2014 MLB Thread & Pissing Match

[buckchuckler]

Boy, Samardizja really lived up to his June splits yesterday.  Yikes. 

[Benny B]

Looking at the odds futures this morning, I noticed that the Twins are 200:1 despite being only 4 games out in the division and 2.5 back in the wild card.  Now granted, there is a logjam in the AL right now, but the last place team in the NL Central, Cincinnati, is only 40:1, yet they're 7 games back (though only 3 in the WC).

Granted these aren't the LVH odds, not to mention the Tigers are a world apart from the rest of the AL Central (irrespective of what the standings say), but 200:1 on Minny just seems like a bargain.

Tigers    +650
Giants    +750    
Athletics    +650
Dodgers    +800
Cardinals    +900    
Blue Jays    +1200    
Nationals    +1400    
Braves    +1200    
Brewers    +1300    
Yankees    +1400    
Angels    +1600    
Red Sox    +2000    
Orioles    +2400    
Rangers    +2800    
Rays            +3500    
Reds            +4000    
Indians    +6600    
Rockies    +5000    
Royals    +5000
Mariners    +4800
White Sox    +6600
Pirates    +7500
Marlins    +6500
Mets            +9500
Phillies    +15000
Twins    +20000
Padres    +20000
Cubs       +25000
Dbacks    +50000
Astros    +50000

[Lennys Tap]

Looking at the odds futures this morning, I noticed that the Twins are 200:1 despite being only 4 games out in the division and 2.5 back in the wild card.  Now granted, there is a logjam in the AL right now, but the last place team in the NL Central, Cincinnati, is only 40:1, yet they're 7 games back (though only 3 in the WC).

Granted these aren't the LVH odds, not to mention the Tigers are a world apart from the rest of the AL Central (irrespective of what the standings say), but 200:1 on Minny just seems like a bargain.

Tigers    +650
Giants    +750    
Athletics    +650
Dodgers    +800
Cardinals    +900    
Blue Jays    +1200    
Nationals    +1400    
Braves    +1200    
Brewers    +1300    
Yankees    +1400    
Angels    +1600    
Red Sox    +2000    
Orioles    +2400    
Rangers    +2800    
Rays            +3500    
Reds            +4000    
Indians    +6600    
Rockies    +5000    
Royals    +5000
Mariners    +4800
White Sox    +6600
Pirates    +7500
Marlins    +6500
Mets            +9500
Phillies    +15000
Twins    +20000
Padres    +20000
Cubs       +25000
Dbacks    +50000
Astros    +50000

Agree. The Twins are a much, much better longshot than San Diego, Philadelphia or the Mets. They're around .500 and Willingham and Arcia have missed most of the season (did Arcia just get hurt again?). Dozier has opened a lot of eyes this season.

[mu03eng]

I think all the self-righteous indignation about PEDs is dumb as well, but you're drawing a pretty big false equivalency there. TJ surgery is performed by licensed doctors in a medical setting and has years of research backing up its efficacy and safety. It may have been more similar to PEDs when it was first developed, but now it has more in common with other repair surgeries than it does with PEDs.

There's a good argument to be made for relaxing some of the rules around PEDs (allowing those that are proven safe to be used) but MLB and MBLPA both have a strong interest in not authorizing players to use medically unproven drugs administered by people who aren't real doctors.

I have issue with this theory.  If PEDs were legal in baseball they would be administered with the same "properness" that TJ surgery is or a cortisone shot is given.  HGH and Steroids have legitimate healthcare uses and are administered in well researched and approved ways.  What introduces the riskier behavior is the fact that it's illegal.  If steroids and TJ surgery were considered the same thing there would be no issue.  We have draw an arbitrary line in the sand as to what medical support is legal in sports and what is not.

[Benny B]

Agree. The Twins are a much, much better longshot than San Diego, Philadelphia or the Mets. They're around .500 and Willingham and Arcia have missed most of the season (did Arcia just get hurt again?). Dozier has opened a lot of eyes this season.

Left the game last night... ankle sprain.  Didn't seem serious, but the Twins are a much better team with him healthy.  Willingham-Arcia has to be one of the most potent offensive duos in baseball right now.  Both are hitting 360+ in their last 10.  Crazy that the Brewers split the 4-set with them this week.

[Lennys Tap]

I have issue with this theory.  If PEDs were legal in baseball they would be administered with the same "properness" that TJ surgery is or a cortisone shot is given.  HGH and Steroids have legitimate healthcare uses and are administered in well researched and approved ways.  What introduces the riskier behavior is the fact that it's illegal.  If steroids and TJ surgery were considered the same thing there would be no issue.  We have draw an arbitrary line in the sand as to what medical support is legal in sports and what is not.

True, but I don't think that there's any danger that Tommy John surgery or cortisone shots will be used without medical need to enhance performance.

[mu03eng]

True, but I don't think that there's any danger that Tommy John surgery or cortisone shots will be used without medical need to enhance performance.

The only reason steroids present a danger is because people have to use them "illegally".  Also cortisone can be abused to the point that it causes diabetes.  Any surgery is risky.  Obviously there is a difference in severity, but steroids can be perfectly safe, if used appropriately but it's forced into the shadows.  Malcolm Gladwell had a really great article on this.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2013/09/09/130909crat_atlarge_gladwell?currentPage=all

[NavinRJohnson]

Yup.  Brewers fans always stuff the ballots.  Players like Rickie Weeks end up in the top 3 of vote getters at 2B while hitting about .180 with 2x the strikeouts as hits.  The Brewers send out people with ballots to fill out during games and send out emails, etc.  They market the heck out of the All Star Game voting.

Whether you like it or not, much like almost all of the Brewers marketing/PR efforts, this is pretty good...

http://deadspin.com/brewers-catcher-jonathan-lucroys-anti-cardinals-all-sta-1592323001

[brandx]

IN. YOUR. FACE. Gibson, you POS

[🏀]

IN. YOUR. FACE. Gibson, you POS

Get over it.

[GGGG]

Gibson has had a thing for Braun for some time. 

http://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/kirk-gibson-rips-ryan-braun/201059

So instead of intentionally walking him, inexplicably to face one of the hottest hitters in baseball who homered earlier in the game, he likely ordered the pitcher to plunk him.  I mean I guess I can't blame Gibson for being pissed, but it makes you wonder if he let his biases get in the way of good baseball strategy.

[brandx]

Get over it.

Sorry- been a Gibson hater for a long time. But he won't be around much longer.

[🏀]

Sorry- been a Gibson hater for a long time. But he won't be around much longer.

No, no he won't be.

[wadesworld]

Yeah, Gibson's a douche.  Braun's a douche too.

[buckchuckler]

Didn't lohse hit 2 guys?

[NavinRJohnson]

Didn't lohse hit 2 guys?

Yes. What's your point?

[brandx]

Yeah, Gibson's a douche.  Braun's a douche too.

Very true.

But how many managers want to get into their own players head? Until it happens, Goldschmidt will have it in his mind in every plate appearance that he is going to get hit. But, I think Roenicke will wait a little while before retaliating.

[🏀]

Very true.

But how many managers want to get into their own players head? Until it happens, Goldschmidt will have it in his mind in every plate appearance that he is going to get hit. But, I think Roenicke will wait a little while before retaliating.

They won't go after Goldschmidt, and he's not a bit worried about it.

[GGGG]

Very true.

But how many managers want to get into their own players head? Until it happens, Goldschmidt will have it in his mind in every plate appearance that he is going to get hit. But, I think Roenicke will wait a little while before retaliating.

Actually under Roenicke the Brewers generally don't retaliate.  Not a big "unwritten rules" team.

[brandx]

They won't go after Goldschmidt, and he's not a bit worried about it.

Not this series, but it will happen.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Not this series, but it will happen.

#DoneDeal?

[NavinRJohnson]

Not a big "unwritten rules" team.

I thought it was called the Cardinal Way...Niw of course the Diamondback Way with LaRussa at the helm there, as he is of course the self-appointed keeper of the unwritten rules of baseball.

[buckchuckler]

Yes. What's your point?

Well when a pitcher on one team hits. 2 guys, usually a guy from that team can expect to be hit.  Sorry didn't know you were new to baseball.

[NotBuzzWilliams]

Well when a pitcher on one team hits. 2 guys, usually a guy from that team can expect to be hit.  Sorry didn't know you were new to baseball.

I don't think anyone minds Braun getting hit, but the fact that they did it to load the bases for Lucroy showed they cared more about sending a message than winning the game.

[brandx]

Well when a pitcher on one team hits. 2 guys, usually a guy from that team can expect to be hit.  Sorry didn't know you were new to baseball.

Guys who have been around the game know when a hit batter is intentional and when it is not. Sorry, didn't know you were new to baseball.