Major League Baseball 2017

[Linc]

The Pale Hose have a pretty stacked system now.

Saw Charlotte play in Rochester tonight; unfortunately, we missed Moncada by a day.

I'm hoping for the playoffs in 2019. Don't really want to lose any more of the lineup .

 

[Kobie]

Not an MLB story, more like a minor-league story, but still fun.

My brother and I both got our first-ever home run balls one inning apart at the Rochester Red Wings (Twins AAA) game against Charlotte tonight.

 

[Jack Hays]

I still think there's something magic about the home plate ump. Dad was a great one while in the Air Force at Travis. That's why I place Mays above Clemente as my top two of all time.

I could possibly see a listening device in their ear for close or all calls. I wouldn't have a problem with a one second delay on the ball/strike call. I do support a rule change on the bogus call against Tanner/Lobaton with the Reds' Bailey.

Dad umped in the California league which was a high brand of minors in the early 60s. I was the oldest and went everywhere with him. Tug McGraw was the best he ever umped .

Fascinating history of your dad. You could still have a home plate umpire to announce the ball/strike calls and make other rulings at the plate. But too many umpires today are more interested in their personal profiles. That's why we'll have an electronic strike zone.

 

[calamity]

How about those Dodgers? 11-straight.

Hard to believe, but they are 3 games ahead of the Astros for best record in MLB.

 

[JamesBY]

If the Dodgers were to play just .500 ball for the rest of the season, they would have 100 wins and could not be caught.

They have an eleven game winning streak and 30 of 34. They may wind up with six 10-game winners and a collective WHIP to 1.00. If they had the position players of the Nats or the Astros, they would win 125 games. If they don't get 100 wins, that's on the batters.

 

[Linc]

Not an MLB story, more like a minor-league story, but still fun.

My brother and I both got our first-ever home run balls one inning apart at the Rochester Red Wings (Twins AAA) game against Charlotte tonight.

My wife wants to see her Cedar Rapids Kernels play in Peoria. As Beaudreax would say, yes Ma'am.

When we visit family in Maine, we often go to Portland to see the Sea Dogs. We saw Hanley Ramirez there many years ago .

 

[Linc]

Fascinating history of your dad. You could still have a home plate umpire to announce the ball/strike calls and make other rulings at the plate. But too many umpires today are more interested in their personal profiles. That's why we'll have an electronic strike zone.

My Britsh Mom loved the Dodgers back then, especially Koufax. That was a great staring four. Marichal whacking Roseboro over the head with his bat was quite a memory for a young kid. Johnny throwing the ball back to his pitcher under Juan's head was the retaliation for Juan being a head-hunter .

 

[Linc]

How about those Dodgers? 11-straight.

Hard to believe, but they are 3 games ahead of the Astros for best record in MLB.

HOU has some holes, with the worst caught stealing % in MLB and their starting staff to get the now all-important best record for the World Series. Getting by the starting staff of CLE or BOS will be tough .

 

[Linc]

If the Dodgers were to play just .500 ball for the rest of the season, they would have 100 wins and could not be caught.

They have an eleven game winning streak and 30 of 34. They may wind up with six 10-game winners and a collective WHIP to 1.00. If they had the position players of the Nats or the Astros, they would win 125 games. If they don't get 100 wins, that's on the batters.

LAD appears to me to have a solid lineup, strong bench and great manager. I'd be concerned with only one starter above 86.2 innings pitched, though their middle and late relief is superb.

Today starts a do or die 4-game series for ATL at LAD, with Teheran on Saturday and an improving J. Garcia on Fiday. This series reminds me of the old days when the two were in the same division .

 

[Jack Hays]

My Britsh Mom loved the Dodgers back then, especially Koufax. That was a great staring four. Marichal whacking Roseboro over the head with his bat was quite a memory for a young kid. Johnny throwing the ball back to his pitcher under Juan's head was the retaliation for Juan being a head-hunter .

They were all headhunters in that era. I grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. No meaner pitcher than Bob Gibson.

 

[Linc]

They were all headhunters in that era. I grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. No meaner pitcher than Bob Gibson.

Willie Mays tells the story of Gibson NOT wearing his glasses when he was pitching. Plus the lower mound.

Dad transferred to Scott USAF base near St. Louis in 1964, just missing Stan the Man. I kept following a--Mays--ing then and when we moved to Dad's civil service job at JAAP/APSA; ironically where he's buried now at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery; an overwhelming place just south of Elwood, IL.

I caught the last years of Ernie Banks, and of course the Cub collapse in 1969 under Leo Duricher .

 

[Linc]

PIT sweeps 4 from MIL, who have lost 5 in a row; PIT now 0.500 heading to COL for a crucial WC series; F. Rivero lights out for PIT, making that Nats trade for Melancon look pretty good;

6 in a row wins Cubs face Cards' best 3 pitchers this weekend; if Cards sink, will they unload any of their RH starters? Big series in SEA with NYY for WC hopes; and what about the TB Rays ?

 

[Anagram]

6 in a row wins Cubs face Cards' best 3 pitchers this weekend; if Cards sink, will they unload any of their RH starters?

Can't imagine we trade Leake (big contract, no trade clause), Wainwright (old), Martinez (superstar on awesome contract), or Wacha (inconsistent and injury issues would bring down anything we could get). On the other hand they might trade Lance Lynn either way. He's a free agent at the end of the season, and they might be able to get some good prospects for him with the general dearth of starting pitching available. And they could plug Luke Weaver into the rotation and get about the same performance.

 

[Linc]

Can't imagine we trade Leake (big contract, no trade clause), Wainwright (old), Martinez (superstar on awesome contract), or Wacha (inconsistent and injury issues would bring down anything we could get). On the other hand they might trade Lance Lynn either way. He's a free agent at the end of the season, and they might be able to get some good prospects for him with the general dearth of starting pitching available. And they could plug Luke Weaver into the rotation and get about the same performance.

Weaver certainly has potential; what ever happened to Alex Reyes? Is he Artie now;

You're in the middle of a nasty road trip; then 7 tough home games vs. COL and ARI before the trade deadline;

I'd jump the 5th starter on your 6 off days starting 7/31 if you're still in it but I'm old school; I like piggybacking 5th starters and good long relief this time of year; starters lose it their 3rd time around the order in this heat;

You guys need a lefty starter; J. Garcia is starting to pitch well for ATL; I always thought Cecil could go a solid 5; what's up with Duke; plus you had a rookie lefty; Longley?? -- don't remember his name right off ;

 

[Anagram]

Weaver certainly has potential; what ever happened to Alex Reyes? Is he Artie now;

You're in the middle of a nasty road trip; then 7 tough home games vs. COL and ARI before the trade deadline;

I'd jump the 5th starter on your 6 off days starting 7/31 if you're still in it but I'm old school; I like piggybacking 5th starters and good long relief this time of year; starters lose it their 3rd time around the order in this heat;

You guys need a lefty starter; J. Garcia is starting to pitch well for ATL; I always thought Cecil could go a solid 5; what's up with Duke; plus you had a rookie lefty; Longley--don't remember his name right off ;

Reyes ended up having to have Tommy John surgery in Spring Training. If Mozeilak feels like we need a lefty starter up, Marco Gonzales has been pitching well in Memphis. I'm hopeful we'll just use Weaver and Gonzales and not try to trade for any pitching when we have those two and Reyes coming back next year.

 

[Linc]

Reyes ended up having to have Tommy John surgery in Spring Training. If Mozeilak feels like we need a lefty starter up, Marco Gonzales has been pitching well in Memphis. I'm hopeful we'll just use Weaver and Gonzales and not try to trade for any pitching when we have those two and Reyes coming back next year.

That's too bad about Reyes. I'm wondering how much work these guys get in the off-season with simulated games. Maybe they should be in a south of the border league for part of the off season. There seem to be a lot of dead arm problems after spring training.

We're gonna see your Peoria Chiefs next week against my wife's Cedar Rapids Kernels/Twins. I see they're in a class below advanced A. Never been to that stadium. We spent 3 seasons in the sweltering oven at Scott USAF base 1964-196) when Dad was stationed there, back in the Harry Carey days .

 

[Kobie]

They were all headhunters in that era. I grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. No meaner pitcher than Bob Gibson.

Bob Gibson would throw at his grandmother if she dug in on him.

 

[TobyOne]

I do think the Dodgers should trade for a #2 or #3 pitcher if available. Their starters are good, but after Kershaw its kind of a crap shoot. Of course, the Dodgers are winning games 9-1, 10-1 so maybe all this talk about their pitching is just unnecessary hand wringing.

Verlander is over priced at his age, but the dodgers have deep pockets and I have fantasies of Kate Upton in a dodger jersey and hat. Lets make it happen.

LAD appears to me to have a solid lineup, strong bench and great manager. I'd be concerned with only one starter above 86.2 innings pitched, though their middle and late relief is superb.

Today starts a do or die 4-game series for ATL at LAD, with Teheran on Saturday and an improving J. Garcia on Fiday. This series reminds me of the old days when the two were in the same division .

 

[Linc]

I do think the Dodgers should trade for a #2 or #3 pitcher if available. Their starters are good, but after Kershaw its kind of a crap shoot. Of course, the Dodgers are winning games 9-1, 10-1 so maybe all this talk about their pitching is just unnecessary hand wringing.

Verlander is over priced at his age, but the dodgers have deep pockets and I have fantasies of Kate Upton in a dodger jersey and hat. Lets make it happen.

As Anagram mentioned, Lynn could be available from STL. It would suck if you guys got Teheran from ATL. Whether it's McCarthy or Maeda, you need to go L, R, L to mix it up.

Nats are tough with their R, L, R trio; Cubs with their L, R, L trio; Brewers are starting to suck with their all-righty starters; as with STL; Dbacks have a good rotation; Rockies don't;

From last year, Roberts went with Kershaw on 3 days rest against the Nats and probably should have again against the Cubs. LAD's 3 starters only need to go 5 or 6 and then piggyback your 4th and 5th starters along with your great bullpen. With that, backend starters need to get some relief appearances in during late September to be ready for it .

 

[Linc]

I do think the Dodgers should trade for a #2 or #3 pitcher if available. Their starters are good, but after Kershaw its kind of a crap shoot. Of course, the Dodgers are winning games 9-1, 10-1 so maybe all this talk about their pitching is just unnecessary hand wringing.

Verlander is over priced at his age, but the dodgers have deep pockets and I have fantasies of Kate Upton in a dodger jersey and hat. Lets make it happen.

Foltenewicz is underrated, though he gave up that 2-run HR to Grandal; I had the game on freebaseballradio--KLAD 1300; ATL has their rotation set-up pretty well with R, L, R, L; whereas you're R, L, L, L; you may see Roberts get Maeda between two of your lefties with your several off days coming up ;

 

[Jack Hays]

MLB
[h=2]Baseball’s Best Teams Are Too Damn Good[/h]By Neil Paine

 

[Hari Seldon]

The ball is juiced. Conforto just crushed one to the Shea Bridge. He really has a nice swing.

 

[TobyOne]

Dodgers lost yesterday and Roberts said: "Its a weird feeling". Good.

MLB
[h=2]Baseball’s Best Teams Are Too Damn Good[/h]By Neil Paine

 

[Jack Hays]

First three D'backs all homered against Scherzer. Doubt anyone saw that coming.

 

[Linc]

First three D'backs all homered against Scherzer. Doubt anyone saw that coming.

Scherzer's not used to the Cactus League stadiums. Rookie making his first major league start tomorrow night for Arizona .