Baseball 2021 - Play Ball! ⚾

[jmyrlefuller]

With our resident baseball writer on sabbatical, and Opening Day tomorrow, here is your thread for baseball chat for the 2021 season.

MLB official site:
https://mlb.com/

Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Major_League_Baseball_season

[Sighlass]

Prayers for Easyace... Hope you are ok buddy !

[jmyrlefuller]

Prayers for Easyace... Hope you are ok buddy !

He's doing all right. He left a note in the Members Lounge--just taking some time off from the board to take care of some other personal projects. So I'm stepping in as sports/entertainment moderator for a while.

[Sighlass]

He's doing all right. He left a note in the Members Lounge--just taking some time off from the board to take care of some other personal projects. So I'm stepping in as sports/entertainment moderator for a while.

Thank you Jm, so glad to hear that.

[Polly Ticks]

Yay, baseball season is finally here!!



Thanks for the shiny new thread, @jmyrlefuller !

[DCPatriot]

I'm pissed!

They can cancel/postpone an NFL/NBA or college game due to 'Covid' just a few days prior to the date, but they refuse to move the starting time of freaking OPENING DAY when the forecast is "below freezing temperatures" and 40mph winds.

IMHO, they place the players in a very dangerous situation.

For example, the 'Aces' of BOTH teams are on the mound.  If I was Max Scherzer, I'd tell them to stick it up their collective asses.

And what about an All-Star outfielder who throws his arm out in attempts to keep the guy from taking another base?

And on top of that, it's an "Off-Day" tomorrow.

[GrouchoTex]

I'm pissed!

They can cancel/postpone an NFL/NBA or college game due to 'Covid' just a few days prior to the date, but they refuse to move the starting time of freaking OPENING DAY when the forecast is "below freezing temperatures" and 40mph winds.

IMHO, they place the players in a very dangerous situation.

For example, the 'Aces' of BOTH teams are on the mound.  If I was Max Scherzer, I'd tell them to stick it up their collective asses.

And what about an All-Star outfielder who throws his arm out in attempts to keep the guy from taking another base?

And on top of that, it's an "Off-Day" tomorrow.

Interesting that opening day and late in the year, around the World Series, that you have these issues, especially the farther north you go.
Is there rain or snow in the forecast?
Maybe they will cancel it.
The old Candlestick Park had major wind issues, regardless of the time of year.

[DCPatriot]

Interesting that opening day and late in the year, around the World Series, that you have these issues, especially the farther north you go.
Is there rain or snow in the forecast?
Maybe they will cancel it.
The old Candlestick Park had major wind issues, regardless of the time of year.

@GrouchoTex

Forecast is for high temps in the 40's during the day, high winds as a big cold front just arrived after yesterday's rain all day.  Temps to be in the 30's with winds up to 40 mph at game time.

Totally ridiculous, especially given that tomorrow is an off-day.

And, they're only letting 5K fans inside...so it's not like they have a 45K sell-out!

[mystery-ak]

@jmyrlefuller

Great Job!

[mystery-ak]

Nationals-Mets Opening Day Game Postponed Due to Covid Issues

According to ESPN:

    Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had said Wednesday that his club would be down five players and a staff member for Opening Day after a player tested positive for COVID-19.

    There are concerns about at least one more positive COVID-19 test with the Nationals following the positive Wednesday, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

    The next game scheduled between the two teams is for Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2021/04/01/nationals-mets-opening-day-game-postponed-due-to-covid-issues/

[DCPatriot]

Nationals-Mets Opening Day Game Postponed Due to Covid Issues

According to ESPN:

    Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had said Wednesday that his club would be down five players and a staff member for Opening Day after a player tested positive for COVID-19.

    There are concerns about at least one more positive COVID-19 test with the Nationals following the positive Wednesday, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

    The next game scheduled between the two teams is for Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2021/04/01/nationals-mets-opening-day-game-postponed-due-to-covid-issues/

@mystery-ak

IMO...a bullsh*t excuse because the Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox Opener was canceled last night for weather related reasons.

Baltimore is just a 30 minute drive from Washington, D.C..

[jafo2010]

I say conservative states revoke the use of ballfields for MLB teams.  Those fields are paid for by taxpayers, not owners, players or the worthless league management.  I say we take a break from baseball since they embrace China as they do until they get smart or leave the country.  And I say good riddance!!!!

 

[DCPatriot]

@Polly Ticks

Saw the debacle around home plater in the 9th inning of the PHILLIES/BRAVES game last night.

Absolutely no excuse for not getting that call right.

They have cameras every damned place ...even planted inside the bases, but apparently none fixed directly above home plate??

BTW... he was "OUT"!

[Polly Ticks]

@Polly Ticks

Saw the debacle around home plater in the 9th inning of the PHILLIES/BRAVES game last night.

Absolutely no excuse for not getting that call right.

They have cameras every damned place ...even planted inside the bases, but apparently none fixed directly above home plate??

BTW... he was "OUT"!

@DCPatriot

Right?  Did you see the
Jomboy breakdown where he ran three different angles simultaneously?

To borrow from Jackie Chiles, it was outrageous, egregious, and preposterous.

[GrouchoTex]

Former Astros Manager A.J. Hinch returns to Houston today as the Manager of the Detriot Tigers.
It ought to be be interesting.
I think he will get a warm reception.
Fans loved the guy.

[DCPatriot]

GO NATS!!   

[DCPatriot]

[GrouchoTex]

ASTROS!
11 straight wins!
4 of them against the Chicago White Sox.
The other 7 games, not against teams as good as the White Sox, LOL.

[DCPatriot]

ASTROS!
11 straight wins!
4 of them against the Chicago White Sox.
The other 7 games, not against teams as good as the White Sox, LOL.

@GrouchoTex

I'd still demand that after every HR the ASTROS hit, that the batter strip down to his underwear immediately after he touches home plate.

Anyone notice that his teammates no longer tear Altuve's jersey off after a walk-off?   

[catfish1957]

Former Astros Manager A.J. Hinch returns to Houston today as the Manager of the Detriot Tigers.
It ought to be be interesting.
I think he will get a warm reception.
Fans loved the guy.

As a former baseball fan, I pretty much didn't intend to post on these threads anyway.  But for Hinch to have any role of any kind after allowing all that cheating back in '17?  Baseball is nothing but worthless garbage as far as I am concerned.  The game can circle the drain as far as I am concerned.

[GrouchoTex]

@GrouchoTex

I'd still demand that after every HR the ASTROS hit, that the batter strip down to his underwear immediately after he touches home plate.

Anyone notice that his teammates no longer tear Altuve's jersey off after a walk-off?   

@DCPatriot

LOL.
The trash cans?
Yeah, they did that, admitted as much.
The buzzers?
Makes me laugh every time I hear it.
Yankee fans are convinced of it, since 2019, when Altuve rocked that hanging slider out of the park.
Yet, Chapman has been blowing a lot of saves lately, so perhaps, Chapman isn't the star he's made out to be.
Since it's Yankees fan that are getting upset, I think it's a great conspiracy theory, that fans of all the other 29 teams ought to keep going, just to piss them off.
 

[GrouchoTex]

As a former baseball fan, I pretty much didn't intend to post on these threads anyway.  But for Hinch to have any role of any kind after allowing all that cheating back in '17?  Baseball is nothing but worthless garbage as far as I am concerned.  The game can circle the drain as far as I am concerned.

Dallas Keuchel was in Houston last week, playing for the White Sox.
His first time back since he left the team.
Did you hear what he had to say about 2017?

[GtHawk]

Okay I know this is really about USA baseball, but I caught a report about a little rhubarb that happened in Mexican League baseball yesterday,  Muy emocionante! https://nypost.com/2021/06/24/video-mexican-league-player-sets-off-brawl-with-bat-attack/

Action you just don't see in American baseball............thankfully.

[DCPatriot]

Okay I know this is really about USA baseball, but I caught a report about a little rhubarb that happened in Mexican League baseball yesterday,  Muy emocionante! https://nypost.com/2021/06/24/video-mexican-league-player-sets-off-brawl-with-bat-attack/

Action you just don't see in American baseball............thankfully.

@GtHawk

Actually, I'm surprised that it hasn't already happened in the MLB.

The other day the Orioles...the shittiest team in The Show...hit THREE Home Runs back-to back.  Of course, the next guy was plunked high on his shoulder.  The batter stepped toward the mound a bit, but the ump intervened and immediately threw the pitcher out of the game.

[GtHawk]

@GtHawk

Actually, I'm surprised that it hasn't already happened in the MLB.

The other day the Orioles...the shittiest team in The Show...hit THREE Home Runs back-to back.  Of course, the next guy was plunked high on his shoulder.  The batter stepped toward the mound a bit, but the ump intervened and immediately threw the pitcher out of the game.

@DCPatriot
I don't know if you caught it on the NYPOST page, I didn't until after I posted, there was a link to another story out of the Dominican Republic on 5/24 about a player unhappy with the plate umpires calls so he attacked him with both his bat and helmet, WTF! Elvis LeBron — a former Cubs prospect ........who has a history of bad behavior, they say. And the Cubs declined to pick him up, baffling.

[catfish1957]

Dallas Keuchel was in Houston last week, playing for the White Sox.
His first time back since he left the team.
Did you hear what he had to say about 2017?

Read the Chronicle article, and agree.  The Bosox and Yankees have been nailed twice for cheating in the past 5 years.  And honestly, from what I was seeing and hearing, you could probably count the teams on one hand who were not "bending" the rules.

Still, the Astros got its hand in the cookie jar big time, and are paying the price.  As far as baseball, I am through with it.  In fact, I have no idea how the Astros are doing, or even who is in their starting rotation.

[Bigun]

Read the Chronicle article, and agree.  The Bosox and Yankees have been nailed twice for cheating in the past 5 years.  And honestly, from what I was seeing and hearing, you could probably count the teams on one hand who were not "bending" the rules.

Still, the Astros got its hand in the cookie jar big time, and are paying the price.  As far as baseball, I am through with it.  In fact, I have no idea how the Astros are doing, or even who is in their starting rotation.

Same here.  I know they have won 11 in a row only because I heard a news reader on TV say so while I was waiting to see the weather forcast.

[DCPatriot]

Man oh Man!!!

The NATS' Kyle Schwarber has 15 HRs in his last 17 games.

He has 7 lead-off HRs since moving up into the leadoff spot in the batting order.

The NATS handled the METs tonight, 8-4.

The first three pitches found the METS' starter behind 2-0.  Then Juan Soto hit the 1st pitch off the centerfield wall for a double.

[AllThatJazzZ]

@GrouchoTex

I'd still demand that after every HR the ASTROS hit, that the batter strip down to his underwear immediately after he touches home plate.

Anyone notice that his teammates no longer tear Altuve's jersey off after a walk-off?   

Dude, your needle is stuck. You have got to be kidding me! I had to back up and check to see if this was a post from 2019.

Got a bad butt-hurt, don'tcha? Y'all ended up with the title in '19. Why are you still whining?


For @DCPatriot and anyone else who wants some clarification of the Astros' cheating scandal, I am including a conversation that I carefully transcribed. Notice that I don't take up for them. All I was looking for when I studied this situation was the truth. 

Here are some interesting snippets from a transcript from an “MLB Now” panel discussion, 2/14/2020…

Unidentified panelist: These guys right now are hoping once the season begins, whatever bad blood will dissipate and will just focus on the games at hand.

John Smoltz: Yeah, I think so. I also think there’s a memo to every team now that, whatever you were doing … STOP! And I think that we’re missing the point to think that this was an isolated situation. It wasn’t. But this situation was so advanced that it is taking, and rightfully so, taking the headlines away from how good these players were, and how good that team was. That’s never gonna go away. The only thing they can do moving forward is to prove that they’re still good and that the team still has a chance to win, despite what happened in 2017.

John Smoltz: …because remember the report said, which I think everyone kinda glazes over, when he [Carlos Beltrán] came over to the club [after playing on so many] said, “You guys are behind the times.” That means there are other places he was at that were doing things just as similar but were not as good as the system that he was in place now in Houston. So that’s the point I keep saying. I’d be very careful if I were certain players. Their anger is legit, but you gotta be pretty, pretty confident that nothing’s going to come back on your organization one day…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And about that absurd accusation in 2019 of Altuve's being wired, let Harold Reynolds enlighten all you haters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdU8IYuyY9A

So give it a damn rest already. We've got enough Derangement Syndrome in our culture. Let's drop the ADS.

BTW, fellow 'Stros fans, I'm back. Started watching again about 3 - 4 weeks ago. I won't buy merch (because of Manfred), but I'm going to enjoy my guys again.

[DCPatriot]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31735248/kyle-schwarber-16-home-runs-18-games-shows-no-signs-letting-up

Kyle Schwarber has 16 home runs in 18 games, and shows no signs of letting up



Kyle Schwarber stepped into the batter's box to lead off the bottom of the first inning Tuesday night at Nationals Park as the hottest hitter in the game, facing veteran left-hander Rich Hill.

Hill doesn't throw hard, but he has a big curveball and sometimes drops down. He's also tough on lefties, who entered the game hitting .143 against him in 2021 without a home run in 56 at-bats. In fact, lefties didn't homer off Hill in 2020 either, although that was a small sample of 17 at-bats. In 2019, they homered off him just once. Hill looked like a pitcher who might finally slow Schwarber down.

Hill's first offering was a fastball of 83.4 mph. Maybe Hill figured Schwarber wasn't going to swing, even though he does swing at the first pitch about 32% of the time. Schwarber swung at the elevated fastball, connected on the sweet part of the lumber and crushed the ball to right field, a 434-foot blast that appeared to land in the first row of the third deck.

more at link

[dfwgator]

Number 31 for Ohtani!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o-GCnnYQbc

[AllThatJazzZ]

Number 31 for Ohtani!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o-GCnnYQbc

Scary good! The man's an animal.

[DCPatriot]

https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/astros-carlos-correa-jose-altuve-skipping-all-star-game/

Two Astros skipping All-Star Game after cheating scandal

A pair of Astros are backing out of the first MLB All-Star Game since Houston’s infamous sign-stealing scandal.

Shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve each announced Thursday their intentions to skip this year’s festivities. Correa, who is hitting .288 with 16 home runs, stated a desire to be home with his pregnant wife during the four-day break.

“Baseball is really important to me, but family will always come first,” Correa said. “I’m grateful for everybody that voted for me to be in the All-Star Game. Baseball means the world to me, but I want to be with my family this time, especially with my wife, spending time with her. It’s our first child, so I need that time.”

...

continued at link

[DCPatriot]

https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/astros-carlos-correa-jose-altuve-skipping-all-star-game/

Two Astros skipping All-Star Game after cheating scandal

A pair of Astros are backing out of the first MLB All-Star Game since Houston’s infamous sign-stealing scandal.

Shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve each announced Thursday their intentions to skip this year’s festivities. Correa, who is hitting .288 with 16 home runs, stated a desire to be home with his pregnant wife during the four-day break.

“Baseball is really important to me, but family will always come first,” Correa said. “I’m grateful for everybody that voted for me to be in the All-Star Game. Baseball means the world to me, but I want to be with my family this time, especially with my wife, spending time with her. It’s our first child, so I need that time.”

...

continued at link

They are both cowards for not subjecting themselves to the guaranteed boos, but in today's culture, it's best they stay out of Colorado, this week.

All it would take is ONE single player to publicly call them out, to "become THE STORY" of the week.

[catfish1957]

https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/astros-carlos-correa-jose-altuve-skipping-all-star-game/

Wow...Weeeee!.  Amazing you sure didn't want to bring up Scherzer's baseball doctoring habits....   Imagine that.

[dfwgator]

https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/astros-carlos-correa-jose-altuve-skipping-all-star-game/

Two Astros skipping All-Star Game after cheating scandal

A pair of Astros are backing out of the first MLB All-Star Game since Houston’s infamous sign-stealing scandal.

Shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve each announced Thursday their intentions to skip this year’s festivities. Correa, who is hitting .288 with 16 home runs, stated a desire to be home with his pregnant wife during the four-day break.

“Baseball is really important to me, but family will always come first,” Correa said. “I’m grateful for everybody that voted for me to be in the All-Star Game. Baseball means the world to me, but I want to be with my family this time, especially with my wife, spending time with her. It’s our first child, so I need that time.”

...

continued at link

The only reason most people are going to watch the All-Star Game is Ohtani.

[dfwgator]

Scary good! The man's an animal.

Did you see this one last night......This guy just absolutely pulverizes the baseball.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmMSIaova18

[catfish1957]

The only reason most people are going to watch the All-Star Game is Ohtani.

After the woke decison to move game from Atlanta, I'll be boycotting pretty much all the  rest of the season too.  I have not watched 1 inning of MLB this year.  News headlines maybe, but the game can burn in hell all I care.

[DCPatriot]

Wow...Weeeee!.  Amazing you sure didn't want to bring up Scherzer's baseball doctoring habits....   Imagine that.

 

SOB had an eight run lead in the 4th inning.  Gave up seven.  Hit 2 batters and forced in a run with a BB. 

Then...THEN...THEN he gives up a grand slam to a pinch-hitting pitcher who just got off the bus. 

What Vasoline?   

[catfish1957]

 

SOB had an eight run lead in the 4th inning.  Gave up seven.  Hit 2 batters and forced in a run with a BB. 

Then...THEN...THEN he gives up a grand slam to a pinch-hitting pitcher who just got off the bus. 

What Vasoline?   

Needs to cheat better.    

OTOH he is 7-4 with a 2.66 era.  (Cherry picking one start not allowed)

[DCPatriot]

Needs to cheat better.    

OTOH he is 7-4 with a 2.66 era.  (Cherry picking one start not allowed)

 

uh...it was an eight-run lead.  It was Max Scherzer.   

[AllThatJazzZ]

I feel sorry for any 'Stros fans who left the ballpark early today. Stunning finish in the bottom of the 9th.

[GrouchoTex]

https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/astros-carlos-correa-jose-altuve-skipping-all-star-game/

Two Astros skipping All-Star Game after cheating scandal

A pair of Astros are backing out of the first MLB All-Star Game since Houston’s infamous sign-stealing scandal.

Shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve each announced Thursday their intentions to skip this year’s festivities. Correa, who is hitting .288 with 16 home runs, stated a desire to be home with his pregnant wife during the four-day break.

“Baseball is really important to me, but family will always come first,” Correa said. “I’m grateful for everybody that voted for me to be in the All-Star Game. Baseball means the world to me, but I want to be with my family this time, especially with my wife, spending time with her. It’s our first child, so I need that time.”

...

continued at link

It is the New York Post.
Not surprised they have that take there.
Have you noticed the Astros on the base paths or when other teams players are on the bases?
They are cutting up, and laughing.
They aren't afraid of the other players.
The other players know what's up.
The Astros took the hit, but they weren't alone.
Nobody is willing  to talk, because of the way the Astros have been treated by fans and media around the country, but wait until some of these guys start to retire.

[GrouchoTex]

I feel sorry for any 'Stros fans who left the ballpark early today. Stunning finish in the bottom of the 9th.

THAT WAS GREAT!!!

[AllThatJazzZ]

THAT WAS GREAT!!!

It truly was. I'm so glad I watched to the end even though it looked so hopeless.

[AllThatJazzZ]

Y'all, they're going to screw up the baseball season. I have that "waiting for the other shoe to drop" feeling that we're going to get mask mandates slapped on us and the 2021 season will be cut short or that people won't be allowed to attend the games. Those filthy authoritarians are itching to reign in the liberty of the American people.

[DCPatriot]

It is the New York Post.
Not surprised they have that take there.
Have you noticed the Astros on the base paths or when other teams players are on the bases?
They are cutting up, and laughing.
They aren't afraid of the other players.
The other players know what's up.
The Astros took the hit, but they weren't alone.
Nobody is willing  to talk, because of the way the Astros have been treated by fans and media around the country, but wait until some of these guys start to retire.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!

GTFO!  The ASTROS are the 'Millie/Vanilli' of the MLB!!  A bunch of frauds who stole a championship.

[catfish1957]

It is the New York Post.
Not surprised they have that take there.
Have you noticed the Astros on the base paths or when other teams players are on the bases?
They are cutting up, and laughing.
They aren't afraid of the other players.
The other players know what's up.
The Astros took the hit, but they weren't alone.
Nobody is willing  to talk, because of the way the Astros have been treated by fans and media around the country, but wait until some of these guys start to retire.

@GrouchoTex

What is sad is some of the vitirol has been aimed at us fans who had absolutely nothing to do with this debacle.  I always thought that baseball fannage was a brotherhood, and a unifying topic of friendship and commradary.  But now as far as I am concerned, not only have I blown off the game, the fans of the 29 teams can go F__K themselves. 

[AllThatJazzZ]

How 'bout those Orioles! Sweeping the series, topping things off with a dramatic walk-off. Love, love, love it!

 

[dfwgator]

How 'bout those Orioles! Sweeping the series, topping things off with a dramatic walk-off. Love, love, love it!

 

Ha ha,  they are about to pass the Rangers.