Baseball 2023

[Polly Ticks]

@Bigun  @catfish1957  @Polly Ticks  @AllThatJazzZ

Society has changed.  My daddy's generation wore ties and fedoras to ballgames.  No player would dream of hotdogging or taunting an opponent back then.

The strikezone was top of the letters to the knees.  The pitcher's mound was higher, which made the breaking ball much more effective, IMHO.

Today's youth are raised on action video games.  Their situational awareness is much more heightened than simple me who was raised on Sky King, and Bugs Bunny cartoons.   

I like the pitch clock.

What I don't find appealing is the 190lb ballplayer hitting it on the end of this bat (out of the sweet spot) 425 feet to the OPPOSITE FIELD.

What I don't find appealing is that we don't utilize mechanical balls and strikes.

Last night the last batter in the O's/Rays game was robbed with no only "strike 1", but also the next pitch "strick 2".

...changed the batter's entire approach.  Of course, the SOB was throwing it 102mph. 

The biggest hint that the ball is juiced is when you see Freddie Freeman...at his age, getting 60 doubles.
What kind of bullsh*t is this??  LOL!   

Luv talkin' baseball with you guys!   

Ok, I was with you most of the way there, but you can't be hating on Freddie!  I still love that guy, even though his current uniform stinks.

[Bigun]

@Bigun  @catfish1957  @Polly Ticks  @AllThatJazzZ

Society has changed.  My daddy's generation wore ties and fedoras to ballgames.  No player would dream of hotdogging or taunting an opponent back then.

The strikezone was top of the letters to the knees.  The pitcher's mound was higher, which made the breaking ball much more effective, IMHO.

Today's youth are raised on action video games.  Their situational awareness is much more heightened than simple me who was raised on Sky King, and Bugs Bunny cartoons.   

I like the pitch clock.

What I don't find appealing is the 190lb ballplayer hitting it on the end of this bat (out of the sweet spot) 425 feet to the OPPOSITE FIELD.

What I don't find appealing is that we don't utilize mechanical balls and strikes.

Last night the last batter in the O's/Rays game was robbed with no only "strike 1", but also the next pitch "strick 2".

...changed the batter's entire approach.  Of course, the SOB was throwing it 102mph. 

The biggest hint that the ball is juiced is when you see Freddie Freeman...at his age, getting 60 doubles.
What kind of bullsh*t is this??  LOL!   

Luv talkin' baseball with you guys!   

You are perfectly entitled to like whatever you wish @DCPatriot but I agree with @catfish1957 100% on this! To hell with ALL of it!

[catfish1957]

@Bigun  @catfish1957  @Polly Ticks  @AllThatJazzZ

Society has changed.  My daddy's generation wore ties and fedoras to ballgames.  No player would dream of hotdogging or taunting an opponent back then.

The strikezone was top of the letters to the knees.  The pitcher's mound was higher, which made the breaking ball much more effective, IMHO.

Today's youth are raised on action video games.  Their situational awareness is much more heightened than simple me who was raised on Sky King, and Bugs Bunny cartoons.   

I like the pitch clock.

What I don't find appealing is the 190lb ballplayer hitting it on the end of this bat (out of the sweet spot) 425 feet to the OPPOSITE FIELD.

What I don't find appealing is that we don't utilize mechanical balls and strikes.

Last night the last batter in the O's/Rays game was robbed with no only "strike 1", but also the next pitch "strick 2".

...changed the batter's entire approach.  Of course, the SOB was throwing it 102mph. 

The biggest hint that the ball is juiced is when you see Freddie Freeman...at his age, getting 60 doubles.
What kind of bullsh*t is this??  LOL!   

Luv talkin' baseball with you guys!   

 

Find a 100 fans, and you will hear a 100 different versions of what is right or wrong about baseball right now.  I understand the new obsession with making this game like a video game, but there are still some dinosaurs like me who proudly wear the moniker of "purist"
I understand how the game has to change to compete, but its happening too damned fast for my tastes.

[DCPatriot]

You are perfectly entitled to like whatever you wish @DCPatriot but I agree with @catfish1957 100% on this! To hell with ALL of it!

@Bigun

You're full of it!        You're a teddy bear.

Bet I could tie you to a chair for a week of Orioles' games this week (RAYS...then ASTROS) and turn you into a Bird's fan!

[DCPatriot]

Ok, I was with you most of the way there, but you can't be hating on Freddie!  I still love that guy, even though his current uniform stinks.

@Polly Ticks

I'm just jealous.  Still reeling from the Orioles' bust of an extension given to Chris Davis...$110M??
Suddenly, he couldn't get around on a fastball.

Yet Freddie is like the EverReady Bunny...he just keeps on going.

[Bigun]

I understand how the game has to change to compete, but its happening too damned fast for my tastes.

I don't! Not at all! And I never will understand why what is good and right needs to be adulterated. For what?

[Bigun]

@Bigun

You're full of it!        You're a teddy bear.

Bet I could tie you to a chair for a week of Orioles' games this week (RAYS...then ASTROS) and turn you into a Bird's fan!

Yeah! Right! And speaking of being full of it, you seem to forget that I once played the game at a time when .200 hitters remained completely unknown to almost everybody.

[catfish1957]

I don't! Not at all! And I never will understand why what is good and right needs to be adulterated. For what?

When we were kids, Baseball by far was the most popular sport in the U.S.  Now it is No.3, and dropping.  I'm with you, in that I hate the changes, but I am afraid if the game doesn't adapt, it won't survive.

[Bigun]

When we were kids, Baseball by far was the most popular sport in the U.S.  Now it is No.3, and dropping.  I'm with you, in that I hate the changes, but I am afraid if the game doesn't adapt, it won't survive.

There are a host of dying Churches in this country who have adopted the same philosophy. I'll pass!

[DCPatriot]

Yeah! Right! And speaking of being full of it, you seem to forget that I once played the game at a time when .200 hitters remained completely unknown to almost everybody.

Well back then, old-timer... we only had to watch EIGHT teams in a league.  SIXTEEN total.

.200 hitters stuck out like sore thumbs.  Thus, Mendoza! 

[catfish1957]

Well back then, old-timer... we only had to watch EIGHT teams in a league.  SIXTEEN total.

.200 hitters stuck out like sore thumbs.  Thus, Mendoza!

I'm sorry, but when you look closely at the bottom 2 or 3 player's WAR, of say the 10 worst teams in MLB.  Do you think they deserve to be Major Leaguers?

The dilution of talent in the past few decades has been awful.

[Bigun]

I'm sorry, but when you look closely at the bottom 2 or 3 player's WAR, of say the 10 worst teams in MLB.  Do you think they deserve to be Major Leaguers?

The dilution of talent in the past few decades has been awful.

 

[DCPatriot]

I'm sorry, but when you look closely at the bottom 2 or 3 player's WAR, of say the 10 worst teams in MLB.  Do you think they deserve to be Major Leaguers?

The dilution of talent in the past few decades has been awful.

That's my point, @catfish1957

I look at the OPS of the average ballplayer today and think... should be riding pine and not getting 5 ABs a game.

...especially with a belt to knees strikezone.

[Bigun]

Well back then, old-timer... we only had to watch EIGHT teams in a league.  SIXTEEN total.

.200 hitters stuck out like sore thumbs.  Thus, Mendoza!

Tell me, if you can, exactly what was wrong with that. @DCPatriot

[DCPatriot]

Tell me, if you can, exactly what was wrong with that. @DCPatriot

@Bigun

Nothing.

Starters today are only expected to throw 100 pitches. 

It's because MLB is watered down.

Thank God, the Hispanic and now the Japanese have embraced it...it shall live one.

Now, if I can just get used to Tatis Jr's annoying stutter step approaching 3rd base in his HR trot. 

[Bigun]

@Bigun

Nothing.

Starters today are only expected to throw 100 pitches. 

It's because MLB is watered down.

Thank God, the Hispanic and now the Japanese have embraced it...it shall live one.

Now, if I can just get used to Tatis Jr's annoying stutter step approaching 3rd base in his HR trot. 

  To the point it no longer interests me at all. @DCPatriot

I'd just as soon watch Sam Houston State play McNeese.

[catfish1957]

I got to admit back in the day, I was obsessed with the game, and could tell you at moments notice ba.'s , era's, etc. of any Houston player.  Even back in the mid 80's I used to make at leat 15-20 games a year.  Now, I really don't get into it until the playoffs.  Mostly for reasons that we have discussed on this page.

p.s.  I haven't been to a game since the early 2010's.

[Hoodat]

I like the pitch clock.

The pitch clock is gay.

[DCPatriot]

The pitch clock is gay.

LOL!  Last night I saw a TAMPA RAY step out of the box on a 0-1 count.

O's starter Bradish threw a pitch right down the pipe.

He was NOT happy being 0-2. 

But it reminds me of a scene in a movie ...might have been Driving Miss Daisy, but the older person in the backseat suggested that because she was so old, she'd appreciate it if they could get moving.

That's baseball to me watching the old Trey Turner step out of the box after EVERY pitch to adjust his jock, batting gloves and helmet.

I so wished that a pitcher would have tossed a slow curve at this head.

[Bigun]

REAL baseball! I still get goosebumps watching it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtnU4yno4o

[Hoodat]

LOL!  Last night I saw a TAMPA RAY step out of the box on a 0-1 count.

O's starter Bradish threw a pitch right down the pipe.

He was NOT happy being 0-2. 

But it reminds me of a scene in a movie ...might have been Driving Miss Daisy, but the older person in the backseat suggested that because she was so old, she'd appreciate it if they could get moving.

That's baseball to me watching the old Trey Turner step out of the box after EVERY pitch to adjust his jock, batting gloves and helmet.

I so wished that a pitcher would have tossed a slow curve at this head.

The one thing that has slowed the game down more than any other factor is television.  It is remarkable how much faster a game goes without four-minute commercial breaks between half-innings.  That's over an hour of commercials between the first and ninth innings.

I went to a lot of Braves games when I was younger.  And it was very noticeable when a game was televised on one of the local networks.  There would never be any rushing out to take the field.  Never any need for someone to get behind the plate to take the warm-up tosses from the pitcher because the catcher was the second-base runner when the last out was made.  The major television networks have ruined the game.  And now they want even more commercial time to cram into their 3-hr window by forcing play to move along faster.

You want a pitch clock?  How about a commercial clock.  Once a team takes the field and the pitcher gets his warmup tosses, commercials end right there, and television coverage comes back online.

[Hoodat]

REAL baseball! I still get goosebumps watching it!

I remember sneaking small transistor radios in to middle school to listen to playoff or world series games, which back then were played during the day.

[Bigun]

I remember sneaking small transistor radios in to middle school to listen to playoff or world series games, which back then were played during the day.

I watched the last half of that game in the gym on a small TV that a coach brought in.

[DCPatriot]

REAL baseball! I still get goosebumps watching it!

h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtnU4yno4o

Thanks for that, @Bigun

Last time I watched that was on our 21 inch B&W table TV age 14.

All the fans are wearing white shirts with ties, but then it's a DAY GAME and the 7th game of the World Series. 

What else I notice is the quick delivery out of the "Stretch Position" of the Pirates pitcher in the 7th inning.
Plus, he was facing the batter same as his "windup" start.

Laughed because I had a Tony Kubek glove in my playing days...to see him on the screen...WOW!   

[DCPatriot]

Shohei Ohtani's locker emptied out; Angels to explain Saturday



Associated Press
Sep 16, 2023, 07:55 AM ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shohei Ohtani's locker has been mostly cleared out at Angel Stadium, and the Los Angeles Angels declined to say why Friday night.

The two-way superstar missed his 11th consecutive game with an oblique muscle injury Friday night when the Angels lost 11-2 to the Detroit Tigers. Although Ohtani was at the stadium before the game, the soon-to-be free agent's locker was largely empty afterward.

Nearly all the personal items had been removed from his locker and the adjoining empty stall. A fully packed bag with a logo from the 2023 All-Star Game sat in front of his stall where his shoes would normally be, and only a few workout shirts hung on the rack.

Nearly a half-hour after reporters were allowed into the locker room and noticed the absence of Ohtani's possessions, an Angels spokesperson said the team will give more information about the development Saturday.

continued at link:  https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38411677/shohei-ohtani-locker-emptied-angels-explain-sat

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[Polly Ticks]

Shohei Ohtani's locker emptied out; Angels to explain Saturday

He was definitely going to be gone at the end of the season in any case. 

[catfish1957]

He was definitely going to be gone at the end of the season in any case.

Still very bizarre.  Ohtani is a class guy, so I am guessing that his recent injuries are more severe than originally thought.  I just don't see it could be a falling out. 

[DCPatriot]

Still very bizarre.  Ohtani is a class guy, so I am guessing that his recent injuries are more severe than originally thought.  I just don't see it could be a falling out.

@catfish1957

Nope...have to disagree!  LOL!

His agent got involved.  He's potentially, the first BILLION $$$ player in professional sports.

If you're guaranteed to be playing somewhere else next season, why risk any injury to your hitting ability for a team that just publicly threw in the towel on the season.

...then look at Mike Trout.  He put himself back on the IL too!

Too much $$$ involved.  That's why I teased here a couple years ago that for the money these kids get, I'd 'OWN' their asses for the entire contract period.

No backyard pickup games of hoops...no jet skiing...no skiing of any kind...no loose women...green veggies every meal, etc..

[DCPatriot]

He was definitely going to be gone at the end of the season in any case.

@Polly Ticks

Yep!  IMO, he said, "As a legitimate 2-way player, why risk the remaining value I have, in a free-agent contract year?  I've already proven myself as the greatest since Babe Ruth...and Scott Boras said I should "SHUT IT DOWN NOW!!" (like the guy telling the electrical grid guy in "DIE HARD")   


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO2hwvinFLE

[catfish1957]

@Polly Ticks

Yep!  IMO, he said, "As a legitimate 2-way player, why risk the remaining value I have, in a free-agent contract year?  I've already proven myself as the greatest since Babe Ruth...and Scott Boras said I should "SHUT IT DOWN NOW!!" (like the guy telling the electrical grid guy in "DIE HARD")   

My exact thoughts.  Dizzy Dean is an ancient example of what can happen to a player, just playing through the pain, to the detriment of ruining a career..

[Polly Ticks]

@Polly Ticks

Yep!  IMO, he said, "As a legitimate 2-way player, why risk the remaining value I have, in a free-agent contract year?  I've already proven myself as the greatest since Babe Ruth...and Scott Boras said I should "SHUT IT DOWN NOW!!" (like the guy telling the electrical grid guy in "DIE HARD")   

Absolutely right.

But you can't start talking about Die Hard ... it's too early in the year for Christmas movies.    

[catfish1957]

In this strange year in MLB, looking the standings,  89 or 90, or so wins might buy you the no.2 seed and a bye this year in the AL.

[Hoodat]

Orioles win in extra innings to even series with Tampa.

[DCPatriot]

In this strange year in MLB, looking the standings,  89 or 90, or so wins might buy you the no.2 seed and a bye this year in the AL.

Luckily, the O's split their four game series with the RAYS...now 2 games up in the AL East (4 in the lost column)

Tomorrow they start a 3 game series vs the ASTROS.  In Houston.

[DCPatriot]

Orioles win in extra innings to even series with Tampa.

 

[catfish1957]

Congratulations to the Card's Wainright on his 200th W tonight.

This feat has and will become more rare in the modern baseball era.

[DCPatriot]

Congratulations to the Card's Wainright on his 200th W tonight.

This feat has and will become more rare in the modern baseball era.

What?

WHAT??

No "Congratulations" for the Orioles spanking the Astros last nite? 

[catfish1957]

What?

WHAT??

No "Congratulations" for the Orioles spanking the Astros last nite? 

Wasn't surprised.  If you didn't notice earlier, I was pretty much stating that this Astros team was not going to go deep in the post season. 

[DCPatriot]

Wasn't surprised.  If you didn't notice earlier, I was pretty much stating that this Astros team was not going to go deep in the post season.

I know...was just giving you a raspberry. 

Saw the betting line before the game...couldn't understand why they had the ASTROS at -185

...until I saw the name "Justin Verlander"   

[catfish1957]

I know...was just giving you a raspberry. 

Saw the betting line before the game...couldn't understand why they had the ASTROS at -185

...until I saw the name "Justin Verlander"   

Wouldn't have mattered even  if it was Greg Maddux, when your closer blows a 2 run lead 9th inning lead, when it matters most.  If we make it to the LCS, we better hope the ALDS matchup s against Minnesota.  I don't think we get by any of the other 5.

[Bigun]

Wouldn't have mattered even  if it was Greg Maddux, when your closer blows a 2 run lead 9th inning lead, when it matters most.  If we make it to the LCS, we better hope the ALDS matchup s against Minnesota.  I don't think we get by any of the other 5.

How can anyone expect anything from a pitching staff composed mostly of washed-up old has beens?

[catfish1957]

How can anyone expect anything from a pitching staff composed mostly of washed-up old has beens?

Biggest difference is in the drop off in production of our Latin Contingent. If someway in the beginning of the season had told me that these would be the W's by mid September, I'd figure we'd be in 4th place.

Valdez- 12
Javier- 9
Uriquidy- 2
Garcia- 2

Last year these same 4, won 56, and if wasn't for Hunter Brown, we'd be in 4th.

[DCPatriot]

Biggest difference is in the drop off in production of our Latin Contingent. If someway in the beginning of the season had told me that these would be the W's by mid September, I'd figure we'd be in 4th place.

Valdez- 12
Javier- 9
Uriquidy- 2
Garcia- 2

Last year these same 4, won 56, and if wasn't for Hunter Brown, we'd be in 4th.

@catfish1957

O's up 9-5 in the 7th tonight.



And once more, please note the juiced ball.  End-of-the-bat ...opposite field HRs...by 190lb hitters.

Can somebody pulleeze saw a ball in half and expose this sham?   LOL!   

[catfish1957]

Just saw that Brooks Robinson passed away.  IMO, maybe the greatest defensive player who ever played the game at any position.

RIP....

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38498947/hall-fame-3b-orioles-legend-brooks-robinson-dies-86

[Bigun]

Just saw that Brooks Robinson passed away.  IMO, maybe the greatest defensive player who ever played the game at any position.

RIP....

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38498947/hall-fame-3b-orioles-legend-brooks-robinson-dies-86

  

[DCPatriot]

Terry Francona is hanging up the managerial hat.

LOL!  I remember him as a player...he was notorious for going thru a routine after each and every pitch...gloves, helmet, digging up dirt in the box, etc..

One game Rick Dempsey, the Orioles catcher got so frustrated that when he threw the ball back to the mound after a pitch, he purposefully hit Francona SMACK on the side of this helmet.   

[DCPatriot]

One thing about missing out on the Wildcard slot by just ONE win...

It's too easy to go back in your mind and find a game that was given away by an error or managerial mistake.

 

Congratulations on the Orioles clinching a BYE and home field advantage with the best LEAGUE record.

[DCPatriot]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38514750/astros-hector-neris-apologizes-julio-rodriguez-mariners

Hector Neris apology does little to warm over Julio Rodriguez

Hector Neris apologized to Julio Rodriguez in a statement Thursday, a day after the Houston Astros reliever shouted at the Mariners star during an at-bat that caused both benches to empty in Seattle.

In a battle of two teams fighting for the final American League wild-card spot, Neris yelled at Rodriguez after striking him out during the sixth inning of what was ultimately an 8-3 Houston win. Rodriguez was visibly angered by the pitcher's actions, as were other members of the Mariners.

"First, I want to apologize to Julio, his family, and the Mariners organization," Neris said in the statement. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Julio as a person and a player. He means so much to baseball and the communities in the United States and back home in the Dominican Republic. He is a great player and a better person and deserves to be recognized that way........

continued at above link

[DCPatriot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OibemAEXQTw

[catfish1957]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OibemAEXQTw

Pffffffff!!!!!!   Every team has an ass hole, and if I remember right one of your teams in your own bandgwaggonig ways was Bryce Harper. 

Not many more of a jerk in MLB than that SOB.

Don't let your Astros hate get to you.