Topic: Any Baseball Lovers Around

[TipTopKop]

Big transition year for the Dodgers.

I'm going in with the lowest expectations for some time.... which might mean they may finally do something this year!

I'm guessing they're going to coast until before the window closes and then maybe address the needs they see by dealing with teams that are out of it, but yeah not expecting much this year. That payroll had to come down I guess.

[skipper757]

I'm going in with the lowest expectations for some time.... which might mean they may finally do something this year!

I'm guessing they're going to coast until before the window closes and then maybe address the needs they see by dealing with teams that are out of it, but yeah not expecting much this year. That payroll had to come down I guess.

Yea, it could be a lowkey fun year for you if a few players (like Vargas, Outman, Grove/Pepiot, etc) break out, and a couple of older players (like Taylor and his love of big moments) regain form.  You'll have to make big moves at some point (either by the trade deadline for this year or the winter for next year), but it's a great opportunity to get some young talent into the team and as contributors and then strengthen.

[TipTopKop]

Yea, it could be a lowkey fun year for you if a few players (like Vargas, Outman, Grove/Pepiot, etc) break out, and a couple of older players (like Taylor and his love of big moments) regain form.  You'll have to make big moves at some point (either by the trade deadline for this year or the winter for next year), but it's a great opportunity to get some young talent into the team and as contributors and then strengthen.

Pretty much. Outman and Vargas have looked good in the relatively short time I've seen them. Their farm system is always lauded so may as well give it a try, see what happens. I do think they've got their sights on Ohtani down the line, but I'm sure other clubs will say the same.

Pound for pound I think the Padres clearly have more established talent right now, but for years and years the Dodgers had a massive payroll (still do), big names, and came out with nothing (Dave and Friedman over thinking post season analytics and "matchups" resulting in early exists) while smaller rosters/payrolls got it done, so who knows.

[TipTopKop]

Dodger stadium gives Bellinger a standing ovation on his return as a Cub last night. I was sat watching Belli acknowledging the love, wonderful moment all round.

...Ump then decides to give him a clock violation   

[Statto Red]

Sounds like the As could be on the move, have signed a binding agreement to purchase land near the Las Vegas Strip.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36241520/oakland-agree-purchase-land-las-vegas-strip

[Ray K]

Sounds like the As could be on the move, have signed a binding agreement to purchase land near the Las Vegas Strip.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36241520/oakland-agree-purchase-land-las-vegas-strip

Vegas city council must be literally rolling in cash if they're willing to throw bad money for a baseball stadium after even worse money for a football one.

[ShatnersBassoon]

thatll be the third Oakland team they lose in about 5 years.

really depressing. I have a few friends from oakland and its hard to imagine losing your team youve supported since a kid. Especially after the shitty owners purposefully tanked them to an AA team to manipulate it through.

[Dim Glas]

Absolute shitshow this thing with Max Scherzer, got ejected in the 4th inning yesterday for ‘sticky stuff’ - which was the rosin pitchers are allowed to use, combined with sweat. I mean, what the actual fuck.  Just a couple days ago something similar happened with Yankees’ Domingo German apart from the fact he was allowed to pitch on after being warned.

Now Scherzer is suspended for 10 days, and no chance of it being overturned. The umpiring in MLB is an absolute shambles.

So at the moment Mets’ rotation is out 4 of the starters they had planned for this season    

[Statto Red]

Vegas city council must be literally rolling in cash if they're willing to throw bad money for a baseball stadium after even worse money for a football one.

I wonder how much more money Vegas makes on gameday when Raiders have home games, since the Raiders moved there, think tickets for Raiders home games are one of the most expensive tickets in the NFL now, Vegas also hosts the super bowl next year.

[Gerry Attrick]

AL East is a joke. Jays are 14-9 and 6 games back. Fuck off.

[RedSince86]

AL East is a joke. Jays are 14-9 and 6 games back. Fuck off.

[Gerry Attrick]

Every team in the division has a positive run differential. It’s plain stupid.

[ShatnersBassoon]

AL East is a joke. Jays are 14-9 and 6 games back. Fuck off.

with the new schedule theres a good chance of ALEast taking all the wild card spots!

Blue Jays rotation is in a really good groove. even berrios and kooch are dealing right now

[Gerry Attrick]

Manoah has started slowly but he’ll be dominant soon enough. Berrios was a strange one, he was only 1% off but was getting hammered.

[Gerry Attrick]

Blue Jays have been on a horrid run and are finished already. No way they can win the division and even 3 games out of a wildcard spot is looking impossible with how good the AL East teams are. This roster constantly gets smoke blown up it’s arse but we can’t win big games. May as well start looking to shop some guys. Springer, Chapman, Kikuchi, Kiermaier and Bass should be on the trade block.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Blue Jays have been on a horrid run and are finished already. No way they can win the division and even 3 games out of a wildcard spot is looking impossible with how good the AL East teams are. This roster constantly gets smoke blown up it’s arse but we can’t win big games. May as well start looking to shop some guys. Springer, Chapman, Kikuchi, Kiermaier and Bass should be on the trade block.

its not even june yet.... and theres over 100 games left.

its been rough recently but there is zero chance they're burning it all down and trading everyone away. Kiermaier has been great so far, he is more likely to be extended than traded.

[Gerry Attrick]

its not even june yet.... and theres over 100 games left.

its been rough recently but there is zero chance they're burning it all down and trading everyone away. Kiermaier has been great so far, he is more likely to be extended than traded.

The Blue Jays aren’t making up that deficit in a division this stacked, therefore the guys that are on an expiring contracts or only have 1 year of control left should be being shopped. Think the Blue Jays are Arsenal really, doesn’t matter how many good players they have they just can’t do it.

[skipper757]

Turns out Manoah is broken after yet another horror show.  Optioned him to rookie ball for the staff to fix him.  Jays are very much in the hunt still.

Diamondbacks are a pleasant surprise this year.  Corbin Carroll living up to the hype.

[TipTopKop]

Fuck Dave Roberts. The absolute clown. Yet again baffling decision making by him and/or the Dodger 'analytics department'.

Blew an 8-3 lead to lose 8-9 against the Reds. Pulled a good pitcher after just 11 pitches and put a horrible match-up instead.

What a joke of a team.

[ShatnersBassoon]

that Elly de la Cruz looks like he's gonna be great though. hits the ball insanely hard and should be fun to watch.

[Rob K]

Got tickets for Sundays game in London. Forecast 31 degrees. I think I'm gonna melt.

[BassTunedToRed]

Got tickets for Sundays game in London. Forecast 31 degrees. I think I'm gonna melt.

I went yesterday, great day out.

[RedSince86]

Amazing.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/zCorxr-nspk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/zCorxr-nspk</a>

[BarryCrocker]

Amazing.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/zCorxr-nspk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/zCorxr-nspk</a>

Always thought a perfect game was striking out all hitters.

[KillieRed]

Not a huge baseball fan, but do love a Kevin Costner effort.

“For the love of the game” actually makes me emotional 

Have these “perfect games” got more frequent in recent years?

[Dim Glas]

Amazing.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/zCorxr-nspk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/zCorxr-nspk</a>

He’s a dick, suspended twice already in his career,  wife beater, so shame more than anything.

[Dim Glas]

Not a huge baseball fan, but do love a Kevin Costner effort.

“For the love of the game” actually makes me emotional 

Have these “perfect games” got more frequent in recent years?

Only ever been 24 I think, bit of a run in 2012 (3 in one season rather crazily), but this one was the first since.

It’s still a rare feat to retire 27 batters in order.

[BarryCrocker]

Not a huge baseball fan, but do love a Kevin Costner effort.

“For the love of the game” actually makes me emotional 

Have these “perfect games” got more frequent in recent years?

None since 2012.

Not really perfect if someone gets bat to ball.

[KillieRed]

Must be getting old 2012 seems like yesterday 

[ShatnersBassoon]

he got completely shelled in his previous couple of games too. baseball for you

and couldnt have happened to a worse guy

[RedSince86]

One of the worst calls in Baseball history that ruined a perfect game.

That should have been the 25th perfect game last night but for this Doofus Umpire at 1st base who wanted to be the centre of attention, the hitter with faux shock is hilarious as well, he's a Doofus as well hustling like his life depended on it.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/dqjSlQdaXwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/dqjSlQdaXwE</a>



This was a gutting one with only needing one out, but you can't help Everett with the Redsox /Yankees rivalry, stopping a Yankee pitching a perfect game at Fenway, Mussina is my all time favourite pitcher as well, Sox fans cheering that hit like they won the WS.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/W3xkQlFGpuk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/W3xkQlFGpuk</a>

[Statto Red]

Fuckin hell Cards, Marlins trailing the Cards 9-8 bottom of the 9th, with 2 on base, Cards reliever Jordan Hicks airmails a routine throw to 1st, which allows the Marlins runners reach home & Marlins win the game 10-9.

[Rob K]

I went yesterday, great day out.

Yeah was a cracking day. Shame we didn’t get any homers though.

Mets/phillies next year, hoping to get to that one too. Looking forward to tucking in to a massive Philly cheesesteak sandwich 😄

[BassTunedToRed]

Yeah was a cracking day. Shame we didn’t get any homers though.

Mets/phillies next year, hoping to get to that one too. Looking forward to tucking in to a massive Philly cheesesteak sandwich 😄

As a Mets fan, I can't wait. Definitely going to both days next year.

[Dim Glas]

As a Mets fan, I can't wait. Definitely going to both days next year.

I’m hoping to time a visit back to the UK for then and get to one of the games, that is unless I’ve already moved back by then!

The ‘sad’ part is, it’s on national TV, so no Gary, Keith and Ron, but hopefully they go over there anyway, in an ambassodor role, they are after all one of the greatest things about the Metsies 

[skipper757]

This was a gutting one with only needing one out, but you can't help Everett with the Redsox /Yankees rivalry, stopping a Yankee pitching a perfect game at Fenway, Mussina is my all time favourite pitcher as well, Sox fans cheering that hit like they won the WS.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/W3xkQlFGpuk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/W3xkQlFGpuk</a>

Mussina is a Hall of Famer and legend of the game, but I can't help feel bad for him as a "nearly" man in so many potential legendary moments.

That near perfect game at Fenway is one standout.

He joined the Yankees right after the Yankees won multiple World Series and retired right before the Yankees won another one.

In 1997 with the Orioles, in the ALCS, he put up 2 brilliant starts only for the Orioles to lose heartbreakers in both:
-Game 3:  7IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 15Ks; Orioles lost in extras to Cleveland in bizarre circumstances:  Vizquel swung and missed on a pitch that got away from the catcher.  It looked like it could've been a foul tip, but it was just a passed ball, and Grissom "stole" home for the winning run while the Orioles thought it was foul tip.
-Game 6:  8IP, 2H, 0ER, 2BB, 10Ks; Back in Baltimore for a must-win game 6, Mussina throws 8 shutout innings, only for the Orioles to lose in extras 1-0.  The Orioles had 10 hits and 5 walks and mustered 0 runs in an elimination game at home.

Moose's 1997 ALCS could've been another legendary moment en route to an Orioles World Series, but he was very unlucky in how it played out for the team.  15 IP, 1 ER, and 25 Ks across two crucial games, and the Orioles lost them both in extras.

Mussina's a deserved hall of famer, but man, he really got unlucky at times.

[Dim Glas]

This has been an infuriating and weird season for the Mets (so far), but one thing that is absolutely for sure - in Francisco Alvarez a star is born.

What an impact he is making on this team. Just 21 years old, now the (almost) everyday catcher for the Mets, and the kid has a CLUTCH gene    In recent weeks he’s just been making fantastic plays either with the bat or behind the plate. And just everything about him is so infectious, his attitude, the smile, the base-running, he’s just such a fun player to watch.  And his nickmame is El Troll, what’s not to love, he even has ’The Troll’ embroidered on his chest protector 

[ShatnersBassoon]

This has been an infuriating and weird season for the Mets (so far), but one thing that is absolutely for sure - in Francisco Alvarez a star is born.

What an impact he is making on this team. Just 21 years old, now the (almost) everyday catcher for the Mets, and the kid has a CLUTCH gene    In recent weeks he’s just been making fantastic plays either with the bat or behind the plate. And just everything about him is so infectious, his attitude, the smile, the base-running, he’s just such a fun player to watch.  And his nickmame is El Troll, what’s not to love, he even has ’The Troll’ embroidered on his chest protector 

he looks good. but its been a good year of rookies coming up. Bailey at SF looks another great catcher.

Not to mention Carroll, de la cruz, etc. it seems the new rules came in at a great time for them to show their strengths

[RedSince86]

Mussina is a Hall of Famer and legend of the game, but I can't help feel bad for him as a "nearly" man in so many potential legendary moments.

That near perfect game at Fenway is one standout.

He joined the Yankees right after the Yankees won multiple World Series and retired right before the Yankees won another one.

In 1997 with the Orioles, in the ALCS, he put up 2 brilliant starts only for the Orioles to lose heartbreakers in both:
-Game 3:  7IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 15Ks; Orioles lost in extras to Cleveland in bizarre circumstances:  Vizquel swung and missed on a pitch that got away from the catcher.  It looked like it could've been a foul tip, but it was just a passed ball, and Grissom "stole" home for the winning run while the Orioles thought it was foul tip.
-Game 6:  8IP, 2H, 0ER, 2BB, 10Ks; Back in Baltimore for a must-win game 6, Mussina throws 8 shutout innings, only for the Orioles to lose in extras 1-0.  The Orioles had 10 hits and 5 walks and mustered 0 runs in an elimination game at home.

Moose's 1997 ALCS could've been another legendary moment en route to an Orioles World Series, but he was very unlucky in how it played out for the team.  15 IP, 1 ER, and 25 Ks across two crucial games, and the Orioles lost them both in extras.

Mussina's a deserved hall of famer, but man, he really got unlucky at times.

Also unlucky to pitch his entire career in the AL East that had 8 championships.

His knuckle curve ball was nasty.

Him and Maddux were absolute magicians on the mound with their fastballs around 87-88mph.

[Gerry Attrick]

2 games for the Angels today. First one Ohtani pitched a 1 hit complete game shutout. Second one he’s gone deep twice. I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face this guy is the best to ever play baseball. Saviour him because if you see anybody who is this good again in your lifetime you’re blessed.