Real MLB Thread

[CTWarrior]

I wonder what Dodgers fans think of Clayton Kershaw.  As great as he has been in his career, he has come up small in a ton of big spots in the postseason.

As good as Roger Clemens was in his prime with the Red Sox, Red Sox fans never had confidence in him pitch well in a big postseason game.  I only know one big Dodgers fan, and he feels the same way about Kershaw.  Going into this series, he told me he was glad they didn't start him in game 1, so he'd only have a chance to blow one game.

Cheeks, is that the feeling in LA?

[drewm88]

Give me the all-Montreal series. Ex-Expos vs. Future Expos.

[dgies9156]

Give me the all-Montreal series. Ex-Expos vs. Future Expos.

OK, I like that one! A lot.

Aint gonna happen but it's a hilarious thought!

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I wonder what Dodgers fans think of Clayton Kershaw.  As great as he has been in his career, he has come up small in a ton of big spots in the postseason.

As good as Roger Clemens was in his prime with the Red Sox, Red Sox fans never had confidence in him pitch well in a big postseason game.  I only know one big Dodgers fan, and he feels the same way about Kershaw.  Going into this series, he told me he was glad they didn't start him in game 1, so he'd only have a chance to blow one game.

Cheeks, is that the feeling in LA?

Clemons only pitched good in the postseason in pinstripes.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Good morning Cub Fans. And assorted other fans as well.

It's a great day in the neighborhood.

How many of you on June 15th would have predicted the NLCS would begin in St. Louis and include the Washington Nationals?

And that the Cubs would be hibernating and the Dodgers would be thinking about firing their manager?

Give the Cardinals a lot of credit. They played well in the second half of the season. And their pitching is young and, well, really good. The biggest questions: Can they hit and will Carlos Martinez become the latter day version of Joaquin Andjuar?

In the meantime, this is fun because it was soooooo unexpected!

We are all at Murphy's drinking to avian flu and Davey Martinez.

As to unexpected, PECOTA was pretty close in February on the Cubs. Good luck. Don't fall off your perch. 

[Benny B]

https://sports.yahoo.com/people-want-answers-after-bay-area-tv-station-uses-racist-headline-to-cover-braves-nlds-loss-033047397.html

I saw the headline, and I immediately thought this was going to be some TV station from either the deep south or Madison.  But seriously?  KTVU... as in the Bay Area's own KTVU... as in the Bay Area of San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland.

How TF did someone in California - in San Francisco, no less - get it through their head that this was a clever idea?  Nothing like a few brownouts to bring out the cultural insensitivity in people, I guess.


(Of course, I ask this rhetorically... my guess is the producer that put this graphic up isn't your stereotypical racist white male; although I could be wrong, methinks were about to get a Jameela Jamil-style "I had no idea/didn't study American History" excuse within the next day or two.)

[JWags85]

Good morning Cub Fans. And assorted other fans as well.

It's a great day in the neighborhood.

How many of you on June 15th would have predicted the NLCS would begin in St. Louis and include the Washington Nationals?

And that the Cubs would be hibernating and the Dodgers would be thinking about firing their manager?

Give the Cardinals a lot of credit. They played well in the second half of the season. And their pitching is young and, well, really good. The biggest questions: Can they hit and will Carlos Martinez become the latter day version of Joaquin Andjuar?

In the meantime, this is fun because it was soooooo unexpected!

Completely on brand.

[MUBBau]

https://sports.yahoo.com/people-want-answers-after-bay-area-tv-station-uses-racist-headline-to-cover-braves-nlds-loss-033047397.html

I saw the headline, and I immediately thought this was going to be some TV station from either the deep south or Madison.  But seriously?  KTVU... as in the Bay Area's own KTVU... as in the Bay Area of San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland.

How TF did someone in California - in San Francisco, no less - get it through their head that this was a clever idea?  Nothing like a few brownouts to bring out the cultural insensitivity in people, I guess.


(Of course, I ask this rhetorically... my guess is the producer that put this graphic up isn't your stereotypical racist white male; although I could be wrong, methinks were about to get a Jameela Jamil-style "I had no idea/didn't study American History" excuse within the next day or two.)

Not the first time this news station has done something like this.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/KTVU-producers-fired-over-Asiana-pilots-fake-4685627.php

[Dr. Blackheart]

https://sports.yahoo.com/people-want-answers-after-bay-area-tv-station-uses-racist-headline-to-cover-braves-nlds-loss-033047397.html

I saw the headline, and I immediately thought this was going to be some TV station from either the deep south or Madison.  But seriously?  KTVU... as in the Bay Area's own KTVU... as in the Bay Area of San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland.

How TF did someone in California - in San Francisco, no less - get it through their head that this was a clever idea?  Nothing like a few brownouts to bring out the cultural insensitivity in people, I guess.


(Of course, I ask this rhetorically... my guess is the producer that put this graphic up isn't your stereotypical racist white male; although I could be wrong, methinks were about to get a Jameela Jamil-style "I had no idea/didn't study American History" excuse within the next day or two.)

Gaming reference? (Teal Train]

https://runescape.wiki/w/Wyrm_scalp

[tower912]

There are no restrictions on stupid.   Not location, gender, ethnicity, political affiliation.   This is stupid.

[JWags85]

There are no restrictions on stupid.   Not location, gender, ethnicity, political affiliation.   This is stupid.

Right?  Shockingly to some, liberal coastal residents can be just as racist as backwoods, rural gun toting Southerners can be tolerant and accepting.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Probably get less of that if they dropped the native imagery.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

How many of you on June 15th would have predicted the NLCS would begin in St. Louis and include the Washington Nationals?

On June 15, the Cubs were tied for 1st with the Brewers, and 3.5 games in front of the Cardinals.  Many, many predicted the Cards would be ahead of the Cubs.

[Cheeks]

I wonder what Dodgers fans think of Clayton Kershaw.  As great as he has been in his career, he has come up small in a ton of big spots in the postseason.

As good as Roger Clemens was in his prime with the Red Sox, Red Sox fans never had confidence in him pitch well in a big postseason game.  I only know one big Dodgers fan, and he feels the same way about Kershaw.  Going into this series, he told me he was glad they didn't start him in game 1, so he'd only have a chance to blow one game.

Cheeks, is that the feeling in LA?

It has been a crazy day here today.  Much of the town is sad for Kershaw, but a healthy dose are angry.  They are spending a lot on him, but he continues to struggle in big games.  The morning sports shows were teeing off on him. 

But mostly they were attacking Roberts for putting him into the situation in the first place.  I would say 70% to 80% of calls want Roberts gone after the last few years decisions coupled with last night’s loss.

Mike Scioscia back in the fold?  Joe Maddon? 

[Cheeks]

Probably get less of that if they dropped the native imagery.

Why, native Americans overwhelmingly support the imagery.

[wadesworld]

I don’t know why pitching Verlander on short rest is a mistake. You have Cole waiting to go game 5. I would do the same thing. You’re more likely to win one of the next 2 games when the pitchers are Verlander (even on short rest) and Cole vs. going Miley and Verlander with Cole available out of the pen. I think it was the smart move.

[Benny B]

Right?  Shockingly to some, liberal coastal residents can be just as racist as backwoods, rural gun toting Southerners can be tolerant and accepting.

It can be causal or correlation, but still, there’s a big difference between racist and stupid.

[Jockey]

Right?  Shockingly to some, liberal coastal residents can be just as racist as backwoods, rural gun toting Southerners can be tolerant and accepting.

Just to add a bit of humor ...

https://crooksandliars.com/2019/10/georgia-republicans-blame-baseball-loss

[Cheeks]

Just to add a bit of humor ...

https://crooksandliars.com/2019/10/georgia-republicans-blame-baseball-loss

Reminds me of this

https://www.barstoolsports.com/newyork/girl-gets-offended-at-braves-game-because-of-a-kkk-sign-recording-the-number-of-strike-outs

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/11/this-is-an-excellent-social-justice-warrior-tweet.html

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Reminds me of this

https://www.barstoolsports.com/newyork/girl-gets-offended-at-braves-game-because-of-a-kkk-sign-recording-the-number-of-strike-outs

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/11/this-is-an-excellent-social-justice-warrior-tweet.html

They aren't really similar whatsoever, actually.

[MUBurrow]

I saw Rob Arthur's tweet explanation before I read the article, but he presents some really convincing evidence that MLB is using an "unjuiced" baseball for the playoffs - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/54306/moonshot-the-rocket-ball-has-disappeared-in-october/

Manfred's response, which can't really be taken at more than face value at this point on the baseball issue, seems to deny the ball is different but does leave some wiggle room to change his position later imho:

The baseballs used in Major League Baseball are manufactured in batches. Balls that are used in the Postseason are pulled from the same batches as balls used in the regular season. Regular season and Postseason balls are manufactured with the same materials and under the same processes. The only difference is the Postseason stamp that is placed on the ball. As has been previously acknowledged, however, the drag of the baseball can very over different time periods.

Of course the small playoff sample size will always make this impossible to prove, but what a mess.

[Cheeks]

They aren't really similar whatsoever, actually.

Oh sure they are.  Both related to baseball.  Both showing how stupid people can be from both sides.  Lots of similarities. 

Have a great day.

[Cheeks]

I saw Rob Arthur's tweet explanation before I read the article, but he presents some really convincing evidence that MLB is using an "unjuiced" baseball for the playoffs - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/54306/moonshot-the-rocket-ball-has-disappeared-in-october/

Manfred's response, which can't really be taken at more than face value at this point on the baseball issue, seems to deny the ball is different but does leave some wiggle room to change his position later imho:
Of course the small playoff sample size will always make this impossible to prove, but what a mess.

Playoffs will have better teams with better pitching.  Weather starts to cool down and balls don’t travel as far then in the heat.  Lots of variables, but I would add those two to the discussion.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Ball didnt look dead last for Brantley and Altuve.  Especially Altuve, that dude is an amazing batter.

[Jockey]

I saw Rob Arthur's tweet explanation before I read the article, but he presents some really convincing evidence that MLB is using an "unjuiced" baseball for the playoffs - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/54306/moonshot-the-rocket-ball-has-disappeared-in-october/

Manfred's response, which can't really be taken at more than face value at this point on the baseball issue, seems to deny the ball is different but does leave some wiggle room to change his position later imho:
Of course the small playoff sample size will always make this impossible to prove, but what a mess.

I’ll ignore the “deep” responses to your post.

But AAA pitchers noticed that the ball chaned in August - both the texture and the height of the seams. The belief that the ball has been deadened is based on evidence of the distance a ball should normally travel when hit at a particular angle at a particular speed. Not because there are better pitchers come playoff time. That is a given.