2023 MLB Thread

[StillAWarrior]

Perfecto by the Yankees' Domingo Germán last night, 24th in MLB history.

I was fortunate to see one of those in person - Mark Buehrle's in 2009. I've seen a few that got close but were broken up in the 8th inning or later.

If last night's gem takes on the same folklore-like quality as some previous perfect games have, in about a decade literally dozens of Bay-area fans will claim to have been there.

[Dish]

I say this knowing it won't happen, but...

Regarding Ohtani's free agency this offseason, there's currently a team in first in their division, with a truckload of money available this offseason, that could (should) offer Ohtani 4/320. Even though he probably won't go to this team, it would make it really difficult on someone else to match that offer.

That team is Cincinnati.

Their 2024 payroll (after they decline Votto's & Myers' options) is $30 M for 2024. Their largest salary commitment right now for next year is Griffey at a little over $3M in deferred cash.

Ohtani would hit 70 HR's playing half his games there, especially if De La Cruz is batting behind him.

[Silent Verbal]

Perfecto by the Yankees' Domingo Germán last night, 24th in MLB history.

I was fortunate to see one of those in person - Mark Buehrle's in 2009. I've seen a few that got close but were broken up in the 8th inning or later.

The list of pitchers to throw perfect games includes some greats - Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, Jim Bunning, Catfish Hunter, Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay. But it also includes quite a few guys that make one say, "Who?" Having that one magical outing requires skill, of course, but also a good deal of good fortune.

I was at a perfect game that got broken up in the eighth inning.  There's nothing quite like the energy in the park when you can feel the entire crowd begin to realize what's happening, and everyone's rooting for it, but no one will say exactly what the thing is for fear of jinxing it.  No one wanting to tie the shoe that came undone, leave their seat to go to the bathroom, or do anything other than exactly what they've been doing for the past two hours.  A unique experience in sports.

[HutchwasClutch]

Can the Brewers just finally give up on Matt Bush and admit he's crap?  Their deadline deals last year were all just awful.

[Dish]

TA's walk off homer in the Field of Dreams game feels like it was a decade ago.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Happy Bobby Bonilla day to those who celebrate.

[Mutaman]

I say this knowing it won't happen, but...



That team is Cincinnati.

Now that Castellini and his idiot son have managed to field a competitive team without spending any $, you will never pry another nickle out of them.

[The Sultan]

Can the Brewers just finally give up on Matt Bush and admit he's crap?  Their deadline deals last year were all just awful.

DFAed this morning.

[HutchwasClutch]

DFAed this morning.

Thank goodness.  There must be better options somewhere. 

[cheebs09]

The Brew Crew did their best to make it interesting today.

[Jockey]

Does anyone know why the Cardinals keep putting Wainwright on the mound?

Is it just the Cardinal Way? Or is the manager as bad as he appears to be?

[PGsHeroes32]

Tough couple days for Angels

Trout with the freak hamate injury so probably out at least a month

Ohtani left todays early too. Does sound like it's just a blister so shouldn't be serious and definitely shouldn't impact his ability to play DH

Rendon also hurt but he always is and sucks horribly now

[Silent Verbal]

Does anyone know why the Cardinals keep putting Wainwright on the mound?

Is it just the Cardinal Way? Or is the manager as bad as he appears to be?

I guess the obvious answer is they want him to get two more wins so he can reach 200 for his career.  Seems like they're going to shut him down for a bit, but he'll definitely be back in August to get a few more cracks at it.  I agree that he probably shouldn't be in the majors anymore.

[wadesworld]

I hope the Brewers opened the roof every time the Cubs came to bat tonight and closed it every time the Brewers came up.

[Mutaman]

Just another Elly moment


https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3473094/superstar-the-nats-had-elly-de-la-cruzs-bat-checked-to-make-sure-it-was-legal-he-responded-by-blasting-a-moonshot-to-the-upper-deck-followed-by-an-incredible-celly

[MU82]

The Athletic's Jayson Stark waxed poetic about how great Ohtani was at the plate the first half of the season:

He was on pace through July 3 (as a hitter) to have a 58-homer, 128-RBI, 408-total base, .306/.390/.670/1.060 season. That seems good. Here's how good: The only dudes in history who ever had that season were Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx and Sammy Sosa.

The knee-jerk reaction upon seeing the 3 names at the end of that paragraph might be: "One of these names just doesn't belong here." But if you take a look at Sosa's stats from 1998-2001, you realize how incredible his steroids-fueled run was over that span. (1997, 2002 and 2003 weren't chopped liver, either.)

In 1998, thru July 3, Sosa's numbers were 33 HRs, 81 RBIs, 1.053 OPS.

Ohtani's were 31-68-1.054 this season.

Ohtani also pitched a little, sources say. And of course, Sosa tended to get extra pop from what he joked were "Flintstones vitamins." So I'd obviously still take Ohtani 10 times out of 10.

[PGsHeroes32]

Think that Cards loss last night was officially rock bottom

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Think that Cards loss last night was officially rock bottom

Yadi would have fielded that tapper.

[Heisenberg]

Money Isn't Winning in MLB This Season. Is That Good or Bad for Baseball?

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2023/7/4/23783539/mlb-standings-payroll-discrepancy-mets-padres-rays-reds-diamondbacks

The high-payroll Mets and Padres are flailing. The low-budget Rays, Diamondbacks, Orioles, and Reds are thriving. What's behind MLB's topsy-turvy standings? And what could it portend about the future of the sport?

[The Sultan]

I have two thoughts, but I am not necessarily sure how accurate they are.

1. Due to the nature of the CBA, free agency comes when players are at their peak. Teams then dole out big contracts that look great at the time, but you end up paying a lot on the downside of the player's career. Teams that ride with players to their peak, sign the ones they can to bonus deals early, and trade away the ones they can't, can lead to success at a much cheaper price.

2. Consistent organizational philosophies from the minors up through the majors is way more important than the players you add via free agency. I think Houston is an example of a team that has done both pretty well.

I will also add that hiring Buck Showalter to manage your team in this day and age is just malpractice. 

[wadesworld]

Which is why I want the Brewers to hit a big losing streak before the deadline. Trade away Burnes and Woody for two farms.

[MUBurrow]

Due to the nature of the CBA, free agency comes when players are at their peak. Teams then dole out big contracts that look great at the time, but you end up paying a lot on the downside of the player's career. Teams that ride with players to their peak, sign the ones they can to bonus deals early, and trade away the ones they can't, can lead to success at a much cheaper price.

Totally agree with this.  I think baseball free agency is comparable to RBs in free agency in the NFL. By the time you are paying them, they are - at best - at their peak for another couple years.  You are mostly paying for past performance and future decline.

[Uncle Rico]

https://twitter.com/hgomez27/status/1677542578491645952?s=46&t=QSiaGcOIKZrrpw0ciZkI5Q

[Mutaman]

Elly gets a 2 out single to drive in the lead run. Then he steals second. Then he steals third. Then he steals home.

[MU82]

I see a kid steal second, third and home several times a year when I umpire 10-12 year olds. But this is the first time an MLB player has done that since Rod Carew in 1969!

Elly is amazing - the most exciting player in baseball.

If he can keep this up, and if the Reds go on to win the division, it will spark a nice MVP debate. He won't have the stats to beat out the likes of Acuna ... but given that the Reds were awful until they turned into a competitive team pretty much the day Elly arrived, it could be argued that's the very definition of "most valuable."