Random news and notes for MLB 2018

[adambr2]

Every time I hear people complain that MLB is unfair to small markets (and I agree to an extent), I'm grateful that MLB is not the NBA, where basically 1 or 2 super teams have a shot each year and everyone else just kind of goes through the motions for 82 games. It's an awful product and getting worse.

[jerichoholicninja]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/scott_boras_calls_for_rule_change_to_address_discriminatory_shifts/s1_127_26736377

 

Speaking of unfair, anyone else read the interview with Scott Boras where he said it's unfair that teams can shift on left handed batters? Other gems he said include that it's dangerous for the infielders to be playing out of position and it's hard to adapt because players just aren't taught to hit the other way. And this only applies to left handed batters because apparently teams don't shift on righties, which of course we know is not true.

 

As an agent, he does a great job for his clients for the most part. But as a person involved with baseball he really just needs to keep his mouth shut. He says the stupidest things.

[wildcat83]

The Nationals fell below .500 and its July. Didn't see that coming.

 

Maybe Turner is available on the SS market

[yfinn6]

The Nationals fell below .500 and its July. Didn't see that coming.

 

Maybe Turner is available on the SS market

 

Yeah, this is probably the most surprising thing of 2018 so far (to me).

[wildcat83]

The Nationals fell below .500 and its July. Didn't see that coming.

 

Maybe Turner is available on the SS market

 

Yeah, this is probably the most surprising thing of 2018 so far (to me).

 

They just came back from 0-9 to the Marlins. Turner with a huge game. Maybe that’s the spark that gets them going after their players only meeting they just held.

[Eye Black]

The Orioles are 28-82 over their past 110 games stretching back to the end of last season. That is a .254 winning percentage and would equal just 41 wins over a full season. They have managed to do that while Manny Machado is in the midst of the best offensive season of his career.

[adambr2]

Was looking at the AL standings and its crazy how much the AL already looks like a foregone conclusion before the AS break:

 

- The Red Sox and Yankees have 14-16 games up on the 3rd place team. One will take the division and the other a WC.

 

- The Indians are 11.5 up on the 2nd place team -- they are winning the central.

 

- The Astros and Mariners will likely both be playoff teams. The A's are the only team within shouting distance and are STILL 10 games out of the division and probably don't have staying power.

 

Unlike the NL which should produce very exciting second half races, you can probably pencil in the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Astros and Mariners as the 5 AL playoff teams and the rest may as well sell.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Was looking at the AL standings and its crazy how much the AL already looks like a foregone conclusion before the AS break:

 

- The Red Sox and Yankees have 14-16 games up on the 3rd place team. One will take the division and the other a WC.

 

- The Indians are 11.5 up on the 2nd place team -- they are winning the central.

 

- The Astros and Mariners will likely both be playoff teams. The A's are the only team within shouting distance and are STILL 10 games out of the division and probably don't have staying power.

 

Unlike the NL which should produce very exciting second half races, you can probably pencil in the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Astros and Mariners as the 5 AL playoff teams and the rest may as well sell.

 

Which is why it's probably a buyers market in terms of trades this year...not everybody will be able to sell that wants to, because the dominant AL teams have few holes to fill. A team like the brewers that has a few positions in obvious need of an upgrade could get great value without having to outbid a bunch of teams.

[jerichoholicninja]

Was looking at the AL standings and its crazy how much the AL already looks like a foregone conclusion before the AS break:

 

- The Red Sox and Yankees have 14-16 games up on the 3rd place team. One will take the division and the other a WC.

 

- The Indians are 11.5 up on the 2nd place team -- they are winning the central.

 

- The Astros and Mariners will likely both be playoff teams. The A's are the only team within shouting distance and are STILL 10 games out of the division and probably don't have staying power.

 

Unlike the NL which should produce very exciting second half races, you can probably pencil in the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Astros and Mariners as the 5 AL playoff teams and the rest may as well sell.

 

Because baseball is weird, I would put money on one of those teams not making the playoffs. Every year there is a team that totally collapses in the second half.

[BuckyBrewer61]

you can probably pencil in the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Astros and Mariners as the 5 AL playoff teams and the rest may as well sell.

 

Because baseball is weird, I would put money on one of those teams not making the playoffs. Every year there is a team that totally collapses in the second half.

 

Mariners are currently 23 games over .500 with a run differential of +19...

 

Since they opened up a huge lead over the field, and the rest of the AL is so uninspiring, they likely still make it. But my guess is that 2nd AL Wild Card will become a lot more interesting than it is right now.

[YelichPosse]

you can probably pencil in the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Astros and Mariners as the 5 AL playoff teams and the rest may as well sell.

 

Because baseball is weird, I would put money on one of those teams not making the playoffs. Every year there is a team that totally collapses in the second half.

 

Mariners are currently 23 games over .500 with a run differential of +19...

 

Since they opened up a huge lead over the field, and the rest of the AL is so uninspiring, they likely still make it. But my guess is that 2nd AL Wild Card will become a lot more interesting than it is right now.

 

Some will of course say the AL is amazing and no way the NL has a shot this year. By my count the AL has 6 teams .500 and above. The NL has 10. The AL has 3 teams 30 wins and under. The NL, nobody below 34 or 35 - I don’t recall exactly.

 

There is much more competition in the NL, much more grinding out wins. Which in the playoffs - is how you usually win.

 

If anything the heightened parity and lack of bottom feeders will only help a team like the Brewers in the long run.

 

Really is amazing looking at the full NL and AL standings this year ... I don’t recall this big a difference in leagues before!

[Eye Black]

I would call this a somewhat concerning trend (via @PaulHembo):

 

MLB is on pace for fewer than 50 balls in play per game for the first time ever.

 

2018: 49.7

2008: 54.3

1998: 54.8

1988: 56.6

1978: 58.0

1968: 55.2

1958: 57.5

1948: 60.9

1938: 62.6

1928: 64.5

1918: 62.6

1908: 60.1

1898: 64.6

1888: 61.1

1878: 68.2

[NYChez]

The D-backs have a position player pitching ... in the 4th inning! They’re down 18-1.

[Baldkin]

Sometimes I catch an Angels game on my MLB.tv subscription and I just feel bad for Mike Trout. He's so, so, so good.... and his organization has completely failed him.

[jerichoholicninja]

Sometimes I catch an Angels game on my MLB.tv subscription and I just feel bad for Mike Trout. He's so, so, so good.... and his organization has completely failed him.

 

He signed an extension and is making $34M this year. I shed zero tears for him.

[brooks_quichenick]

The Cardinals have fired Mike Matheny. Mike Shildt is interim manager.

[trwi7]

I have to think that blowout today along with the Jordan Hicks/Bud Norris thing where Matheny comes off as a giant dope was the final straw.

[brooks_quichenick]

I have to think that blowout today along with the Jordan Hicks/Bud Norris thing where Matheny comes off as a giant dope was the final straw.

 

Yea Cardinals fans have been clamoring for this for awhile it seems, and the whole Norris/Hicks situation is just unacceptable in my opinion. Matheny seemed to get a real kick out of it too, not good.

[jerichoholicninja]

I have to think that blowout today along with the Jordan Hicks/Bud Norris thing where Matheny comes off as a giant dope was the final straw.

 

Yea Cardinals fans have been clamoring for this for awhile it seems, and the whole Norris/Hicks situation is just unacceptable in my opinion. Matheny seemed to get a real kick out of it too, not good.

 

What is this? I've seen it mentioned a few other places.

[trwi7]

I have to think that blowout today along with the Jordan Hicks/Bud Norris thing where Matheny comes off as a giant dope was the final straw.

 

Yea Cardinals fans have been clamoring for this for awhile it seems, and the whole Norris/Hicks situation is just unacceptable in my opinion. Matheny seemed to get a real kick out of it too, not good.

 

What is this? I've seen it mentioned a few other places.

 

https://deadspin.com/extremely-cardinals-report-mike-matheny-respects-bud-n-1827528307

[jerichoholicninja]

Read a couple different stories about it. Seems like Norris is being a dick and Matheny doesn't care. Not a great situation but I'm sure just about every clubhouse in baseball has a guy doing the exact same thing to a rookie.

[trwi7]

Read a couple different stories about it. Seems like Norris is being a dick and Matheny doesn't care. Not a great situation but I'm sure just about every clubhouse in baseball has a guy doing the exact same thing to a rookie.

 

Ehh, I think an older player riding a younger player and reporting back to the manager happens in very few clubhouses, my guess is probably just the Cardinals. It's also coming from a pretty well known piece of crap in Bud Norris.

 

“I think it’s a culture shock,’’ Norris said. “This is America’s game. This is America’s pastime, and over the last 10-15 years we’ve seen a very big world influence in this game, which we as a union and as players appreciate. We’re opening this game to everyone that can play. However, if you’re going to come into our country and make our American dollars, you need to respect a game that has been here for over a hundred years, and I think sometimes that can be misconstrued. There are some players that have antics, that have done things over the years that we don’t necessarily agree with.

[stoutdude04]

https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/amazing-stat-explains-just-how-good-this-reds-player-the-plate/loYhzZwbhnrDDT1LHK88jK/

 

This seems crazy and hard to believe.

[young guns]

Popups, he can't hit them or catch them(light blue for partial sarcasm)

[Dead Simmons]

Read a couple different stories about it. Seems like Norris is being a dick and Matheny doesn't care. Not a great situation but I'm sure just about every clubhouse in baseball has a guy doing the exact same thing to a rookie.

The Norris thing was indeed the final straw. The larger issue was a simple case of the team just not liking Matheny. He would send scripture based texts to the players. Fowler got sick of them and deleted Matheny's account. This made the news and that was the death knell.

 

I was delighted.