MLB 2018 Season

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Dodgers I'll give you.  Cardinals might be a tough sell for anyone after the Dexter Fowler experience and Bud Norris snitching on/hazing teammates.

Except he said "ends this season" in that a waiver trade would have to occur.  I don't see it. 

[buckchuckler]

Dodgers I'll give you.  Cardinals might be a tough sell for anyone after the Dexter Fowler experience and Bud Norris snitching on/hazing teammates.

I meant for this season.  Sorry for the ambiguity.

[TallTitan34]

Except he said "ends this season" in that a waiver trade would have to occur.  I don't see it.

Oops sorry I missed that part.  I don't think that happens either.

[buckchuckler]

Except he said "ends this season" in that a waiver trade would have to occur.  I don't see it.

I think the Nats face reality at some point.  I like their team and would love to see them in the playoffs,  but they are 6 out if the wild card with what 5 teams above them?  They are 8 out of the division.   Right now the Dodgers would be the first real contender with waiver priority, though that obviously changes daily.

It would be more surprising of they traded him than of they don't,  but I think they have to get something for him.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Oops sorry I missed that part.  I don't think that happens either.

As for where Harper may end up next year, my guess is it comes down to these teams (in no particular order):

-Nats
-Phillies
-Dodgers
-Cubs

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I think the Nats face reality at some point.  I like their team and would love to see them in the playoffs,  but they are 6 out if the wild card with what 5 teams above them?  They are 8 out of the division.   Right now the Dodgers would be the first real contender with waiver priority, though that obviously changes daily.

It would be more surprising of they traded him than of they don't,  but I think they have to get something for him.

It's certainly possible.  I would be surprised, though. 

[buckchuckler]

It's certainly possible.  I would be surprised, though.

Yeah, it isn't likely, especially when someone like the Pirates or Giants could just block the claim.

Calling the shot anyways.

[#UnleashSean]

Cubs bats are strong early.

[Its DJOver]

Cubs bats are strong early.

Can't keep the shutout forever.  27 innings was pretty good though.

[buckchuckler]

Yet another great case for robot umpires.  It wasn't quite right down the middle so I guess it isn't a strike?

And don't look now Astros.  The A's are one game back. 

[TallTitan34]

Is Yelich hurt?  The way he is moving doesn't seem quite right.

[TallTitan34]

Yet another great case for robot umpires.  It wasn't quite right down the middle so I guess it isn't a strike?

And don't look now Astros.  The A's are one game back.

Yikes that's pretty bad.

[TallTitan34]

Also bad.

[buckchuckler]

Also bad.

Ah well, probably not much difference between 2-0 and 0-2 anyways right?

By the way for those who like this sort of thing, NBCSN in Chicago is airing the Charlotte Knights game... they are playing the Buffalo Bisons, featuring Vlad Jr.  2 of the top 3 or so prospects in the game.  Sadly Kopech isn't pitching.

[Jockey]

Shaw's AB was one of the worst I've seen this year. Bases loaded; a pitcher who often has a hard time throwing strikes; 2-0 count; he swings at the 2-0 pitch OUT of the strike zone and pops up.

There is no way the bat should have come off his shoulder until after Wilson threw a strike. Just terrible.

[TallTitan34]

Acuna hit on first pitch of game. Possibly hurt.  Came out half inning after getting hit.

[Jockey]

Police it yourself.

Go after Urena - aim at his shoulder and elbow.

[buckchuckler]

Acuna hit on first pitch of game. Possibly hurt.  Came out half inning after getting hit.

That's ridiculous.  Hope he doesn't miss time.  He has been on quite the roll. 

[MUBurrow]

Acuna hit on first pitch of game. Possibly hurt.  Came out half inning after getting hit.

We've covered here how much baseball's unwritten rules are BS, but it all rarely rises to a level that actually makes me mad. Seeing this one actually pissed me off.  Acuna is 20 years old and the Braves are in the middle of a playoff race, and you peg him with the first pitch because he's been playing well? Maybe they can't do it out of the blue with Urena, but MLB has to fine a pitcher 1/2 of his season salary for this crap.

[GGGG]

We've covered here how much baseball's unwritten rules are BS, but it all rarely rises to a level that actually makes me mad. Seeing this one actually pissed me off.  Acuna is 20 years old and the Braves are in the middle of a playoff race, and you peg him with the first pitch because he's been playing well? Maybe they can't do it out of the blue with Urena, but MLB has to fine a pitcher 1/2 of his season salary for this crap.

What unwritten rule did actually break?  It seems like there's more and more of them now.

[cheebs09]

What unwritten rule did actually break?  It seems like there's more and more of them now.

Too many leadoff homers. The Cardinals fans may be able to help us there.

[buckchuckler]

What unwritten rule did actually break?  It seems like there's more and more of them now.

Yeah.  All he did was be good at his job.  Completely stupid to hit him, how about try to get him out?

[JWags85]

So many "old school" idiots chiming in about it being a good baseball play.  Terrible.

Michael Young had the best take...

"The whole 'make them uncomfortable ... move their feet...brush em back' thing is complete BS. It doesn't work. When a kid starts playing kid pitch at 8 [years old], he gets hit. When he gets to be, say, 12 [years old], it hurts a bit more. When he gets to high school, pitchers throw inside because good hitters shouldn't extend their arms. So they get hit. College, same thing. In [Class] A ball kids throw gas with zero command, so [the] same good hitter gets hit again. In [the] big leagues, with a runner on third and fewer than two outs, infield in, here comes that predictable sinker that runs in. Hitter gets hit.

"My point... you can't make a good hitter uncomfortable. He's been there, done that. He's laughing in his head because your heaters inside are simply teeing him up with a 2-0 count. Then he's going to torch you. You wanna get him out? Stop listening to that pitching coach giving you that outdated, awful Pitching 101. It's actually Quick Shower 101. Go in, out, up, down, change speeds, avoid patterns, and stop tipping. Clean it up.

Meanwhile on Twitter today, I saw a tweet fondly reminiscing about "when men were men" showing a runner basically tackling a 2B jumping to turn two.  People are idiots.

[MU82]

I understand the "he showed us up by flipping the bat so we're gonna hit him" thing. I don't like it; somebody is going to get killed some day, but I understand the macho concept of it.

I understand the "they hit one of ours so we'll hit one of theirs" thing. I'm not a big fan of that, either, but I understand it more.

But the "he's too good and we can't get him out, so let's hit him" thing? That is complete chickenshyte. The manager should get suspended without pay for as long as the injured player is out.

[TallTitan34]

If you don't want him to flip a bat, don't give up a homerun.