BASE-BALL

[Flint1979]

Well Tony LaRussa is totally out of touch with the game today. Up until this year he hadn't managed in a decade and it's typical Jerry Reinsdorf hiring his friends and putting them in positions they shouldn't be in. LaRussa should have stayed retired it's ridiculous the guy is 76 years old and totally out of touch with the roster. Making a big deal about Mercedes swinging on a 3-0 pitch against a position player for the Twinkies was ridiculous. The Twins are a division rival they aren't anyone we need to respect and they certainly don't respect anyone else. But oh we're up 15-4 and the Twinks put a position player in to pitch and Mercedes works it to 3-0 and then swings and hits a home run and what's LaRussa doing? He's standing on the field shaking his head all because Mercedes missed a sign or something because Tony had the take sign on but so freaking what? The guy gets paid to hit home runs and has been one of the most exciting players in the game this season so far. Screw Tony LaRussa, bring Hawk Harrelson back and let him fire him again.

And if he hit a grounder to thr 2nd baseman?

Yes, he got fortunate. But he still ignored the coach.

The pitcher was in the middle of his windup when he got the sign can't blame him for not seeing the sign at that point.

[Flint1979]

And another thing Tony wants to complain about the unwritten rules of the game and up until 2 weeks ago or so a game in Cincinnati that the White Sox lost 1-0 he didn't know the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings so I don't want to hear it from him about the unwritten rules of the game.

[US 89]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

[Flint1979]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

Yeah it's a really dumb rule. And I'd be fine with both leagues having the DH it would sort of any mess of having the pitcher running the bases. I bet all the DH was made for was to extend players careers.

[Roadgeekteen]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

DH is fine, runner on second is awful.

[Flint1979]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

DH is fine, runner on second is awful.

Fans of American League teams don't mind the DH now but fans of the national league teams are usually opposed against it.

[Roadgeekteen]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

DH is fine, runner on second is awful.

Fans of American League teams don't mind the DH now but fans of the national league teams are usually opposed against it.

David Ortiz couldn't have played as long in the NL.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

David Ortiz couldn't have played as long in the NL.

Which is exactly why the NL fan pipe dream of the death of the DH will never happen - it creates more job opportunities for players.

[Flint1979]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

DH is fine, runner on second is awful.

Fans of American League teams don't mind the DH now but fans of the national league teams are usually opposed against it.

David Ortiz couldn't have played as long in the NL.

Probably not.

[NWI_Irish96]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

DH is fine, runner on second is awful.

Here's the problem-the number of pitches per plate appearance has gone up quite a bit. This is requiring more pitchers to get through games. No team wants to have to cover 14-15 innings worth of pitchers in a game. It's why teams like the 7 inning doubleheaders. It's also why there is beginning to be discussion of having some kind of run-rule that can end a game early.

Where things get stuck is that there's no really good way to limit the number of pitches in a game. The runner on 2nd is being used now and that has been successful in avoiding the 13+ inning games but nobody likes it. You could just have ties after 10 innings and in a 162 game season the teams probably wouldn't mind but there are a lot of families that only go to one game per year and that would be an unsatisfying result for them. There are more extreme ideas to reduce pitch counts such as having a 3rd foul ball after 2 strikes be strike 3, but I don't see that happening either.

Teams want to find a way to reduce the overall pitch counts in games and haven't found the right answer yet.

[hotdogPi]

the rule regarding the runner on second base to start extra innings

I would accept universal DH if it meant we could get rid of that rule.

DH is fine, runner on second is awful.

Here's the problem-the number of pitches per plate appearance has gone up quite a bit. This is requiring more pitchers to get through games. No team wants to have to cover 14-15 innings worth of pitchers in a game. It's why teams like the 7 inning doubleheaders. It's also why there is beginning to be discussion of having some kind of run-rule that can end a game early.

Where things get stuck is that there's no really good way to limit the number of pitches in a game. The runner on 2nd is being used now and that has been successful in avoiding the 13+ inning games but nobody likes it. You could just have ties after 10 innings and in a 162 game season the teams probably wouldn't mind but there are a lot of families that only go to one game per year and that would be an unsatisfying result for them. There are more extreme ideas to reduce pitch counts such as having a 3rd foul ball after 2 strikes be strike 3, but I don't see that happening either.

Teams want to find a way to reduce the overall pitch counts in games and haven't found the right answer yet.

My suggestion: after 9 innings, if it's tied, the team that made their last run earlier wins, as measured by inning number and number of outs. For example, if the Fargo Bankers scored in the top of the 8th with 2 outs, and the Denver Omelettes scored in the bottom of the 8th with no outs, the Denver Omelettes would win despite being physically later. The game would continue if the inning and number of outs match or if it's still 0-0.

[texaskdog]

I don't understand the pitch count obsession.

[NWI_Irish96]

I don't understand the pitch count obsession.

Modern pitching puts a lot of stress on the arm, and injuries are mitigated by limiting pitch counts. At the same time, batters are seeing more pitches per plate appearance, so teams need more pitchers to finish games. 30 years ago, 10 pitchers on a roster was standard and 11 was a lot. Today pretty much every team carries 13 pitchers. Teams don't want to get to the point where they need 14-15 pitchers on a roster.

[Flint1979]

I'm on board with my fellow White Sox fans regarding Tony LaRussa. He is washed up as far as baseball goes and he has a drinking problem too. He's going to end up being a distraction for the team.

[Flint1979]

I don't understand the pitch count obsession.

It probably has to do with the money that they have invested into these pitcher's.

[Henry]

Looks like the Cleveland Baseball Team will have a new name sooner than later, per this report:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31559657/cleveland-indians-narrowing-vetting-final-list-new-names

[jp the roadgeek]

I don't understand the pitch count obsession.

See also: NBA load management.  Of course, those pitch counts go out the window come October, plus you'll see starters come in in relief if necessary (a starter has got the final out of 3 of the past 4 World Series).

[Flint1979]

Couldn't be happier right now took 3 out of 4 from the Tigers, wish it would have been a sweep but I'll take 3 out of 4 right now and riding first place in the AL Central.

[thspfc]

Another thing MLB needs to do to save the sport: facemasks for batters.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fsjlWED4rtw

No reason why that should be happening.

[Stephane Dumas]

It reminds me when some hockey players received the puck right in the face and most of them now wear eyeshields and it also reminds me of the ending of Tex Avery's short "Batty Baseball".
https://youtu.be/8QuRJTlszVc?t=150

[CoreySamson]

Wow Astros sweep the White Sox rather convincingly (outscoring them 27-8) and take first place in the AL West back from the Athletics. They are on a 7-game winning streak, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon with the Orioles and Tigers up next.

[Stephane Dumas]

Looks like the Cleveland Baseball Team will have a new name sooner than later, per this report:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31559657/cleveland-indians-narrowing-vetting-final-list-new-names

If they choose Avengers, I wonder if Marvel comics will ask for royalties for the use of trademark name? 

[Flint1979]

Wow Astros sweep the White Sox rather convincingly (outscoring them 27-8) and take first place in the AL West back from the Athletics. They are on a 7-game winning streak, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon with the Orioles and Tigers up next.

Yeah I have no idea how the Sox just failed to show up this series.

[NWI_Irish96]

Wow Astros sweep the White Sox rather convincingly (outscoring them 27-8) and take first place in the AL West back from the Athletics. They are on a 7-game winning streak, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon with the Orioles and Tigers up next.

Yeah I have no idea how the Sox just failed to show up this series.

Houston is the hottest team in baseball right now, playing at home, and the White Sox are missing 4 of their starting position players, with 2 more in slumps right now.

White Sox have a run of games against bad teams from now through the All-Star break so I'm not worried.

[Flint1979]

Wow Astros sweep the White Sox rather convincingly (outscoring them 27-8) and take first place in the AL West back from the Athletics. They are on a 7-game winning streak, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon with the Orioles and Tigers up next.

Yeah I have no idea how the Sox just failed to show up this series.

Houston is the hottest team in baseball right now, playing at home, and the White Sox are missing 4 of their starting position players, with 2 more in slumps right now.

White Sox have a run of games against bad teams from now through the All-Star break so I'm not worried.

I'm not too worried about this they went to the Bronx and got swept by the Yankees earlier in the year too