BASEBALL 2020---LET'S GET IT ON!!

[EasyAce]

. . . and just 41 days to spring training!

[EasyAce]

Ex-Astros reliever Will Harris agrees with Nationals on 3-year deal

Former Houston Astros reliever Will Harris has reached an agreement on a three-year deal with the Washington Nationals, a source confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan on Thursday.

Harris should jump into an eighth-inning role and could get save opportunities, too, according to Passan. USA Today reported the deal is worth $24 million . . .

I guess you can file this under "if you can't beat them, sign with them" . . . 

[GrouchoTex]

Astros not doing much this off-season, so far.

[EasyAce]

Since former MLB player Aubrey Huff now seems to think it would be just wonderful

to kidnap and enslave Iranian women, I'd like to go on record saying . . .

[GrouchoTex]

Astros hire Dusty Baker to manage the team, 1 year with an option.

[GrouchoTex]

Spring training has arrived.

It is a bit different this year...............

[Polly Ticks]

Spring training has arrived.

 

[jmyrlefuller]

Well, real-life baseball is on hold because of all the social distancing, but MLB is adapting with eSports: The Show Players League.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-the-show-20-players-league-live-results-how-to-watch-mlb-players/1er32zbwxdhcv143tjr6qlgdwj

[Gefn]

I miss baseball.

I miss seeing my bat dog at games too. :(

[Polly Ticks]

I miss baseball.

Me, too.  I haven't had the heart to change my avatar yet since there are no games being played.
 

[EasyAce]

Me, too.  I haven't had the heart to change my avatar yet since there are no games being played.
 

@Polly Ticks
Never surrender!!

[jmyrlefuller]

https://www.mlb.com/playersleague

[Polly Ticks]

@Polly Ticks
Never surrender!!

 

[jmyrlefuller]

https://www.mlb.com/playersleague

Note that I did try watching some of this last night.

I've been watching a few "virtual sports" leagues lately. This one, and then I'm watching the Simulation Football League (which has been around for a few years and long before this outbreak) and Major League Rugby's virtual competitions; I haven't checked out NASCAR's eRacing circuit yet. The Show League felt too fast; all that downtime between pitches and at-bats was eliminated and everything felt so rushed. It just didn't feel like baseball. (On top of that, there were a few too many technical glitches that left some matches unwatchable.)

On the other hand, Simulation Football League feels like real football and not just gamers playing football... they aimed to do that from the start with that league.

[jmyrlefuller]

Which former MLB players are getting ready to play in South Korea?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/04/which-former-mlb-players-are-getting-ready-to-play-in-the-kbo.html

Season starts May 5. So far, the preseason has gone without a hitch.

[jmyrlefuller]

Manny Ramirez wants to play in Taiwan in 2020
The 48-year-old played in Taiwan once before, in 2013. Taiwan is one of the few countries that is still playing professional sports right now.
https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/04/29/manny-ramirez-wants-to-play-in-taiwan-in-2020/

[DCPatriot]

I'm thinking that the fact there are no games being played at the start of a season in ridiculously cold weather temperatures, players who are known for their slow starts might not experience the same this year.

It's already a month of 90 degrees plus here in D.C..

For that reason, being a 60 game sprint and not a marathon, perhaps we'll see someone hit .400 for the 'season'.

Also, because of same, pitchers won't have a problem "feeling" / gripping the ball and therefore may have better "stuff".

IMHO, the Nationals have an excellent chance of repeating as world champs.

The loss of Rendon hopefully won't be a factor...although I'm also a strong believer in the abstract contributions to a clubhouse/dugout such as happened with "Baby Shark" Parra last year.

Tonight is "SCHERZDAY" !!!      vs. the Yankees in Washington.  Hopefully the rain will happen before 7pm so it cools off the field.

[EasyAce]

IMHO, the Nationals have an excellent chance of repeating as world champs.

A better chance than even you think. They seem to be the sleepers in the talk over who's going to go all the way this truncated season, but then again we learned last year how un-allergic the Nats are to opening cans of surprises.

The loss of Rendon hopefully won't be a factor...although I'm also a strong believer in the abstract contributions to a clubhouse/dugout such as happened with "Baby Shark" Parra last year.

Parra was invaluable for that, but the Nats are one team who don't exactly lack for clubhouse or dugout enthusiasm. If they could have made even heretofore-stoic Stephen Strasburg dance, I wouldn't exactly worry about them.

Tonight is "SCHERZDAY" !!!      vs. the Yankees in Washington.  Hopefully the rain will happen before 7pm so it cools off the field.

Even in the present circumstances, Max Scherzer v. Gerrit Cole is must-see pitching.

[DCPatriot]

A better chance than even you think. They seem to be the sleepers in the talk over who's going to go all the way this truncated season, but then again we learned last year how un-allergic the Nats are to opening cans of surprises.
Parra was invaluable for that, but the Nats are one team who don't exactly lack for clubhouse or dugout enthusiasm. If they could have made even heretofore-stoic Stephen Strasburg dance, I wouldn't exactly worry about them.
Even in the present circumstances, Max Scherzer v. Gerrit Cole is must-see pitching.

Thanks for taking the time to reply in detail, @EasyAce

Going to be strange with piped-in crowd noise, etc.. 

They should simply pretend it's like a sandlot game we all played as kids.  The only 'fan' noise were the players themselves.

Somebody suggested in one of the parks, they needed a repertoire of sorts for home runs.

For example when you're down 7-2 in the 8th inning and you hit a bases' empty HR, you don't pipe in the noise when Mazerowski hit it over the ivy in Left Field in Game 7 to beat the Yankees.

We've heard it already for years, when I've watched a Spring Training game in Florida with merely 200 people scattered in the seats.  Not fun.

@EasyAce     Are they planning to utilize the catcher's mask camera recently seen in that TV spot? 

Why go halfway?  Make the damned umpire wear it.   LOL!

In super-slo-mo, it will be instructive to the viewer to see where contact is made on the bat...how far extended the bat was, etc., hitting it into the ground vs. just over the SS's head.

So, I'm looking forward to it as long they don't overuse it.

Even Joe Biden could appreciate the physics.   

[EasyAce]

Thanks for taking the time to reply in detail, @EasyAce

Going to be strange with piped-in crowd noise, etc.. 

They should simply pretend it's like a sandlot game we all played as kids.  The only 'fan' noise were the players themselves.

Somebody suggested in one of the parks, they needed a repertoire of sorts for home runs.

For example when you're down 7-2 in the 8th inning and you hit a bases' empty HR, you don't pipe in the noise when Mazerowski hit it over the ivy in Left Field in Game 7 to beat the Yankees.

We've heard it already for years, when I've watched a Spring Training game in Florida with merely 200 people scattered in the seats.  Not fun.

@EasyAce     Are they planning to utilize the catcher's mask camera recently seen in that TV spot? 

Why go halfway?  Make the damned umpire wear it.   LOL!

In super-slo-mo, it will be instructive to the viewer to see where contact is made on the bat...how far extended the bat was, etc., hitting it into the ground vs. just over the SS's head.

So, I'm looking forward to it as long they don't overuse it.

Even Joe Biden could appreciate the physics.   

@DCPatriot
I can think of more important things for umpires to wear. Super-acute eyeglasses would be tops among those. 

But I am wondering something else---among the people piping in the crowd sounds in the ballpark, who's going to be the first poor schnook who hits the button for loud, wild applause by mistake when the home team's batter gets hit by a pitch?

[EasyAce]

@DCPatriot
This just in---Juan Soto has tested COVID-19 positive. Missing Opening Night and more.

[DCPatriot]

@DCPatriot
This just in---Juan Soto has tested COVID-19 positive. Missing Opening Night and more.

 

[DCPatriot]

@EasyAce

I'm calling bullsh*t!

I'll bet he's asymptomatic.  GD Vegas bookies.   

[Bigun]

It will go one without me! I've seen my list pro game either live or on TV. The fact is that I hope MLB, the NFL, and the NBA all go bankrupt!

[DCPatriot]

It will go one without me! I've seen my list pro game either live or on TV. The fact is that I hope MLB, the NFL, and the NBA all go bankrupt!

@Bigun

I'd probably be right there too.  Haven't watched an NBA game in decades.  ...carjackers in shorts.

And because the Redskins have been league fodder for over a generation, haven't watched a set of downs in years.  Not even the Super Bowl.

Baseball is different.  It's peaceful where anything can happen.

Plus, It's Scherzer vs. Cole          'YOUR' Gerit Cole, Earl!!   LOL

[Bigun]

@Bigun

I'd probably be right there too.  Haven't watched an NBA game in decades.  ...carjackers in shorts.

And because the Redskins have been league fodder for over a generation, haven't watched a set of downs in years.  Not even the Super Bowl.

Baseball is different.  It's peaceful where anything can happen.

Plus, It's Scherzer vs. Cole          'YOUR' Gerit Cole, Earl!!   LOL

I don't give a damn! The kneeling , BLM loving bastards can ALL KMA!

[GrouchoTex]

While the Cole/Scherzer match-up is intriguing, I will miss it.
I have a minor league game to go to tonight.
The 4 team, independent  "Energy league", at constellation field in Sugar Land, TX.

No, the have no BLM signs and they do not kneel during the National Anthem.
Tuesday, I saw "Team Texas" played.
Coached by Roger Clemens.
His 2 sons playing, Kobe on 2nd base and Kody on 1st.

Cool thing I saw:
sitting behind the dugout, I watch Roger Clemens instructing his starter on how he would grip certain pitches.
Roger still looks pretty good, like he could go a few innings.

[GrouchoTex]

@EasyAce

I'm calling bullsh*t!

I'll bet he's asymptomatic.  GD Vegas bookies.   

I hope he is and has a speedy recovery time.

[Lando Lincoln]

I'm with @Bigun.  I love baseball but the game can go on without me.

[catfish1957]

I don't give a damn! The kneeling , BLM loving bastards can ALL KMA!

I had already plenty of other reasons to blow off this game off permanently.  The BLM  signs at stadiums sponsored ironicly  by MLB, plus the other SJW onslaught?  Just the icing on the cake.

These stunts and tactics are going to kill this game.  And honestly, I don't give a shit.

[jmyrlefuller]

It will go one without me! I've seen my list pro game either live or on TV. The fact is that I hope MLB, the NFL, and the NBA all go bankrupt!

Like they even care. They've already written this year off as a loss. That's why they're doing this now. With the stands already empty, there's no worry about losing fans.

[Cyber Liberty]

Like they even care. They've already written this year off as a loss. That's why they're doing this now. With the stands already empty, there's no worry about losing fans.

If I see "Black Lives Matter on that pitchers mound when I tune it tomorrow, this fan has been lost forever.  For.  Ev.  Er.  Done.

[skeeter]

I don't give a damn! The kneeling , BLM loving bastards can ALL KMA!

Ditto that. SF Giants were my team but with their new woke manager they can go suck wind.

The left ruins everything.

[GrouchoTex]

At our minor league game we went to last night, we saw Trei Cruz, the grandson of Jose Cruz, hit a single to right in the top of the 9th inning.
He was driven in by a home run.
That won the game for them 4-3.

[GrouchoTex]

I missed last night's MLB game, but what I saw on the news was that the players all took a knee for BLM.
This was before the anthem.
They all stood up for the National anthem.

MLB must have received some blow back from the fans, after the Giants and the Reds did their thing during the anthem.
Maybe they thought that this was a compromise?

Fenway has a 150 ft long billboard reading "Black Lives Matter" now.

[catfish1957]

I missed last night's MLB game, but what I saw on the news was that the players all took a knee for BLM.
This was before the anthem.
They all stood up for the National anthem.

MLB must have received some blow back from the fans, after the Giants and the Reds did their thing during the anthem.
Maybe they thought that this was a compromise?

Fenway has a 150 ft long billboard reading "Black Lives Matter" now.

They played baseball last night?

[GrouchoTex]

They played baseball last night?

I heard a rumor to that effect.....

[240B]

They played baseball last night?

Nope. They played 'politics' last night.
All major league sports in America have become an expression of politics.
Teams and players that you support are no longer a personal choice.
Teams and players are now a public political statement.
Kaepernick and his puppeteers in China must be proud of themselves.
They didn't change anything at all for the betterment of anything.
But they did kill Major League Sports.

With men competing as women, and all the teams wearing KKK...that is, BLM insignia, I can't see how they recover.
We all know what is next. Players will show up wearing Joe Biden/Nancy Pelosi uniforms. (why not?)
Or maybe the uniforms will have pictures of President Xi or Chairman Mao?
Once political uniforms, political ads, and political statements become an ingrained part of Sports, then Sports becomes formally a form of politics. Just as CNN and MSNBC are no longer considered 'news' but is rather pure Leftwing politics, Sports is no longer a form of 'entertainment'.

[catfish1957]

Nope. They played 'politics' last night.
All major league sports in America have become an expression of politics.
Teams and players that you support are no longer a personal choice.
Teams and players are now a public political statement.
Kaepernick and his puppeteers in China must be proud of themselves.
They didn't change anything at all for the betterment of anything.
But they did kill Major League Sports.

With men competing as women, and all the teams wearing KKK...that is, BLM insignia, I can't see how they recover.
We all know what is next. Players will show up wearing Joe Biden/Nancy Pelosi uniforms. (why not?)
Or maybe the uniforms will have pictures of President Xi or Chairman Mao?
Once political uniforms, political ads, and political statements become an ingrained part of Sports, then Sports becomes formally a form of politics. Just as CNN and MSNBC are no longer considered 'news' but is rather pure Leftwing politics, Sports is no longer a form of 'entertainment'.

Nicely put.  In a time where a diversion or a distraction to the viritrol and disease would be a morale boosting event, it has turned into a SJW / BLM brainwashing exercise.    I can not  explain how rabid, and knowledgable I was with my Astros during my 55 year obsession with this team.  From attending 100's of games, knowing stats like rain man,   hell even Jose Lima was yelling "Hey Catfish" in the stands when he saw me from the bullpen.  I was that emotionally invested in this team and this game.

But believe me, my divorce from the game is complete.  And I won't be back.

[Cyber Liberty]

Nicely put.  In a time where a diversion or a distraction to the viritrol and disease would be a morale boosting event, it has turned into a SJW / BLM brainwashing exercise.    I can not  explain how rabid, and knowledgable I was with my Astros during my 55 year obsession with this team.  From attending 100's of games, knowing stats like rain man,   hell even Jose Lima was yelling "Hey Catfish" in the stands when he saw me from the bullpen.  I was that emotionally invested in this team and this game.

But believe me, my divorce from the game is complete.  And I won't be back.

.
Exactly.  I liked watching Baseball because, for three hours I can forget about all this political shit.  I am not likely to watch if that escape is taken away.  I gotta find a new Pastime, now that the old National one is ruined.  I'm tired of blacks, browns, rainbows constantly being in my face.

It's like the old saw about tyranny:  It's like having a boot on my face, forever.

[jmyrlefuller]

Marlins caught coronavirus... now the Cardinals caught coronavirus and the Field of Dreams game is cancelled.

The question is no longer, will this season end prematurely? The question is, will it even count?

[Gefn]

There were pictures last week of the Phillies Phanatic dancing and carrying on in an empty stadium during a game.

So frickin sad. And my favorite ball dog, isn’t working this year. He’s going to be catching balls in someone’s back yard. Not in a stadium

[EasyAce]

There were pictures last week of the Phillies Phanatic dancing and carrying on in an empty stadium during a game.

So frickin sad. And my favorite ball dog, isn’t working this year. He’s going to be catching balls in someone’s back yard. Not in a stadium

@Gefn

It's weird for me thinking to myself, when somebody hits a home run into a section where there are cardboard cutouts of fans or other creatures (at one Mets game, there were cutouts in the right field seats of players' dogs), . . . and the cardboard goes wild!

Or---considering the day Atlanta's Adam Duvall hit a home run that bopped the cutout of Mets infielder Jeff McNeil's Alaskan malamute puppy right in the snoot and knocked the cutout back before it rebounded---baseball as a penny-arcade shooting gallery.

On the other hand, I'm still waiting for the poor sap among a stadium PA crew who inadvertently hits a surge on the wild crowd cheering . . . when the home team's batter gets hit by a pitch.

[Polly Ticks]

I'm so glad we're finally done with the extra innings runner on 2nd base rule.

Also ... Go Braves!! 
 

[EasyAce]

I'm so glad we're finally done with the extra innings runner on 2nd base rule.

Also ... Go Braves!! 
 

@Polly Ticks
From what I've seen, enough teams this postseason were so adept at stranding baserunners they could have had the free cookie on second to open the extras and still stranded them!

[rustynail]

How about those Reds?

[Cyber Liberty]

@Polly Ticks
From what I've seen, enough teams this postseason were so adept at stranding baserunners they could have had the free cookie on second to open the extras and still stranded them!

"It's the Diamondback Way!"   As if they ever had a chance in 2020 after trading off all the good players.  It's as if they decided upfront to start "rebuilding."  Don't bother telling the fans, they're just the money end of the operation.

[Polly Ticks]

How about those Reds?

They'll probably still end up with a Cy Young winner, so at least they've got that going for them.  (Until he takes another 1 year deal somewhere else next year, anyway.)

[DCPatriot]

@EasyAce

Can you tell us why the ALDS is being played in the Padres' home stadium in San Diego and not in New York or Tampa?

I can appreciate the warm weather being more suitable, but shouldn't the teams enjoy playing the games in their own parks?

[EasyAce]

@EasyAce

Can you tell us why the ALDS is being played in the Padres' home stadium in San Diego and not in New York or Tampa?

I can appreciate the warm weather being more suitable, but shouldn't the teams enjoy playing the games in their own parks?

@DCPatriot

It's the "bubble" on behalf of COVID-19 safety protocols. MLB decided to use a) ballparks where there was less chance of outside interaction with teams, and b) neutral sites as another of Commissioner Nero's 2020 experiments, in addition to places where the weather's more amenable this time of year. The ALCS is also going to be played in Petco Park.

Though I also admit there's something particularly ticklish about the Athletics and the Astros playing the ALDS in Dodger Stadium, heh heh heh . . .

By the way, the Astros turned a 5-3 deficit and a two-out Oakland infield error in the sixth into a 10-5 Game One win this afternoon, but there's still time for the A's to . . .



I get the idea behind the bubble concept for this postseason, but I personally hope somebody pounds some sense back into Commissioner Nero and next season---assuming normalcy returning---the postseason gets played in the combatants' own ballparks. (I'd like to hope enough owners recover the brains they were born with and throw Commissioner Nero overboard, but that would be too much wishful thinking for now . . . )