Random news and notes for MLB 2018

[trwi7]

This is not MLB but it's awesome. A Purdue player draws a walk and ends up at 3rd base.

 

[chuckiehacks]

This is not MLB but it's awesome. A Purdue player draws a walk and ends up at 3rd base.

 

 

In the bottom of the 9th, in a tie game, no less!

[AKCheesehead]

The guys on MLBN were sure falling all over themselves about Judge's 100 mph throw this evening, I even heard "hardest I've ever seen from an outfielder." Brett Phillips says hi.

[NYChez]

Cubs lead the National League in OPS and ERA ... and they're 3 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central.

[topper09er]

Russell Martin, yes the 35 year old former catcher, started at SS for the Blue Jays. Manager John Gibbons said "Really, we don't have a true shortstop on the team right now, Russ has got good range, got a good arm, he has good everything, has good hands. So we'll send him out there."

[jerichoholicninja]

Russell Martin, yes the 35 year old former catcher, started at SS for the Blue Jays. Manager John Gibbons said "Really, we don't have a true shortstop on the team right now, Russ has got good range, got a good arm, he has good everything, has good hands. So we'll send him out there."

 

More than anything that just shows how bad of shape the Blue Jays are in right now. From one of the better teams in the AL for a few seasons to a rudderless ship.

 

This is more of an observation than a "News or Note" but it seems like the vast majority of teams are playing Saturday afternoon games. Seems like it used to be there were only a couple Saturday afternoon games but bow just about all of them are. Which means this weekend almost everyone is playing 3 straight day games. That is very unusual.

[young guns]

Russell Martin, yes the 35 year old former catcher, started at SS for the Blue Jays. Manager John Gibbons said "Really, we don't have a true shortstop on the team right now, Russ has got good range, got a good arm, he has good everything, has good hands. So we'll send him out there."

Wasn't Martin the one that said he would play in the wbc, but only if he could play as? I guess he finally got his wish.

[areacodes]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MLBReplays/status/1001207537608286208

 

How is that not interference on Rizzo and how was it not overturned?

[jerichoholicninja]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MLBReplays/status/1001207537608286208

 

How is that not interference on Rizzo and how was it not overturned?

 

When they show the replay up the line Rizzo's body was sliding right toward the plate but he sort of hooks his legs out. I would totally agree that violates in the intent of the rule but I'm not sure if it violates the letter of the rule. Either way Rizzo should be drilled tomorrow and if they can figure out a way to do it, Maddon too. Why the hell was he arguing that the Pirates challenged and then arguing after the replay was in his favor?

[Vgmastr]

This is more of an observation than a "News or Note" but it seems like the vast majority of teams are playing Saturday afternoon games. Seems like it used to be there were only a couple Saturday afternoon games but bow just about all of them are. Which means this weekend almost everyone is playing 3 straight day games. That is very unusual.

 

That's because this was the first week of games on FOX. FOX has an exclusive window from 6-9pm on Saturdays until the All Star Break so if teams in the east and central time zones want to televise their games locally they have to schedule them in the afternoon. You'll notice the Brewers don't have a Saturday night game again until the week after the All Star Break. This has been happening for the last few years now.

[YelichPosse]

This is more of an observation than a "News or Note" but it seems like the vast majority of teams are playing Saturday afternoon games. Seems like it used to be there were only a couple Saturday afternoon games but bow just about all of them are. Which means this weekend almost everyone is playing 3 straight day games. That is very unusual.

 

That's because this was the first week of games on FOX. FOX has an exclusive window from 6-9pm on Saturdays until the All Star Break so if teams in the east and central time zones want to televise their games locally they have to schedule them in the afternoon. You'll notice the Brewers don't have a Saturday night game again until the week after the All Star Break. This has been happening for the last few years now.

 

Somehow I never knew this - makes sense now ! Thanks for the info!!

[MadThinker88]

FYI.. Shane Bieber is getting a spot start for Cleveland on Thursday vs Minnesota.

It serves as a great 23rd Birthday present for Shane (Thursday is the bday) and reward for his no-no vs AAA Gwinnett this past Friday (5/25/18)

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/indians-to-promote-shane-bieber.html

 

I recall a number of Brewer fans on this board were raising his name as a trade target during the off-season

[young guns]

Unfortunately, he slide so that takes away the Posey rule. And the double play rule says

(1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before

reaching the base;

(2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot;

(3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home

plate) after completion of the slide; and

(4) slides within reach of the base without changing his path-

way for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

I still think what he did was dirty, but legally dirty.

[tmwiese55]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MLBReplays/status/1001207537608286208

 

How is that not interference on Rizzo and how was it not overturned?

 

When they show the replay up the line Rizzo's body was sliding right toward the plate but he sort of hooks his legs out. I would totally agree that violates in the intent of the rule but I'm not sure if it violates the letter of the rule. Either way Rizzo should be drilled tomorrow and if they can figure out a way to do it, Maddon too. Why the hell was he arguing that the Pirates challenged and then arguing after the replay was in his favor?

 

Saw MLB Network guys talking about this. The two ex players (Burnes and I don't remember teh other) were going on that it was clean and Kinney just couldn't believe it. I'm with Kinney all the way. Catcher has his back turned a full step inside the line and you kick your legs out and you drill him in the back of the legs, cmon. Their argument is that he should have stepped off the plate to the 1B side so it wouldn't happen, you know, except he was trying to throw the ball to first so that doesn't really work so well. They just kept coming with their old school 'this is baseball' and 'you're trying to win' arguments. I was surprised that people still look at something that dirty this way

[areacodes]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MLBReplays/status/1001207537608286208

 

How is that not interference on Rizzo and how was it not overturned?

 

When they show the replay up the line Rizzo's body was sliding right toward the plate but he sort of hooks his legs out. I would totally agree that violates in the intent of the rule but I'm not sure if it violates the letter of the rule. Either way Rizzo should be drilled tomorrow and if they can figure out a way to do it, Maddon too. Why the hell was he arguing that the Pirates challenged and then arguing after the replay was in his favor?

 

Sure looks like he deviated from his path to initiate contact to me... I'd like to hear an explanation from MLB on that call.

[young guns]

Unfortunately, he slide so that takes away the Posey rule. And the double play rule says

(1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before

reaching the base;

(2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot;

(3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home

plate) after completion of the slide; and

(4) slides within reach of the base without changing his path-

way for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

I still think what he did was dirty, but legally dirty.

Seeing it some more, maybe 4 is violated. He is running on the line and then a few feet from the plate steps a foot or two inside the line. I believe there is some leeway on "pathway" but don't know if that's enough to violate it. I checked and did not see any definition of pathway.

[danzig6767]

Scooter Gennett with a .935 OPS. Guess last year wasn't a fluke.

 

I totally understand why he was let go by Stearns and reports were that Scooter garnered no trade interest, but man, imagine his bat in our lineup right now.

[dlk9s]

I love the stupid arguments that going in hard to break-up double plays is "old school" and "tough baseball" and all that. Those are great arguments except for the fact that playing like that was B.S. in the first place.

[young guns]

https://amp.mlb.com/278692024-anthony-rizzo-slide-stirs-cubs-pirates-debate.amp.html

"It was 100 percent in the rules -- it's not like I went with my legs up, trying to crush his knee. I just went low, and I don't really ever want to hit a guy in that scenario. He didn't really give me a choice there. I felt I slid over the plate at the same time."

Wow what?

 

But Rodriguez said that Welke pointed to the second part of the rule, which Rizzo fulfilled, about being able to reach the base.

That just murkier the water even more. There is no "or" in the rule. There is a numbered list which implies that all 4 part need to be met, not just 1 of the 4.

 

Now I've done a 180 and think 100% illegal dirty slide.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Based on rizzo's explanation, I wonder if he'd be ok with a few pirate runners barreling him over when they are streaking down the 1b line as long as they also touch the bag when they run by. If he doesn't like them going high, they could always just go low and step on the inside edge of the bag if rizzo lets his foot linger there too long. My guess is the pirates will address it the older school way and rizzo will be wearing one the next few games at the plate.

 

Rizzo's comment is just bs trying to justify a dirty play, and it probably increases tensions toward him from the pirate dugout - makes himself look worse instead of just saying that he made a mistake in the heat of the moment and he was just glad he didn't cause a serious injury.

[JosephC]

I guarantee if Aguilar did that to a Cub's catcher then 100% of this board would be saying it was a clean play and would be complaining about the Cub's complaining about the play.

 

Well maybe not 100%, but at least 90%.

[pacopete4]

Simple fix. MLB makes a rule that there are no takeout slides at home plate anymore. Or if you are out on force, you must slide directly into the plate. I'm not upset at Rizzo for what he did because it is something I've seen many times as you are expected to take away the double play if you can.

[tmwiese55]

Simple fix. MLB makes a rule that there are no takeout slides at home plate anymore. Or if you are out on force, you must slide directly into the plate. I'm not upset at Rizzo for what he did because it is something I've seen many times as you are expected to take away the double play if you can.

 

Yea I'd guess they just didn't think of it when changing the 2B rule, the same logic would apply here. It's just so rare they didn't get around to doing it. Basically, just make the 2B rule apply to all bases.

[jerichoholicninja]

Simple fix. MLB makes a rule that there are no takeout slides at home plate anymore. Or if you are out on force, you must slide directly into the plate. I'm not upset at Rizzo for what he did because it is something I've seen many times as you are expected to take away the double play if you can.

 

How exactly do you enforce no "takeout" slides at home? There's no raised base to stop the runners momentum so the runner will always slide through and over the plate, the catcher needs to stand on the plate to get the out, and the runner needs to slide directly into the plate to either be safe or avoid breaking the rule. I'd just tell my catchers for any force out at the plate stand right on top of it, wait for the runner to slide and then "flop" when the runner gets there to get a guaranteed double play.

 

Rizzo clearly tried to take out the catcher, thereby violating what the rule is intended to prevent. But based on the wording of the rule I don't think the correct call is 100% clear.

[jerichoholicninja]

It would be awesome if MLB would release a transcript or the audio of the what the umps are talking about during replays so we can understand how they come to some of their conclusions. I'm sure that will never happen though.