2022 MLB Thread

[MU82]

Please indulge a mini-rant about ticketing practices:

I'm heading to my first Guardians game of the year tomorrow evening with my daughter. I've been meaning to get to a game and I'd like to see Ohtani play (disappointed he's not pitching in Cleveland). Anyway, there is a section that has five seats in the front row. Two are already sold and I'd like to get two of the others. They won't sell them to me because I'd leave a single ticket stranded. It's a Tuesday evening game and there are probably 20-25,000 tickets available. In the section I'm wanting, 155 of the 205 seats are available. And I can't buy two vacant front row seats because it will leave one seat open. Are you f'ing kidding me?! I'm going to buy two nearby seats and just sit in the seats that I wanted to buy. Also, in case you're wondering, all the seats in the section are the same price.

Stupid.

Agree that it's stupid. And agree that you should just sit in the seats you want if they're open when you get there. Have fun!

[PGsHeroes32]

Please indulge a mini-rant about ticketing practices:

I'm heading to my first Guardians game of the year tomorrow evening with my daughter. I've been meaning to get to a game and I'd like to see Ohtani play (disappointed he's not pitching in Cleveland). Anyway, there is a section that has five seats in the front row. Two are already sold and I'd like to get two of the others. They won't sell them to me because I'd leave a single ticket stranded. It's a Tuesday evening game and there are probably 20-25,000 tickets available. In the section I'm wanting, 155 of the 205 seats are available. And I can't buy two vacant front row seats because it will leave one seat open. Are you f'ing kidding me?! I'm going to buy two nearby seats and just sit in the seats that I wanted to buy. Also, in case you're wondering, all the seats in the section are the same price.

Stupid.

Common thing in sports to not leave singles. It is stupid when its clearly not gonna be close to a sell out but it always happens whether its through the teams or online ticketing sites.

Luckily with baseball as you mentioned, you can just sit whereever you want. I buy the cheapest ticket possible for Twins games all the time and then just go where I please since they are always wide open.

Cant do the same for Vikes/Wild.

[PGsHeroes32]

I know what constitutes an MVP in baseball is something that really gets some like MU82 going.


That said, MVP or not. Mike Trout is still the best player in the game.

7 straight games with a homer. Dude is insane.

[4everwarriors]

The gentlemanly thing to do is simply purchase all 3 seats and use the 2 desired for your personal use. Either donate the other to a homeless dude or place your personal belongings there for more comfort while viewing the game, hey?

[MU82]

I know what constitutes an MVP in baseball is something that really gets some like MU82 going.


That said, MVP or not. Mike Trout is still the best player in the game.

7 straight games with a homer. Dude is insane.

I think they should give Trout MVP for both leagues this season.

[Jockey]

I think they should give Trout MVP for both leagues this season.

Dale Long hit HRs in 8 straight games. He should get the MVP posthumously.

[MU82]

Dale Long hit HRs in 8 straight games. He should get the MVP posthumously.

He wasn’t on the Angels.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Please indulge a mini-rant about ticketing practices:

I'm heading to my first Guardians game of the year tomorrow evening with my daughter. I've been meaning to get to a game and I'd like to see Ohtani play (disappointed he's not pitching in Cleveland). Anyway, there is a section that has five seats in the front row. Two are already sold and I'd like to get two of the others. They won't sell them to me because I'd leave a single ticket stranded. It's a Tuesday evening game and there are probably 20-25,000 tickets available. In the section I'm wanting, 155 of the 205 seats are available. And I can't buy two vacant front row seats because it will leave one seat open. Are you f'ing kidding me?! I'm going to buy two nearby seats and just sit in the seats that I wanted to buy. Also, in case you're wondering, all the seats in the section are the same price.

Stupid.

Can you call the ticket office?  Assuming you are trying to buy online.

[Billy Hoyle]

Please indulge a mini-rant about ticketing practices:

I'm heading to my first Guardians game of the year tomorrow evening with my daughter. I've been meaning to get to a game and I'd like to see Ohtani play (disappointed he's not pitching in Cleveland). Anyway, there is a section that has five seats in the front row. Two are already sold and I'd like to get two of the others. They won't sell them to me because I'd leave a single ticket stranded. It's a Tuesday evening game and there are probably 20-25,000 tickets available. In the section I'm wanting, 155 of the 205 seats are available. And I can't buy two vacant front row seats because it will leave one seat open. Are you f'ing kidding me?! I'm going to buy two nearby seats and just sit in the seats that I wanted to buy. Also, in case you're wondering, all the seats in the section are the same price.

Stupid.

It's the same thing for concerts. And yet when I go back a few weeks later to check in on tickets there are singles everywhere.

[CreightonWarrior]

In the only home run race anyone cares about, Aaron Judge hit two today and is four away from tying the AL record. Hope he can do it, doesn’t seem like that bad if a guy.

[MU82]

In the only home run race anyone cares about, Aaron Judge hit two today and is four away from tying the AL record. Hope he can do it, doesn’t seem like that bad if a guy.

Meh. His 57 HR, 123 RBI and 1.106 OPS would be a lot more impressive if he weren't helping a team get into first place and stay in first place.

[BM1090]

Meh. His 57 HR, 123 RBI and 1.106 OPS would be a lot more impressive if he weren't helping a team get into first place and stay in first place.

The Yankees are 22-28 in the 2nd half.

Judge has a 1.295 OPS in that same timeframe.

He’s a deserving MVP, but it highlights why people don’t care about Trout’s team sucking. Judge has been great. Yankees have been bad. It happens and it’s certainly not his fault.

[StillAWarrior]

That said, MVP or not. Mike Trout is still the best player in the game.

7 straight games with a homer. Dude is insane.

Gotta admit that once the Guardians broke the tie last night and had a two-run lead, I was rooting for Trout to hit a solo shot.

[MU82]

The Yankees are 22-28 in the 2nd half.

Judge has a 1.295 OPS in that same timeframe.

He’s a deserving MVP, but it highlights why people don’t care about Trout’s team sucking. Judge has been great. Yankees have been bad. It happens and it’s certainly not his fault.

During that 22-28 second half, Judge has personally won at least 3 games with late heroics (that I know of, maybe there were others). So with a "regular" player instead of Judge, the Yankees would be 19-31 -- and that's just thanks to his late-game heroics, not to the many other things he's done early in games they won that helped them build leads. And he has to do all that in the crucible of a pennant race, not just for funsies for an also-ran team.

I really do get a lot of the arguments for Ohtani; he's a hell of a player -- and a pitcher too! I really do. But I don't get why some folks dismiss the importance of performing in pressure-filled situations.

There was a game last week in which Judge hit a tying HR in the 6th and then scored the winning run after having drawn a walk and advanced to third on an aggressive baserunning play. It was a crucial win, as the Yankees had been flailing and the Rays had closed ground. That same night, Ohtani homered twice. The second came late in the game to give the Angels a 9-0 lead; he swung for the fences, completely without pressure, and he connected. So, statistically, Ohtani had the "better" night ... but was what Ohtani did as "valuable" as what Judge did? I'm guessing some would say yes -- or that it was even more "valuable."

I happen to think Judge's night last week brought more value to his team than Ohtani's night brought to his; and that season-long, Judge is a pretty easy choice for MVP. Just a difference of opinion with those who disagree, that's all.

[JWags85]

I can't find it at the moment, but I saw a graphic the other day.  Ohtani was leading the Angels in literally every major stat.  Average/HR (until Trout went crazy the last few weeks), RBIs, 2B/3B/hits,  OBP.

He also leads them in Wins, ERA, SOs, and IP.  He's having a great year at the plate but his WAR as a pitcher is actually even higher.

The fact that Ohtani is top 10 in SOs league wide, despite pitching 25-30 innings less than the other leaders, is crazy enough.  But the fact that he is not far off the AL lead in wins, despite being on a terrible team, is also nuts.

Ohtani is having an MVP discussion year as a hitter...while being an All Star caliber pitcher.  That is absolutely preposterous regardless of how good the rest of his team is. 

Its also amusing to try and use Judge's team success as a bonus for him when they've been terrible the last few months.  Feels like Yankee lovers ignoring Jeter being a terrible defensive SS cause of "The Flip" or his dumb fall into the stands catch.  Over weighting individual moments.

I'm not trying to crap on Judge or somehow imply he's not a worthy MVP.  If he wins I won't be bothered.  But saying he's an easy choice for MVP, implying its a no brainer just feels like "best player on one of the best teams" cop outs.  If he gets 62, I feel like he would win even if Ohtani won 20 games and hit .320 with 40 HRs himself.

I'll go even a step further with hot takes.  Judge hasn't even been the best hitter in baseball this year, Freeman has.

[lawdog77]

I'll go even a step further with hot takes.  Judge hasn't even been the best hitter in baseball this year, Freeman has.

I am surprised the Cards fans aren't at your door with pitchforks  screaming Paul Goldschmidt's name

[Uncle Rico]

I am surprised the Cards fans aren't at your door with pitchforks  screaming Paul Goldschmidt's name

Meth inhibits their motivation

[shoothoops]

I am surprised the Cards fans aren't at your door with pitchforks  screaming Paul Goldschmidt's name

They’re busy. Some are at sold out Busch Stadium on a Wednesday mid September school night.

It’s 325 day.

[lawdog77]

They’re busy. Some are at sold out Busch Stadium on a Wednesday mid September school night.

It’s 325 day.

I'll bite. What's 325 day?

[shoothoops]

I'll bite. What's 325 day?

325 Day is the day Wainwright and Molina break the all time Battery record of 324 games.

https://twitter.com/ackerman1120/status/1570015756276101121?s=21&t=4JQrdbNen3pTeNbzenCkRw

Here’s a little bonus Big island fist bump with Big City last night as a throw in:

https://twitter.com/koltenwong/status/1569920177604550656?s=21&t=4JQrdbNen3pTeNbzenCkRw

[Mutaman]

Albert Pujols filed for divorce just days after his wife had undergone brain surgery. Plus he's a right winger.

[shoothoops]

2200.

[MU82]

I can't find it at the moment, but I saw a graphic the other day.  Ohtani was leading the Angels in literally every major stat.  Average/HR (until Trout went crazy the last few weeks), RBIs, 2B/3B/hits,  OBP.

He also leads them in Wins, ERA, SOs, and IP.  He's having a great year at the plate but his WAR as a pitcher is actually even higher.

The fact that Ohtani is top 10 in SOs league wide, despite pitching 25-30 innings less than the other leaders, is crazy enough.  But the fact that he is not far off the AL lead in wins, despite being on a terrible team, is also nuts.

Ohtani is having an MVP discussion year as a hitter...while being an All Star caliber pitcher.  That is absolutely preposterous regardless of how good the rest of his team is. 

Its also amusing to try and use Judge's team success as a bonus for him when they've been terrible the last few months.  Feels like Yankee lovers ignoring Jeter being a terrible defensive SS cause of "The Flip" or his dumb fall into the stands catch.  Over weighting individual moments.

I'm not trying to crap on Judge or somehow imply he's not a worthy MVP.  If he wins I won't be bothered.  But saying he's an easy choice for MVP, implying its a no brainer just feels like "best player on one of the best teams" cop outs.  If he gets 62, I feel like he would win even if Ohtani won 20 games and hit .320 with 40 HRs himself.

I'll go even a step further with hot takes.  Judge hasn't even been the best hitter in baseball this year, Freeman has.

I’m not a “Yankee lover.”

For me, it would be easy to choose Judge as AL MVP for all the reasons I’ve already stated.  You disagree. That’s cool.

You think Freeman’s been a better hitter. That’s cool. Frankly, I haven’t even thought about it.

McGwire hit 70 in 1998 and didn’t win MVP. Nor should he have IMHO.

Ohtani is having another incredible season. What a great and wonderfully unique athlete. If he wins MVP I won’t be bothered. It wouldn’t affect me one iota. I’d just think the voters got it wrong, and I’d get on with my life.

Have a nice night.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

They’re busy. Some are at sold out Busch Stadium on a Wednesday mid September school night.

It’s 325 day.

Sure seeing a lot of empty seats for a sell out. Maybe they all just went to the bathroom at the same time.

[shoothoops]

Sure seeing a lot of empty seats for a sell out. Maybe they all just went to the bathroom at the same time.

22nd sell out of the season. (46,459)

First pitch:

https://twitter.com/theathletic/status/1570209621796585473?s=21&t=MR2DL1k9x5Xol4kt-Tx3wA

Arenado’s HR in the 2nd:

https://twitter.com/ackerman1120/status/1570395226216484864?s=21&t=MR2DL1k9x5Xol4kt-Tx3wA

Again on Nootbaar’s HR in the 5th.

https://twitter.com/mlbhrvideos/status/1570226221891330049?s=21&t=MR2DL1k9x5Xol4kt-Tx3wA

Here are the attendance figures for all of MLB the past 20 years plus:

http://www.espn.com/mlb/attendance

Perhaps you were watching the White Sox game?