseball

8-10 · 18-05-2015 1:36pm

jack presley wrote: »

I don't know anything about either to be honest but hold onto the lineup card and see in a couple of years did any of them make it.

Back in '08 I saw Buster Posey play in a minor league game. At the time he was just another player in the field to me and it was only by chance a few years later that I came across the box score for the game and saw his name. A couple of others from that game made the Majors too, Dominic Brown for the Phillies and Rubén Tejada for the Mets but neither made the impact that Posey has.

Was going to see the same team 2 years ago when they had Anthony Rendon playing 3B. He got called up to Triple-A the same week just before the game, I didn't end up going then.

Coeus · 18-05-2015 10:27pm

jack presley wrote: »

Bit of a Jerry Jones situation brewing in Miami. The GM has just named himself manager of the Marlins. He has 0 coaching experience in the majors.

edit - should change that to no professional coaching experience full stop. He's only ever coached at high school. He is in baseball's scouting hall of fame if that helps! What a joke. Lucky there's no Rooney Rule in baseball

Read somewhere that they probably did this so they wouldn't have to pay 3 managers this season as they are on the hook for Redmond and Ozzie Guillen contract.

Probably the craziest managerial move in MLB since Ted Turner appointed himself manager of the Braves!

BigFatGiant · 22-05-2015 12:54pm

I'd say the Dodgers will be delighted to get out of San Fransisco after the last 3 days. Swept in a 3 game series without scoring a single run. Nice to see Tim Lincecum coming back into some decent form so far this season.

jack presley · 22-05-2015 1:31pm

BigFatGiant wrote: »

I'd say the Dodgers will be delighted to get out of San Fransisco after the last 3 days. Swept in a 3 game series without scoring a single run. Nice to see Tim Lincecum coming back into some decent form so far this season.

I've always liked Timmy. Good to see him back pitching well. Nice HR from Bumgarner yesterday. Kershaw looked very pi$$ed off with that.

MLB 2015 Season Thread

Comments