Octopus Overlords

The 2018 season was the first in history in which strikeouts outpaced hits, a trend that has accelerated so far in 2019. The ball is in play less than ever, with a record 35.4 percent of plate appearances in 2019 resulting in a strikeout, walk or home run. Teams are using an average of 3.3 relievers per game in 2019, just below last year’s all-time record of 3.4. The leaguewide batting average of .245 in 2019 is the lowest since 1972, and a drop of 26 points from 1999, at the height of the steroids era. The leaguewide strikeout rate of 8.78 per nine innings, also a record, is higher than the career rate of Roger Clemens.
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Most, if not all, of this change can be traced back to the rising velocity of the fastball — the fundamental unit of pitching — from a leaguewide average of 89 mph in 2002, when FanGraphs first recorded data, to 92.9 mph so far this season. At the upper end of the spectrum, the shift is even more striking: In 2008, there were 196 pitches thrown at 100 mph or higher, according to Statcast data. In 2018, there were 1,320, a nearly sevenfold increase. In 2008, only 11 pitchers averaged 95 mph or higher; in 2018, 74 did. Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees and Jordan Hicks of the St. Louis Cardinals have both been clocked at 105 mph.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2019 4:18 pm Which is strange given the number of double digit run totals being put up. Methinks the dropoff from a couple good starters is dramatic.

Former All-Star Bill Buckner died Monday morning after a fight with Lewy body dementia at the age of 69. His death led to many tributes and memories shared by former players and teammates from around the MLB world.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2019 10:47 am Bill Buckner was my first favorite player when I was a kid. Plus, he had a first ballot Hall of Fame mustache.

Jeff V wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2019 11:30 am

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2019 10:47 am Bill Buckner was my first favorite player when I was a kid. Plus, he had a first ballot Hall of Fame mustache.

He was one of my favorites too and, along with Joe Pepitone, one of the reasons I played first base as a kid.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2019 10:56 am Here's hoping that the Veteran's Committee makes up for the mistake of the Writer's Association.

Lorini wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 8:59 am I had tickets to the Dodger game last night. Sure glad I didn't go! Damned bullpen

pr0ner wrote:This is not the first time Max Scherzer has told Davey Martinez he isn't coming out of a game. But this gif is priceless.

Lorini wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2019 9:20 am Your boy didn't get hit by that ball Octavious. I know it, you know it and he knows it

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 9:59 am The Cubs signed Craig Kimbrel for $43M through 2021. I know Red Sox fans were leery of him toward the end of last season, but his career numbers are impressive (333 saves, sub-2 ERA), and the Cubs needed something to be done about closing games. Going into last night's game, they were 11 for 22 in save opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Cubs did win again last night, narrowly avoiding another blown save. David Bote started at second base and went 4-4 with a home run, double, two singles, and seven RBI. The only other Cubs second basemen to have at least 7 RBI in a game? Rogers Hornsby (twice) and Ryne Sandberg. I think it's safe to say that Bote can start working on his Hall of Fame speech now.

Drew Pomeranz entered today with an ERA of 8.08, so of course he shut down one of the highest-scoring offenses in baseball, limiting them to three singles over five shutout innings.

Lorini wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:32 am This was the problem.

Drew Pomeranz entered today with an ERA of 8.08, so of course he shut down one of the highest-scoring offenses in baseball, limiting them to three singles over five shutout innings.

Thankfully the Dodgers don't have to play the Giants for every game.

Lorini wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2019 4:10 pm You don't need to tell players what to do MadBum. What an ass.

Lorini wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2019 4:10 pm You don't need to tell players what to do MadBum. What an ass.

Lorini wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:57 am Very sorry to hear about the shooting incident with Big Papi. His dad says he's expected to make a full recovery which is awesome. The shooter got beaten up so bad he's in the hospital as well and they are not interrogating him until he's able to talk.

Ortiz's media assistant, Leo Lopez, told ESPN's Enrique Rojas that Ortiz is stable but still in intensive care.
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According to Lopez, the operation lasted six hours and was performed by three doctors, led by Dr. Abel Gonzalez. The team had to remove part of Ortiz's intestines and colon, as well as his gallbladder. Ortiz also suffered liver damage.
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The gunman was initially identified by police as 25-year-old Eddy Feliz Garcia. However, authorities later said there were two suspects: the suspected shooter and Garcia, who was identified as the suspected driver of the motorcycle.

Garcia was detained by a crowd at the bar and beaten. He suffered a cranium contusion and trauma to his thorax, left knee and right leg, according to the Dominican Republic's National Health Service. He was treated at the Dario Contreras Hospital in Santo Domingo and then released to police custody.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:37 am Rangers and Rockies winning in nailbiters made for a good evening.