Baseball 2021

[lucky penny]

^^^^^
Seems like very smart moves by Baez that completely faked out the first base guy, but I doubt this will ever work again now that everyone in baseball has seen this!

 

[easysurfer]

The funniest part I think is Baez giving the safe sign by home plate, then still having to scoot down to 1st base for the run to count.

 

[JRon]

I grew up a Twins fan, but not a passionate baseball fan. We have an independent professional league team here that has been mediocre for years. This we also have a new team starting up that belongs to a new league started a few years ago made up of college baseball players from all over the US. They will use wooden bats and play at our local college’s field. We have tickets to the first game - looking forward to it.

 

[harllee]

I love baseball and I really enjoy going to games in person. But the game takes too long and it is getting worse. Four hours is just too long for a sporting event. I know that have done a few things to shorten the game but so far it is not enough.

 

[Qs Laptop]

If I were the Pirates manager, Derek Shelton, I would have pulled the first baseman, Craig, after that play.

The third out is almost always best made as a force play at first base. An exception would be a force play at another base IF the ball is hit in the vicinity of that base.

The only thing the first baseman needed to do was trot back to first base with the ball and step on it. In fact, he could have watched the runner from third base step on home plate, stare at Javier Baez standing halfway between home and first base for as long as he cared to, then trotted over to first base and stepped on it to end the inning. No run would have scored. The defense should NEVER try for a tag play on the third out of the inning if you can get a force play.

I woulda benched that first baseman. I would have chewed out the catcher for not leading the second baseman with his throw to first base. Instead the catcher threw AT the second baseman who was in motion to cover first base. Had they gotten the force out at that time, again, the run wouldn't have scored. And Javy Baez MUST touch first base safely or the run doesn't score. Furthermore, if Baez had touched home plate when he was retreating, he would have been out. AND even more, when Baez turned to run to first base, Craig could have been called for obstruction.

Oh, yeah. Everybody has seen the blunder play where Javy Baez gets in a rundown between home and first base. The ironic thing is that the runner at second that eventually scored on the blunder had been picked off of first base but the first baseman, Craig, elected not to throw to second for the attempted tag out of the runner. That put Contreras in a position to score the run on the mistake by Craig. Furthermore, if the Pirates hadn't thrown the ball around allowing Baez to advance to 2nd base, the next batter's single to shallow center wouldn't have scored Baez.

 

[easysurfer]

Sad to say, but looks like the sticky substances on baseballs in now the pitchers' turn to cheat.

You think there's a relation to doctored baseballs and 6 no-hitters this year? Just sayin' .

Become a gameday compliance monitor for Major League Baseball. That’s the official title. Informally, you will be known as the Sticky Ball Guy.
All you have to do is lurk around the ballpark trying to catch the cheaters who are gooing up the national pastime. Baseball has been overrun by pitchers loading up baseballs with tacky substances, using the illegally added traction to make them all but unhittable.
As a Sticky Ball Guy (or Gal), you could make good money, up to $83,000 per year. You could also wind up duct-taped to the left-field foul pole in your underwear.
One way to avoid angering the players you’re snooping on is to not find any wrongdoing. The gameday compliance monitors have been on the job since Opening Day, and so far zero cheaters have been hauled up on charges. These monitors must be in the same union as the NBA’s flop police.
Meanwhile, MLB is on pace to achieve all-time records for lowest overall batting average and highest overall strikeout rate. And highest all-time boredom levels.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/...chers-have-baseball-in-a-sleeper-16229028.php

 

[JRon]

We’re headed to our first game of the season tonight - college level. Will be hot, but should be fun.

 

[JP.mpls]

I grew up a Twins fan, but not a passionate baseball fan. We have an independent professional league team here that has been mediocre for years. This we also have a new team starting up that belongs to a new league started a few years ago made up of college baseball players from all over the US. They will use wooden bats and play at our local college’s field. We have tickets to the first game - looking forward to it.

JRon,
The Saints are now the Twins AAA team I believe. Should be much better baseball. I haven't gotten over there yet, but my friend lives near there, and will get me to a game or two.

On a side note: I'm surprised how difficult and expensive MLB makes it to watch a game on TV. I think cable or ATT are the only choices.
I was getting it on Hulu plus last season.

They talk big about getting kids interested, but making it difficult to watch reduces their fan base of all ages. I quit paying the higher costs, and just start doing other things.

Take care,. JP

 

[steelyman]

Rizzo, Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel gone from Cubs?

As if a pandemic wasn’t enough torture.

 

[rk911]

the cubs have been my team since the mid 60's. if i still cared i'd be very upset at this news.

 

[RunningBum]

the cubs have been my team since the mid 60's. if i still cared i'd be very upset at this news.

That's me, too. I woke up in October 2016. I remember hearing experts say this may be the start of a dynasty, but that didn't last.

 

[easysurfer]

Rizzo, Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel gone from Cubs?

As if a pandemic wasn’t enough torture.

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre in July.

Looks like I'm a free agent fan now as for what team to cheer for.

 

[rk911]

That's me, too. I woke up in October 2016. I remember hearing experts say this may be the start of a dynasty, but that didn't last.

i'm grateful that i lived long enough to see them win it all. the whole series but esspecially the last play in game 7 is something i'll always remember. good memories offset the now bitter taste.

 

[steelyman]

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre in July.

Looks like I'm a free agent fan now as for what team to cheer for.

Simple for me. I lived for a while in Boston and worked near Fenway. The end of those two lonnng droughts (one in AL, one in NL) was amazing!

[ADDED] The Red Sox were especially sweet because they came back from 0-3 against the damn (sadly now Rizzo’s) Yankees!

 

[RunningBum]

i'm grateful that i lived long enough to see them win it all. the whole series but esspecially the last play in game 7 is something i'll always remember. good memories offset the now bitter taste.

Right. I'm not saying it doesn't matter if they never win another in my lifetime, but I'm sure glad to get that one and not have to hear about how long it had been.

I was only 7 for 1969 so while I was aware of what happened, mostly because of older brothers, it wasn't a big deal. 1984 hurt. 2-0 in a best of 5 NLCS and they blew it. Getting by the Tigers would've been hard though.

 

[rk911]

Right. I'm not saying it doesn't matter if they never win another in my lifetime, but I'm sure glad to get that one and not have to hear about how long it had been.

I was only 7 for 1969 so while I was aware of what happened, mostly because of older brothers, it wasn't a big deal. 1984 hurt. 2-0 in a best of 5 NLCS and they blew it. Getting by the Tigers would've been hard though.

in '84 my sister lived across the alley from Larry Bowa and his wife. sis scored tix for the first post-season game at Wrigley since 1945. there were 4 of us sitting in far right field and i was behind a post. i could see everything without moving my head except 2nd base and left-center...but i...we...were in the ballpark. saw Sutcliffe hit one out helping chicago to a 13-0 win. it was something very special.

 

[VanWinkle]

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre in July.

Looks like I'm a free agent fan now as for what team to cheer for.

I understand..... As a Cardinal Fan that just watched the team make 2 terrible trades that will not help this year or next.

 

[easysurfer]

I understand..... As a Cardinal Fan that just watched the team make 2 terrible trades that will not help this year or next.

I saw that the Cardinals got Lester. He has lots of playoff experience but don't know about how much gas in the tank.

The was the Cubs' world series core players got shipped out without even a goodbye to the fans was just cold. Yes, there's the business side but that doesn't have to exclude the fan side. I read an article flaming Ross for not having Bryant/Rizzo pinch hit for one last appreciative standing ovation before being dealt. I agree.

 

[Mulligan]

I understand..... As a Cardinal Fan that just watched the team make 2 terrible trades that will not help this year or next.

Ya think VanWinkle? lol… They are trotting a bunch of geriatrics to the mound now. Wade LeBlanc who started last night turns 37 next month. He will for now be the second youngest starter in the 5 man rotation. And the youngest below him, Kim is no spring chicken at 33.

 

[F.I.R.E User]

Giants all the way.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I understand..... As a Cardinal Fan that just watched the team make 2 terrible trades that will not help this year or next.

I was shocked that anyone would want J.A. Happ. He's "leading" all MLB pitchers in runs allowed. So as a Twins fan I say thank you to the Cardinal's GM.

 

[Qs Laptop]

As a neutral observer, that is, not a fan of either team, I can't decide which team was gutted the worst--Cubs or Nationals.

 

[Beststash]

I've forgiven the "Stros" .....How can you not love Altuve and Co.?

Astros general manager James Click completed a dramatic makeover of his bullpen just prior to Friday’s Trade Deadline by acquiring right-handed pitcher Phil Maton and Minor League catcher Yanier Díaz from the Indians in exchange for starting center fielder Myles Straw.

Earlier this week, the Astros acquired right-handers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero from the Mariners and right-hander Yimi García from the Marlins, with Graveman and García considered strong additions. Now, Graveman, García and Maton will join All-Star closer Ryan Pressly and right-hander Cristian Javier as key weapons in manager Dusty Baker’s revamped bullpen.

To acquire Maton, the Astros traded away Straw, who was slashing .262/.339/.326 with 34 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 98 games. That was a bit of a surprise, but it speaks to management’s belief that fourth outfielder Chas McCormick is ready to be an everyday player.

 

[ERD50]

Rizzo, Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel gone from Cubs?

As if a pandemic wasn’t enough torture.

My Son-In-Law stopped by today - he's a BIG sports fan, a BIG Cubs fan (and an even bigger Yankees fan), so I had to get his take on this.

He told me that each of these player's contracts were up at the end of the year, and they would be free agents then, and would likely take an offer from another team anyhow.

Since the Cubs are doing so poorly this year, no chance of making any playoffs, letting them go now means they can get on a team that has a chance of being in the playoffs. And I guess the Cubs management can get something in return (not sure how that works - they can start scouting now, instead of after the season?).

So it might seem cold, but maybe it was in everyone's best interests?

I'm not a sports fan, don't go out of my way to watch it, but even I could get into watching some of those amazing plays that Baez made. It was like the Jordan days, you don't have to be a sports fan to recognize there's some amazing talent there. DW would watch the Cubs more than I would, and I guess it's harder to tune into the Cubs these days (as is often the case, she never mentioned it to me so I could look for alternatives for her, she just complained after the fact )

-ERD50

 

[Mulligan]

I was shocked that anyone would want J.A. Happ. He's "leading" all MLB pitchers in runs allowed. So as a Twins fan I say thank you to the Cardinal's GM.

They got him to throw meat until Mickolas or Flarherty is ready and both are getting close.