MLB 2017 Regular Season

[MichaelWinicki]

LOL, I stopped watching full games a couple months ago. Just check online during the game too see how bad they are losing.

You'd have to be a real masochist to watch that team night after night... Sorta, when I nod my head you hit it.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Jose Quintana, for the Cubs since his NL debut: 39IP, 38H/23ER, 41K:17BB. 5.31 ERA/1.41 WHIP

 

[FloridaRob]

Kudos to Giancarlos Stanton. 50 home runs and still four days left in August, The guy may challenge Bonds single season record. That is one record that I would hope gets taken down. he is also making a case for being an MVP candidate.

 

[punchnjudy]

Whenever Girardi does his best to try to convince me that he's a good head coach (last season's performance) he does something stubborn and boneheaded by batting Judge 3rd in the lineup when he's totally lost.

For a few weeks now, I've been thinking they should sit him for a week so he could get his head straight. He is getting on base at a decent clip and his run production is pretty good, but his confidence has to be taking a major hit.

Yesterday Girardi had him batting second. Today he was batting 4th. If he's going to keep playing him, wish he would just pick a spot in the bottom 5 and keep him there. Maybe Judge will get lucky and sprain his ankle? lol

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Kudos to Giancarlos Stanton. 50 home runs and still four days left in August, The guy may challenge Bonds single season record. That is one record that I would hope gets taken down. he is also making a case for being an MVP candidate.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/06/29/mlb-juiced-ball-home-runs/440203001/

 

[MichaelWinicki]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/06/29/mlb-juiced-ball-home-runs/440203001/

There's no question that something changed on or about the All-Star game in '15. After that the home-run took off and has continued to climb.

I'm just wondering if it was a counter for the continued dominance of the strike-out? Maybe MLB didn't want the league to go all late 1960's in how the game was being played and decided that to increase scoring that the ball needed to be "tweaked" in order to carry farther.

But yeah something has changed.

Personally I'd like to see "the juice" taken out of the ball and the strike zone made smaller... Oh and a limit on how thin the handle of the bat can be so that "bat control" starts making a comeback over "bat speed".

 

[Doomsday]

There's no question that something changed on or about the All-Star game in '15. After that the home-run took off and has continued to climb.

I'm just wondering if it was a counter for the continued dominance of the strike-out? Maybe MLB didn't want the league to go all late 1960's in how the game was being played and decided that to increase scoring that the ball needed to be "tweaked" in order to carry farther.

But yeah something has changed.

Personally I'd like to see "the juice" taken out of the ball and the strike zone made smaller... Oh and a limit on how thin the handle of the bat can be so that "bat control" starts making a comeback over "bat speed".

Just curious, but what is the reasoning behind wanting to make the strike zone smaller?

I personally think it could make the game a bit more tedious for casual fans if batters are continually going deep into the count.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Just curious, but what is the reasoning behind wanting to make the strike zone smaller?

I personally think it could make the game a bit more tedious for casual fans if batters are continually going deep into the count.

Well that's what exactly is happening now. Guys aren't swinging.

And with all strikeouts the game has come down to the pitcher, catcher & batter. It's rather stale.

I think getting more balls into play would make the game more interesting.

Go watch a replay of a game in the late 70's... The game was faster and much more involved as far as the other players.

 

[Tabascocat]

Just curious, but what is the reasoning behind wanting to make the strike zone smaller?

I personally think it could make the game a bit more tedious for casual fans if batters are continually going deep into the count.

Smaller strike zone = more balls in play. It will decrease K's and increase walks. There would be more action along the basepaths.

 

[Tabascocat]

David Wright tried to come back and is now shelved again. Time to retire man, you had a good career.

On another note, the Mets are so depleted in the OF, Jose Reyes will start tonight in Left

 

[Derinyar]

Well that's what exactly is happening now. Guys aren't swinging.

And with all strikeouts the game has come down to the pitcher, catcher & batter. It's rather stale.

I think getting more balls into play would make the game more interesting.

Go watch a replay of a game in the late 70's... The game was faster and much more involved as far as the other players.

You shrink the strike zone to increase offense in general. I also think that just making an electronic strike zone could go a long ways toward fixing the strike zone issues. Umpires are guessing based on where the catcher gets the ball way too often. Left handed hitters quite frequently get strikes called in balls in the opposite batters boxes because the catcher sets up that far outside and basically shields the umpire from the ball.

The other thing that's caused an effect recently is the higher prevalence of shifts coming close to killing off the single. It makes for a much more static game then it used to be.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You shrink the strike zone to increase offense in general. I also think that just making an electronic strike zone could go a long ways toward fixing the strike zone issues. Umpires are guessing based on where the catcher gets the ball way too often. Left handed hitters quite frequently get strikes called in balls in the opposite batters boxes because the catcher sets up that far outside and basically shields the umpire from the ball.

The other thing that's caused an effect recently is the higher prevalence of shifts coming close to killing off the single. It makes for a much more static game then it used to be.

Agreed. The shifts haven't contributed to a more entertaining game.

 

[Doomsday]

You guys make some good points. I had been thinking the opposite, but what you are saying makes more sense.

 

[Trouty]

We just got Justin Upton

More to follow. Off to Angels Board

 

[Trouty]

Grayson Long (our 8th best prospect, whom is awesome and probably has a floor of a fifth starter) for Upton. But he can opt-out after the season. He advised Detroit we was going to, hence the trade. But playing with Mike, an aggressive front office that loses $44 million off the books this offseason, including crackhead Hamilton's contract, and a great GM, he may decide to stay.

Upton has 4 years left at ~$20mil AAV. He has 5 WAR this season, and is a huge upgrade over the slush we've trotted out in LF ever since GA left.

We also sent Maybin to the 'Stros for his salary. No players. Didn't need 5 OF.

Our best prospects are OF, but Upton is a huge upgrade.

If he doesn't opt out, we destroy this trade.

Eppler is amazing.

 

[Tabascocat]

Grayson Long (our 8th best prospect, whom is awesome and probably has a floor of a fifth starter) for Upton. But he can opt-out after the season. He advised Detroit we was going to, hence the trade. But playing with Mike, an aggressive front office that loses $44 million off the books this offseason, including crackhead Hamilton's contract, and a great GM, he may decide to stay.

Upton has 4 years left at ~$20mil AAV. He has 5 WAR this season, and is a huge upgrade over the slush we've trotted out in LF ever since GA left.

We also sent Maybin to the 'Stros for his salary. No players. Didn't need 5 OF.

Our best prospects are OF, but Upton is a huge upgrade.

If he doesn't opt out, we destroy this trade.

Eppler is amazing.

Wonder where he bats, in front or behind Trout? Good argument for either but I would do the front so they can't pitch around him. Of course, switch that and they can't pitch around Mike.........

 

[Trouty]

Wonder where he bats, in front or behind Trout? Good argument for either but I would do the front so they can't pitch around him. Of course, switch that and they can't pitch around Mike.........

There's no way our "vets are life" manager bats Pujols behind Upton.

Probably Cole, Trout, Pujols, Upton -- 1 2 3 4

When Escobar comes back, it'll shake things up a bit.

Lots of rumors of us going after Moustakis this offseason. We have some great prospects and a deep staff/bullpen. Plus next year's draft,

Angels land isn't as bleak as it was before.

 

[haleyrules]

There's no way our "vets are life" manager bats Pujols behind Upton.

Probably Cole, Trout, Pujols, Upton -- 1 2 3 4

When Escobar comes back, it'll shake things up a bit.

Lots of rumors of us going after Moustakis this offseason. We have some great prospects and a deep staff/bullpen. Plus next year's draft,

Angels land isn't as bleak as it was before.

Baseball almost sucks as bad as Basketball...if thats possible.

 

[Trouty]

Baseball almost sucks as bad as Basketball...if thats possible.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

For you Astros fans out there, I told yas early in the season that their offense can only carry them for so long. They did/do not have the pitching for the long haul of a 162 game season. They messed up by not getting that big pitcher by the trade deadline.

I expect them not to make it past the first post-season series. Yes, they still have the best AL record but that won't mean jack in the playoffs. I am afraid that they don't have the horses, pitching wise

You think their pitching is any better now?

 

[Tabascocat]

You think their pitching is any better now?

I happen to be here and what do you know....my Mets are in town! Hoping to go to the game tomorrow if the wife lets me