The Hey its 2021 now guys MLB thread

[cheebs09]

Uh....

https://twitter.com/positivebucks/status/1387923451957153795?s=21

At least we have a lot of beer to drink here.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

That's an a-hole comment.

Dude, smoke some weed and chill.

[Jockey]

Dude, smoke some weed and chill.

I was just repeating what he said to me.

[Hards Alumni]

People are taking the potential positive test to the runner-up for the National League Pitcher of the Month for April very, very seriously.

In addition to the Rodgers news.  Try and keep up.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

In addition to the Rodgers news.  Try and keep up.

Admittedly, I don't follow football at all. I had no idea things were this serious. Thoughts and prayers.

I'll post a sign-up sheet at work so we can take shifts bringing the affected families dinner; they obviously have enough to worry about.

Do you suggest I buy my card from the "Sorry your overrated pitcher was too dumb to get the shot" or the "Sorry your diva QB started a rumor because no one has paid attention to him since he pretended to host Jeopardy," aisle?

[Hards Alumni]

Admittedly, I don't follow football at all. I had no idea things were this serious. Thoughts and prayers.

I'll post a sign-up sheet at work so we can take shifts bringing the affected families dinner; they obviously have enough to worry about.

Do you suggest I buy my card from the "Sorry your overrated pitcher was too dumb to get the shot" or the "Sorry your diva QB started a rumor because no one has paid attention to him since he pretended to host Jeopardy," aisle?

You can go to the store, pick out whichever card you'd like, be sure to sign it

[JWags85]

Both of those jabs made me laugh.  Refreshing, well plays folks

[WI inferiority Complexes]

You can go to the store, pick out whichever card you'd like, be sure to sign it

Well done.

[Jockey]

Calendar turns over to May and Giants with best record in NL. Brewers are 2nd best.

I think we can all agree it won't be like that when we hit June?

[WI inferiority Complexes]

It's very impressive what Lauer and Peralta have done against LAD the last two games.

[HutchwasClutch]

It's very impressive what Lauer and Peralta have done against LAD the last two games.

Lauer especially.  Guy has been a total mess since they acquired him.

[Jockey]

Lauer especially.  Guy has been a total mess since they acquired him.

This.

Peralta is very unhittable most of the time. If he is not walking guys, he is a top starter.

[cheebs09]

Lauer especially.  Guy has been a total mess since they acquired him.

Lauer weirdly is lights out against the Dodgers.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

https://sports.yahoo.com/season-slump-baseball-keeps-swinging-160144369.html

"Major League batters are hitting .232 overall thru April, down from .252 two years ago and under the record low of .237 set in the infamous season of 1968 that resulted in a lower pitchers mound."

K's per game are on pace to set a record for the 13th consecutive season, (9.06 thru April; it was 8.81 in '19 and only 4.77 in '78)

The Detroit Tigers, as a team, are batting .199

There have been two official no-hitters, and one game where Bumgarner didn't allow a hit.

Just 16.6% of pitches are put into play.

Even Home Runs are down.

It's only May 1.

[Jockey]

https://sports.yahoo.com/season-slump-baseball-keeps-swinging-160144369.html

"Major League batters are hitting .232 overall thru April, down from .252 two years ago and under the record low of .237 set in the infamous season of 1968 that resulted in a lower pitchers mound."

K's per game are on pace to set a record for the 13th consecutive season, (9.06 thru April; it was 8.81 in '19 and only 4.77 in '78)

The Detroit Tigers, as a team, are batting .199

There have been two official no-hitters, and one game where Bumgarner didn't allow a hit.

Just 16.6% of pitches are put into play.

Even Home Runs are down.

It's only May 1.

Exhibit #1 is Keaton Hiura. He was a guy who hit at every level he played - including MLB. The Brewers decided a .300 plus hitter did not provide value. So they changed his swing plane to hit more HRs. Now he is a well-below average hitter who hits a few extra HRs.

Teams league-wide are doing this with their young hitters. But it is extremely hard to hit high heat with an uppercut swing. Pitchers know that and that is why we see all the pitches at the top of the zone. It makes for an ugly game.

[Pakuni]

Michael Kopech is really good.
That's the post.

[cheebs09]

He's not been the most consistent but it's nice to see Shaw having some success this year.

The Brewers at 17-10 has been pretty amazing with all their injuries. The depth has certainly helped some, but the starting pitching has been on another level. I'm not used to seeing a Brewers team focused on pitching and defense.

[Uncle Rico]

Exhibit #1 is Keaton Hiura. He was a guy who hit at every level he played - including MLB. The Brewers decided a .300 plus hitter did not provide value. So they changed his swing plane to hit more HRs. Now he is a well-below average hitter who hits a few extra HRs.

Teams league-wide are doing this with their young hitters. But it is extremely hard to hit high heat with an uppercut swing. Pitchers know that and that is why we see all the pitches at the top of the zone. It makes for an ugly game.

It's brutal to watch.  If I were an organization, I'd go the complete other way with hitters just to be an outlier.  It's not a matter of me wishing for the old days, but some team has to realize the imbalance in the game and put together a lineup of guys that can work counts and wear out bullpens.  And it's time to start making striking out a badge of dishonor.  I know the modern game considers it just another out but if a guy k's, I'd rather it's after battling a pitcher instead of taking 3 worthless hacks

[Jockey]

He's not been the most consistent but it's nice to see Shaw having some success this year.

The Brewers at 17-10 has been pretty amazing with all their injuries. The depth has certainly helped some, but the starting pitching has been on another level. I'm not used to seeing a Brewers team focused on pitching and defense.

Generally, he hasn't been very good, but he's had quite a few clutch hits helping to win games. I'll take that from him


I also agree with Rico's comments, but it's gonna be hard to do. 6_8 years ago, teams had one or two guys who threw 95. Now half the guys throw 96-100.

Making matters worse are the high speed Rapsodo cameras where a pitcher can make near instant adjustments with spin rates. As much as we hate watching guys swing and miss, some of the pitchers are unhittable. Even a good hitter can't touch guys like deGrom and Burnes unless they make a mistake.

The only solution is see is a smaller strike zone. Raise it an inch or two at the knees and lower it 3 inches at the top.

[The Sultan]

Generally, he hasn't been very good, but he's had quite a few clutch hits helping to win games. I'll take that from him


I also agree with Rico's comments, but it's gonna be hard to do. 6_8 years ago, teams had one or two guys who threw 95. Now half the guys throw 96-100.

Making matters worse are the high speed Rapsodo cameras where a pitcher can make near instant adjustments with spin rates. As much as we hate watching guys swing and miss, some of the pitchers are unhittable. Even a good hitter can't touch guys like deGrom and Burnes unless they make a mistake.

The only solution is see is a smaller strike zone. Raise it an inch or two at the knees and lower it 3 inches at the top.

You could move the mound back too. The last thing you want to do is incentivize more walks.

[Jockey]

You could move the mound back too. The last thing you want to do is incentivize more walks.

That's an interesting idea. They're trying it in one of the minor leagues so we'll see what happens. I read somewhere that it will give hitters .03 seconds extra.

[Jockey]

Thanks, Corbin.

Teams should tell players they must be vaccinated to be on the field.

[JWags85]

Its very interesting, and I think a lot remains to be seen how this year shakes out.  There is a lot of recency bias.  Baez was terrible at the plate in 2020 by his standards, but we're not even 10% through the season.  Baez goes 3-4, 2-4, and 1-3 in a 3 game series and all of a sudden he's hitting .290 and rumors of his demise are forgotten.

Baez starting to get into a groove.  Took a bit longer than expected, but in the last 2 weeks, over 8 games, he's hitting .333, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs, slugging around .625, his average for the season is back around .250.

He's never gonna be Ichiro, and will always strike out a bunch, but as many have said, that's very much in line with trends in MLB.  He wasn't gonna be a mess hitting around the Mendoza line forever. Hitting near a red hot Bryant isn't hurting.

Pitching still continues to be a disaster.

[Jockey]

You could move the mound back too. The last thing you want to do is incentivize more walks.

The one other thing to do is a hard ban on pitchers using sticky substances. Spin rate drives everything now. Hard to get the higher spin rate without sticky.

[PGsHeroes32]

Was definitely a smart idea to keep Kiriloff in the minors for no reason and have Jake Cave playing daily as the Twins lost game after game.