MLB 2018 Season

[DegenerateDish]

Really wanted Colon to throw a perfect game tonight, I hope he pitches until he’s 50.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Really wanted Colon to throw a perfect game tonight, I hope he pitches until he’s 50.

He's an inspiration to fat guys everywhere.

[MUBurrow]

Mets are very good, but always get hit by injuries and chances are will be again. If they can stay healthy they can challenge the Nats. Pirates will fall back. DBacks are very good and were last year as well. They can challenge the Dodgers.

The Mets are a great example of the risks to middling payroll teams of focusing on pitching prospects rather than hitting prospects.  If you have four top-30 pitchers with 225 IP, you will win your division. But the chances of that happening are nearly zero, there's just too much injury variance to build that way.

[#UnleashSean]

Even domes are cancelling games now.

[CTWarrior]

The Red Sox are on as good a roll as I have ever seen them.  Just went to play the 13-3 Angels on the road and swept them by cumulative 27-3.  They are scary good right now.  Would rather they saved this for September/October, but they have been fun to watch so far.

[buckchuckler]

The Red Sox are on as good a roll as I have ever seen them.  Just went to play the 13-3 Angels on the road and swept them by cumulative 27-3.  They are scary good right now.  Would rather they saved this for September/October, but they have been fun to watch so far.

They have been unreal.   If these are he versions of Mookie and Porcello they get for the year,  yikes.

[buckchuckler]

Scherzer vs. Kershaw tonight in what is probably the best possible pitching matchup the MLB can offer.  Which probably means is will be a 6-5 game.

[#UnleashSean]

I really like the replay system. 3rd base ump absolutely blew a call in the cubs rockies game just now. I would be blowing up if it wasn't reviewable.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I really like the replay system. 3rd base ump absolutely blew a call in the cubs rockies game just now. I would be blowing up if it wasn't reviewable.

Just saw that. Not sure about what kind of angle he had, but that was a pretty horrendous call.

[buckchuckler]

Justin Verlander played unwritten rules police yesterday.  Saying at the same time he didn't care about a SB attempt but specfically calling out the play.  Doesn't seem to make much sense.  He seemed to take offense that Tim Anderson was having fun in a game his team was losing.

[Pakuni]

Justin Verlander played unwritten rules police yesterday.  Saying at the same time he didn't care about a SB attempt but specfically calling out the play.  Doesn't seem to make much sense.  He seemed to take offense that Tim Anderson was having fun in a game his team was losing.

https://deadspin.com/justin-verlander-is-a-sensitive-baby-1825444290

[GGGG]

https://deadspin.com/justin-verlander-is-a-sensitive-baby-1825444290

Apparently no team should be allowed to score once they fall behind.  The good news is that this will cut down on the length of games.

Oh and no joy.  None whatsoever.  The only way to properly play is with stoicism at all times.

[Jockey]

I'm surprised the Braves didn't complain after they had a 10-2 lead and the Cubs tried to score runs when they were way behind.

[buckchuckler]

Yeah.  Verlander seems to be taking this silliness to a new level.  "It's the 5th inning!  Stop trying already!"

[WarriorDad]

Danny Farquhar, praying for a full recovery.  Brain hemorrhage in the dugout.

[tower912]

Indeed

[#UnleashSean]

Baez is playing on another level now. Way better at bats, lot less of the homerun swing at the dirt curve.

[buckchuckler]

Danny Farquhar, praying for a full recovery.  Brain hemorrhage in the dugout.

Just terrible.  Couldn't believe how serious it was with how it was played off initially.

[jsglow]

Danny Farquhar, praying for a full recovery.  Brain hemorrhage in the dugout.

Terrible. Prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.

[#UnleashSean]

So I think Verlander's comments have been taken out of context quite a bit. When I read what he said I don't think he ever had any issues with unwritten rules. He seemed to have more of an issue with the other player bragging about getting a base knock and then a given ''stolen" base. Then his bragging back was just him showing up the other guy.

Not that I agree with what he did or anything. But I can say I've had the same happen while playing sports. Some guy getting a bit to chippy about making some half guarded shot while being down by 15. Usually got me to spin move into him for a bucket or swipe a ball on him the next play and give him some lip.

In conclusion didn't really ever see him argue about unwritten rules.

[MerrittsMustache]

Scary HBP in a strange Cubs-Rockies game yesterday. Glad to hear that Bryant has passed the concussion tests and only has a cut over his eye from the sunglasses. I can't imagine that pitch being intentional so it was odd that the Cubs had two coaches ejected. On a play like that, umps typically let benches vent a bit. Something pretty harsh must have been said. I was glad to see the Cubs not retaliate...though Arenado might be wise to wear some extra protection when the Rox comes to Wrigley next week.

The Baez-LeMahieu argument was bizarre too. There was no reason for the ump to approach Javy during all that. An infielder has every right to stand in front of the runner if he wants as long as he isn't blocking his path. It was funny to hear the contrast between the Cubs' announcers view of the play (basically what I said) and the Rockies' announcers claiming that stealing signs is part of the game and Baez was in the wrong.

[MU82]

One of these days, a retaliatory beanball is going to kill a superstar or turn him into a vegetable.

I hope it doesn't happen, but the way these guys throw, it's almost bound to.

[MerrittsMustache]

One of these days, a retaliatory beanball is going to kill a superstar or turn him into a vegetable.

I hope it doesn't happen, but the way these guys throw, it's almost bound to.

What if MLB instituted a rule that if a pitcher hits a batter above the shoulders, he's automatically ejected and warnings are issued to both benches. They could obviously argue that it's being done with players' safety in mind - 1) if a pitcher's control is that poor on a particular day, get him out of there and 2) it should help decrease retaliative bean balls since warnings were issued.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Scary HBP in a strange Cubs-Rockies game yesterday. Glad to hear that Bryant has passed the concussion tests and only has a cut over his eye from the sunglasses. I can't imagine that pitch being intentional so it was odd that the Cubs had two coaches ejected. On a play like that, umps typically let benches vent a bit. Something pretty harsh must have been said. I was glad to see the Cubs not retaliate...though Arenado might be wise to wear some extra protection when the Rox comes to Wrigley next week.

The Baez-LeMahieu argument was bizarre too. There was no reason for the ump to approach Javy during all that. An infielder has every right to stand in front of the runner if he wants as long as he isn't blocking his path. It was funny to hear the contrast between the Cubs' announcers view of the play (basically what I said) and the Rockies' announcers claiming that stealing signs is part of the game and Baez was in the wrong.

I heard afterwards what the Rockies announcers said and I was astounded by the stupidity of their comments. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

What if MLB instituted a rule that if a pitcher hits a batter above the shoulders, he's automatically ejected and warnings are issued to both benches. They could obviously argue that it's being done with players' safety in mind - 1) if a pitcher's control is that poor on a particular day, get him out of there and 2) it should help decrease retaliative bean balls since warnings were issued.

That's tough though because as good as pitchers are if they are trying to pitch inside and one happens to get away early in the game, I don't think a team should lose the SP because of that.  You eject a SP in the early innings and suddenly the bullpen is spent and it can impact the pitching staff for days to come.