MLB 2018 Regular Season

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:23 am

Why doesn't Lester give up eight runs when the Dodgers face him?! Just askin'

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 12:19 am

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, 2 outs, 2 strikes.

David Bote pinch hit grand slam.

Drive safely everyone!

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:54 am

Yesterday afternoon the Red Sox eliminated the Orioles from the AL East title. They were *so close* to making a division comeback this year.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:05 am

I have tickets to tonight's Rangers game.

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 5:43 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:54 am Yesterday afternoon the Red Sox eliminated the Orioles from the AL East title. They were *so close* to making a division comeback this year.

Yeah, the team was still competitive for a wild card slot into September of last year, and then fell off a cliff. I'm glad they committed to a rebuild, and was surprised how quickly they acted to move their talent, though they should have traded Machado a year or two back.

I guess I'm rooting for the Braves, as a home to many former O's.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:03 am

Um, anyone have a spare closer?? We certainly don't.

naednek · Post by **naednek** » Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:50 pm

how bout a first baseman too? Talk about an epic implosion. That was a fun 9th inning

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:59 pm

Game went off with just a few sprinkles. Rangers win over the DBacks. I even ended up with an Elvis Andrus foul ball that caromed around behind me and trickled down to me.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:19 pm

naednek wrote: ↑Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:50 pm how bout a first baseman too? Talk about an epic implosion. That was a fun 9th inning

Where's your favorite post???

naednek · Post by **naednek** » Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:31 pm

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:19 pm
naednek wrote: ↑Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:50 pm how bout a first baseman too? Talk about an epic implosion. That was a fun 9th inning
Where's your favorite post???

oh ya

Saw this one today and it's now my 2nd fav.

naednek · Post by **naednek** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 1:32 am

naednek wrote:
Pyperkub wrote: ↑Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:19 pm
naednek wrote: ↑Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:50 pm how bout a first baseman too? Talk about an epic implosion. That was a fun 9th inning
Where's your favorite post???
oh ya

Saw this one today and it's now my 2nd fav.

I'll just quote myself for game two

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:17 pm

First triple play in over a century where the batter was not one of the outs:

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:33 pm

The announcers said it was a Force at third, tag of the guy who was on third, and then tag of guy going to second (well, he ran out of the base path) - but wasn't the last out a force out at second?

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:36 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:33 pm The announcers said it was a Force at third, tag of the guy who was on third, and then tag of guy going to second (well, he ran out of the base path) - but wasn't the last out a force out at second?

Yes, the announcers were confused. Force @ 3rd, tag of dude on third, then force @ 2nd. They were going for 4 outs. Or I guess 5, as the guy going to 2nd was also out of the base path.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 1:08 pm

How can it be 5? You can't have more potential outs than the maximum number of base runners.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 1:14 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Fri Aug 17, 2018 1:08 pm How can it be 5? You can't have more potential outs than the maximum number of base runners.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Sat Aug 18, 2018 6:13 pm

Check out @MLB’s Tweet:

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Sat Aug 18, 2018 9:35 pm

The Mutumbo at the end seals the video's greatness.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Sat Aug 18, 2018 10:23 pm

The Cubs have now had three consecutive games against the Pirates where they've scored only one run via a solo homer.

On the plus side, they've won two of those games.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 7:48 pm

We scored 27 runs in three games, unfortunately we couldn't spread them out the way we wanted (damned balk) but at least we finally won a series.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 12:30 am

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 18, 2018 10:23 pm The Cubs have now had three consecutive games against the Pirates where they've scored only one run via a solo homer.

On the plus side, they've won two of those games.

Four games in a row with one run via a solo homer. First time that's ever happened. (2-2 in those games.)

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:22 pm

The Nats begin a late August purge, sending Daniel Murphy to the Cubs (WOW) and Matt Adams to the Cardinals.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:23 pm

I'm worried that this means the Cubs are concerned Kris Bryant won't be back this year. On the other hand, it could just be some additional production in the event Bote fades and/or Russell never finds his swing.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:52 pm

Now the A's have caught the Astros atop the American League West. Moneyball my ass.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:00 pm

The Dodgers were the team that claimed Bryce Harper.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:14 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 20, 2018 12:30 am
ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 18, 2018 10:23 pm The Cubs have now had three consecutive games against the Pirates where they've scored only one run via a solo homer.

On the plus side, they've won two of those games.
Four games in a row with one run via a solo homer. First time that's ever happened. (2-2 in those games.)

Five in a row.

As a Cubs fan, this is horrifying. As a baseball fan, it's fascinating.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:29 pm

Oh, and Darvish is done for the year, and Addison Russell was scratched from tonight's lineup with a sore right shoulder. Not great, but the latter is probably just a pretense for putting him on the DL to make room for Murphy until the September roster expansion.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:19 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:29 pm Oh, and Darvish is done for the year, and Addison Russell was scratched from tonight's lineup with a sore right shoulder. Not great, but the latter is probably just a pretense for putting him on the DL to make room for Murphy until the September roster expansion.

And there it is. Russell to the DL.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:34 pm

So Daniel Murphy has dibs on the solo homer tonight, right?

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:36 pm

It's only polite to let the newcomer have a shot at it.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:59 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:19 pm
ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:29 pm Oh, and Darvish is done for the year, and Addison Russell was scratched from tonight's lineup with a sore right shoulder. Not great, but the latter is probably just a pretense for putting him on the DL to make room for Murphy until the September roster expansion.
And there it is. Russell to the DL.

His WABoB is like 1.2 so they just got much better.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:01 pm

Yeah. Murphy is not much of a defender, but his bat should make up for the defense gap.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:17 pm

So that's what offense looks like. The Cubs finally score multiple runs and manage to defeat the mighty Detroit Tigers. The Cubs did get a solo homer from Rizzo in the 9th, which runs their streak of games with a solo home run to 7. I'm cool with that streak continuing, as long as they keep getting other runs, too.

Now, Lorini, if you could get the Dodgers to do something about the Cards, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 7:57 am

Naw, our GM is asking Obama to see if he can pitch the ninth for us

So it turns out that the Dodgers are among the worst in baseball in hitting meatballs, ie pitches that will normally result in a hit. The good news is that our manager Roberts knows it. The bad news is that the hitters continue to not hit meatballs. We are fourth worst in baseball in hitting with runners in scoring position.

One does wonder what will happen in the off season when the Dodgers don't make the playoffs. They may fire Roberts, but really I think the philosophical decision from the front office that the Dodgers should focus on home runs is not working and hopefully if they fire Roberts, Friedman et al should be right behind him.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 3:57 pm

Red Sox beat Cleveland 7-0 behind a commanding performance by David Price to get their 90th win on August 23rd. Woo-hoo!

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 4:24 pm

Lorini wrote: ↑Thu Aug 23, 2018 7:57 am Naw, our GM is asking Obama to see if he can pitch the ninth for us

So it turns out that the Dodgers are among the worst in baseball in hitting meatballs, ie pitches that will normally result in a hit. The good news is that our manager Roberts knows it. The bad news is that the hitters continue to not hit meatballs. We are fourth worst in baseball in hitting with runners in scoring position.

One does wonder what will happen in the off season when the Dodgers don't make the playoffs. They may fire Roberts, but really I think the philosophical decision from the front office that the Dodgers should focus on home runs is not working and hopefully if they fire Roberts, Friedman et al should be right behind him.

First, I am a Dodger fan, and while I appreciate them winning I do find fault with things Roberts does. I do think having most of your starters basically limited to 5 innings every outing has to wear down your bullpen. I also really dislike Robert's use of his bench. I don't know how many games I have watched where by the 6-7 inning he was down to one position player on the bench.

Also, it is time to get rid of Puig and Pederson.

Now, I grant that some of the reasons for what Robert's does may be based on talent and therefore the GM. If that is so, then make some moves there.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:43 pm

When your bullpen is as bad as the Dodgers is, a manager can't do much. And that is the Dodgers philosophy, to be cheap in the bullpen except for Jansen.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:25 pm

Everyone assumed that the Cubs would buy out Hamels at the end of the year for $6M, but if he keeps pitching like this, it's a no-brainer to pick up the option. At essentially $14M (since the first $6M is sunk anyway), he'd be a bargain.

And 8 in a row with at least one solo home run.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:42 pm

Yeah, he's looking like a good pickup for sure. And that was before Yu packed up shop for the decade.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:45 am

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 23, 2018 4:24 pm
Lorini wrote: ↑Thu Aug 23, 2018 7:57 am Naw, our GM is asking Obama to see if he can pitch the ninth for us

So it turns out that the Dodgers are among the worst in baseball in hitting meatballs, ie pitches that will normally result in a hit. The good news is that our manager Roberts knows it. The bad news is that the hitters continue to not hit meatballs. We are fourth worst in baseball in hitting with runners in scoring position.

One does wonder what will happen in the off season when the Dodgers don't make the playoffs. They may fire Roberts, but really I think the philosophical decision from the front office that the Dodgers should focus on home runs is not working and hopefully if they fire Roberts, Friedman et al should be right behind him.
First, I am a Dodger fan, and while I appreciate them winning I do find fault with things Roberts does. I do think having most of your starters basically limited to 5 innings every outing has to wear down your bullpen. I also really dislike Robert's use of his bench. I don't know how many games I have watched where by the 6-7 inning he was down to one position player on the bench.

Also, it is time to get rid of Puig and Pederson.

Now, I grant that some of the reasons for what Robert's does may be based on talent and therefore the GM. If that is so, then make some moves there.

So analytics say that a starting pitcher gets much worse going through the lineup a third time, so this is why Roberts and others pull their starters after five innings and why the Dodgers carry so many relievers. Also why fewer and fewer complete games around the league are pitched.

Pederson is clearly a streak hitter, while Puig's numbers are fine, particularly for hitting in the 8th spot. The catcher spot has been terrible in August, and the Dodgers as mentioned are not hitting meatballs which is frankly killing them. Basically as Dusty Baker mentioned in an article on The Athletic (behind a paywall) the computer (ie analytics) does most of the managing nowadays, not a lot left for Roberts to do really. There are some knowledgeable people in baseball who believe that Friedman texts Roberts in the dugout to tell him what to do anyway, so if they are correct, again blame the front office not Robot Roberts.