Baseball 2023

[Hoodat]

Here is your thread for baseball chat for the 2023 season.

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

Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Major_League_Baseball_season


Photo borrowed from @jmyrlefuller thread from last year.

[Hoodat]

This called strike to end the game is the most atrocious call I've ever seen in my life. It got the ump suspended indefinitely.

Hamilton Porter  ··  Mar 12, 2023

If you're a baseball fan, prepare to get angry. I defy you to watch this video of the ending of the Miss. Valley State-New Orleans game yesterday and not get heated:

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1634585250624831488

https://notthebee.com/article/this-is-the-worst-strike-call-ive-ever-seen/


The umpire clearly did not like being questioned on the previous call.  But his actions on the next pitch were clearly an abuse of power.  Had I been the catcher, I would have intentionally dropped the ball and allowed the runner to reach first base, forcing the umpire to continue the game.

[Hoodat]

Flashback from '97.  (Yes, more bad calls going against the Braves)





@Polly Ticks

[jmyrlefuller]

Thanks @Hoodat !

It kind of slipped away from me.

[Polly Ticks]

FYI ... One year of free MLB.TV is coming to T-Mobile Tuesday on 3/28.

[catfish1957]

Not sure we have any Mets fans, but your closer Edwin Diaz went down with a knee injury during the WBC during a post game celebration for his home team of Pueto Rico. Understand he had to be carted off in a wheel chair.  He had a patellar tendon tear, and will have surgery, and from my guess with these types of injuries, will be out for the year.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/16/sport/edwin-diaz-world-baseball-classic-injury-spt-intl/index.html

[AllThatJazzZ]

Not sure we have any Mets fans, but your closer Edwin Diaz went down with a knee injury during the WBC during a post game celebration for his home team of Pueto Rico. Understand he had to be carted off in a wheel chair.  He had a patellar tendon tear, and will have surgery, and from my guess with these types of injuries, will be out for the year.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/16/sport/edwin-diaz-world-baseball-classic-injury-spt-intl/index.html

@catfish1957
And 'Tuve's got a broken thumb. Estimated to be out for 10 weeks or so. 

@Hoodat
Thanks for creating this thread. I came looking for one a couple of weeks ago. Figured someone would create one soon enough. Appreciate your taking the initiative.

[cato potatoe]

Not sure we have any Mets fans, but your closer Edwin Diaz went down with a knee injury during the WBC during a post game celebration for his home team of Pueto Rico. Understand he had to be carted off in a wheel chair.  He had a patellar tendon tear, and will have surgery, and from my guess with these types of injuries, will be out for the year.

That's terrible for him, and a leg injury is very tough on a pitcher.  I am a little surprised teams are letting their stars participate in the WBC. 

[Polly Ticks]

That's terrible for him, and a leg injury is very tough on a pitcher.  I am a little surprised teams are letting their stars participate in the WBC.

They're taking some heat for that, as some consider it an unnecessary risk; however, others are pointing out that there are always injuries during spring training, too.   

Presumably, they're hoping the WBC will help bring more fans into the fold.

[LadyLiberty]

I hate to see anyone injured, even if they are on a team I don't care for.

We had some banana ball in Sugar Land this weekend. Really fun rules on this version of baseball!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-4oMHbcP8U

[catfish1957]

Question for the super-duper ultmate baseball geeks.....

When in player evaluation stats  mode does a player like Ohtani's WAR get calculated on both pitching and offensive contributions?

Trying to envision how much an annual player with a 10 WAR would get when he hits free agency........

[Maj. Bill Martin]

This called strike to end the game is the most atrocious call I've ever seen in my life. It got the ump suspended indefinitely.

Hamilton Porter  ··  Mar 12, 2023

If you're a baseball fan, prepare to get angry. I defy you to watch this video of the ending of the Miss. Valley State-New Orleans game yesterday and not get heated:

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1634585250624831488

https://notthebee.com/article/this-is-the-worst-strike-call-ive-ever-seen/


The umpire clearly did not like being questioned on the previous call.  But his actions on the next pitch were clearly an abuse of power.  Had I been the catcher, I would have intentionally dropped the ball and allowed the runner to reach first base, forcing the umpire to continue the game.

Yeah, I saw that.  I think the ump was disciplined/suspended/fired.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Question for the super-duper ultmate baseball geeks.....

When in player evaluation stats  mode does a player like Ohtani's WAR get calculated on both pitching and offensive contributions?

Trying to envision how much an annual player with a 10 WAR would get when he hits free agency........

Yes, it does.  I'm the mod on a baseball forum full of some extraordinarily intense stat geeks, and I think it was last year that they were crunching all those numbers and debating it.  A couple of the guys are actually employed by teams, and they chip in as well.

I have to say that I love Ohtani.  He's got a great baseball attitude and just seems like a super good guy.  Fantastic for baseball, too.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Flashback from '97.  (Yes, more bad calls going against the Braves)





@Polly Ticks

I remember that game.  My Indians made it to the World Series that year against the Marlins, and we got "Hernandez'd as well."  But that particular game you posted was the worst.

Gregg should have been fired after that game, but wasn't.  They didn't let him call postseason games again, and he was out a couple of years later.  But they didn't fire him, likely because he was one of the first black umpires.

[catfish1957]

Opening Day in 5 days...

According to predictive stats at Fan Graphs here is how your team stacks up.  On opening day hope springs eternal.  We all are 0-0.

(Sorry for the spacing)

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds


Team                  % Chance of winning WS      % Chance of making playoffs.     
======             ====                                ====
Braves                  14.8                                   91.9
Padres                  12.0                                   88.0
Yankees.               10.9.                                  83.4
Astros                    8.8.                                  79.2
Mets                      7.9                                   79.0
Blue Jays               6.6                                    71.7
Devil Rays.             5.4                                   66.8
Cardinals               5.3                                    72.1
Dodgers                 5.1                                    68.5
Brewers                 3.1                                    57.5
Mariners.               2.9                                    48.0
Indians.                 2.8                                    54.2
Phillies.                  2.7                                    49.8
Angels                   2.2                                    40.8
Twins                     2.0                                    45.5
Giants                    1.9                                    41.3
Rangers.                 1.7                                    36.1
Red Sox                 1.4                                    30.0
White Sox.              0.9.                                   27.7
Marlins                    0.6                                   22.4
Diamondbacks.        0.4                                   13.6
Oiroles                    0.3                                     8.2
Cubs                       0.2                                    10.6
Pirates.                   0.1                                     4.4
Royals                     0.0.                                    4.5
Tigers                      0.0.                                    3.4
Reds                        0.0                                     0.7
Athletics.                 0.0                                      0.6
Rockies                    0.0                                      0.1
Nationals.                0.0                                      0.1

Yeah I said Indians instead of Guardians on purpose.....

[catfish1957]

Got to admit, that even with all the crappy MLB wokeness, I am starting to feel the spring fever of opening day.....  Anyone want to prognosticate what we will see this year.  Some teams like Toronto really strengthed, while some like the poor Mets just suffered a -4 to 5 WAR with the loss of the closer. Plus as an Astros fan, I know it isn't too smart to bet against Verlander, but at some point he's going to start showing his age.  I think they underperform this year.

From my view point this year including seed:

NL

Byes (ATL 1) (LA 2)

WC (MIL 3) v  (PHI 6)
      (SD 4) v. (SF 5)

AL

Byes (TOR 1) (HOU 2)

WC (MIN 3 v. NYY 6)
      (TB 4 v. SEA 5)

NLDS 

ATL over PHI
SD over LA

ALDS

TOR over NYY
SEA over HOU. (Yeah, my team, but this team has been subject to bouts of complacency that haunts them sometimes). Seattle would love nothing better to get revenge and rub it in our faces.

LCS

SD over ATL
TOR over SEA

WS

SD over TOR. (And FOX and MLB again are aghast at ratings due to teams in the WS

[Polly Ticks]

Ok, so who has been watching spring training games, and what do you think of the pitch clock / shift ban?

I'm thinking the pitch clock will be great for folks watching at home on TV, but less happy for those attending the game live at the ballpark.  Instead of missing an inning when you go to the concessions stand, you'll miss an inning and a half.

[catfish1957]

Ok, so who has been watching spring training games, and what do you think of the pitch clock / shift ban?

I'm thinking the pitch clock will be great for folks watching at home on TV, but less happy for those attending the game live at the ballpark.  Instead of missing an inning when you go to the concessions stand, you'll miss an inning and a half.

I've basically hated every rule change since the DH.  Baseball is a game for the purist, and its stats are sacred. As a kid, numbers like 60, 4191, 714 had special meaning.  As far as I am concerned,  almost every COB in the past 50 years has tried to ruin the game.

The timeclock hurts managers ability to milk the time, where he now has to go to the pen with possibiy an under warmed up arm.  That and the stupid three batter rule.

[LadyLiberty]

Plus as an Astros fan, I know it isn't too smart to bet against Verlander, but at some point he's going to start showing his age.

Verlander has said that he just wants to play long enough for his daughter to have memories of him pitching on the mound, and I hope that works out for him.

[catfish1957]

Verlander has said that he just wants to play long enough for his daughter to have memories of him pitching on the mound, and I hope that works out for him.

Making $40M a year, and married to Kate Upton?

I'd say....   Basebaw ben vedy vedy good to Justin.

[Polly Ticks]

Just a reminder, today is the day you can get a free year of MLB.TV with T-Mobile Tuesday.

You're on your own for the VPN.

 

[cato potatoe]

I'm thinking the pitch clock will be great for folks watching at home on TV, but less happy for those attending the game live at the ballpark.  Instead of missing an inning when you go to the concessions stand, you'll miss an inning and a half.

I'm not wild about a tacky clock, but lately, the pace is excruciatingly slow.  The players sort of brought it on themselves.

The other changes are totally unnecessary.

[GrouchoTex]

I hate to see anyone injured, even if they are on a team I don't care for.

We had some banana ball in Sugar Land this weekend. Really fun rules on this version of baseball!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-4oMHbcP8U

Friends of mine went. ( I am only one mile away from the stadium).
We have our 10 game "Silver Stars" (55+ years old) package, for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
For those not familiar, they are the Astros Triple a Team.

[GrouchoTex]

Question for the super-duper ultmate baseball geeks.....

When in player evaluation stats  mode does a player like Ohtani's WAR get calculated on both pitching and offensive contributions?

Trying to envision how much an annual player with a 10 WAR would get when he hits free agency........

Is it possible that the Angels may trade him before they lose control of him and he becomes a free Agent?
Hard to imagine, I know, kind of like trading Babe Ruth, but let's face it.
Outside of Trout and Ohtani, the Angels are rebuilding, and another huge salary may hamper that.
Just wonderin'

[Polly Ticks]

{Behind paywall, but briefly excerpted}

Rickey Henderson on MLB’s new rules: ‘You gotta let these kids run’

[...]

With the distance from first base to second base and second to third now 4 1/2 inches shorter, The Athletic spoke to more than a dozen people this spring about whether the sport will return to annually having players with 70 or 80 steals. (To get the former, you have to go back to Jacoby Ellsbury in 2009.)

Opinions varied. But the question kept coming up, in interviews and casual conversations.

How many would Rickey steal?

“Oh, I’d say 1,600 or 1,700,” Henderson told The Athletic in a phone interview on Friday. “I do have 1,406 (all-time).”

As if anyone can forget. Henderson’s stolen base record is so preposterous he’s 468 steals ahead of second-place, Hall of Famer Lou Brock. To put that in perspective, the active leader in steals – Dee Strange-Gordon – is more than 1,000 behind Henderson at 336 and is still a free agent. Henderson stole 100 or more bases three times, including 130 in 1982, which still stands as the single-season record.

[...]

Henderson stole more bases in 1982 than any big-league team did last year. (Texas again topped the chart with 128.)

Now imagine Henderson watching all these guys double their stolen base totals because pitchers’ pickoffs are limited and the bases are bigger. The gregarious 64-year-old isn’t content watching other guys creep closer to him under an easier set of rules.

“I wish the game would be just left alone,” said Henderson, who was inducted into Cooperstown in 2009, “but if they’re going to (make these changes) they got to add 50 or 60 on mine. That’s the new rule.”

https://theathletic.com/4349809/2023/03/27/rickey-henderson-stolen-bases-mlb/

[catfish1957]

Lady and Gents....   I have a sad bit of news that again, Joe Biden will forgo the ceremonial first pitch of the MLB season.

Secretly handlers have confided that they are afraid that if Biden is handed the ball, he will start rubbing them. 

[Polly Ticks]

Ok, NOW it is officially spring!  Happy, happy day!

[catfish1957]

Ok, NOW it is officially spring!  Happy, happy day!

Seems so strange to have a full slate of games on opening day.  Wonder if had ever happened before.  I know it hasn't in my lifetime of watching.  (1965-now)

[Polly Ticks]

Seems so strange to have a full slate of games on opening day.  Wonder if had ever happened before.  I know it hasn't in my lifetime of watching.  (1965-now)

I haven't really been seeing a lot of hoopla about it, but maybe I've just been under a rock somewhere.  Apparently, it HAS happened, but not in a long time:

MLB Opening Day: Everything you need to know about the first day of baseball season
All MLB teams will play on the same Opening Day for the first time since 1968
By Ashlyn Messier | Fox News

Spring is almost here and for baseball fans around the country, it's the most wonderful time of the year. The 30 MLB teams are gearing up for a season that is kicking off with a unique start. For the first time since 1968, every single team will play their first game on the same day.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mlb-opening-day-baseball-season

[catfish1957]

I haven't really been seeing a lot of hoopla about it, but maybe I've just been under a rock somewhere.  Apparently, it HAS happened, but not in a long time:

It did happen in 1968? Guess that's a long time ago to remember.  Seems they've been in this fragmented start day forever now.  In fact I remember a few years ago, we ('Stros) had our first game two days after the offical open.  Was wierd seeing a team at 2-0, and us at 0-0.

[AllThatJazzZ]

@Bigun
@catfish1957
@GrouchoTex

And other Houstonians:

I've always watched the games on Comcast 639 (ATTSW). I've seen where that network was going into bankruptcy but that the Astros and the Rockets were negotiating a plan to purchase it. I haven't seen an update on that, and tonight's game isn't showing up on the directory. I'm in a panic that I won't have access to the games this year.

I don't do streaming, so that's out. No smart TV, just an old flat screen from about 2009. Not going to be able to spend extra money each month for access to the games. Am I out of luck? Are y'all able to watch* the games? I've waited a long time for opening day. Now I'm wondering if it's the worst day. 

*I know one of you swore off the games (never can remember which one), so feel free to ignore my question. Unless you have an answer for me.

[catfish1957]

@Bigun
@catfish1957
@GrouchoTex

And other Houstonians:

I've always watched the games on Comcast 639 (ATTSW). I've seen where that network was going into bankruptcy but that the Astros and the Rockets were negotiating a plan to purchase it. I haven't seen an update on that, and tonight's game isn't showing up on the directory. I'm in a panic that I won't have access to the games this year.

I don't do streaming, so that's out. No smart TV, just an old flat screen from about 2009. Not going to be able to spend extra money each month for access to the games. Am I out of luck? Are y'all able to watch* the games? I've waited a long time for opening day. Now I'm wondering if it's the worst day. 

*I know one of you swore off the games (never can remember which one), so feel free to ignore my question. Unless you have an answer for me.

Can't vouch for the accuracy, but this site says tonight''s game will be on ESPN which is sometimes why it precludes other local or regional programming.  But I'm betting it gets blacked out in the Houston area (I doubt we'll see a sell out during regular season), so I am guessing MLB TV / .com might be the only source. 

https://www.si.com/tv/mlb/2023/03/30/houston-astros-chicago-white-sox-mlb-how-to-watch-online-live-stream-free

I am not as a big of a watcher as I used to.  In fact prior to the playoffs last year, I doubt I watched more than 10 Astros games all season.  Pretty much sticking to box scores and game descriptions for details.

[LadyLiberty]

My TV schedule shows the Astros game on ESPN, digital channel 633 starting at 6pm. I want to see a bit of the pregame stuff, but it looks like ESPN won't be covering that.

[LadyLiberty]

Astros games to continue on AT&T SportsNet Southwest as talks to transfer ownership continue

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/astros-games-to-continue-att-sportsnet-southwest-17867326.php

[Bigun]

Baseball, A game that I dearly loved, is now dead to me.

[AllThatJazzZ]

Thanks, y'all. I did find it. I'm bummed that they're not covering the pregame stuff. Also, I'll be bummed without TK, Blummer and Julia. I see where they are going back to ATTSW on the subsequent games. Then all will be right with the world.

Thanks for the article, LadyLiberty.

[LadyLiberty]

Marriage proposal at Dodger Stadium:   

https://twitter.com/Mazeaveli/status/1641664948614074369

[DCPatriot]

Surprised to find that Ohtani's 10 K's went for naught last night, as the Angels fall to the A's, 2-1.

[jmyrlefuller]

So... what are people's thoughts on the whole pitch-clock thing?

My social media feeds are filled with stories on it (thanks, The Algorithm) and how much it's shortened up the games. I haven't had a chance to see too many games yet (been listening on the radio though).

[Hoodat]

So... what are people's thoughts on the whole pitch-clock thing?

More Communist bullshit destroying the foundation of America.

My social media feeds are filled with stories on it (thanks, The Algorithm) and how much it's shortened up the games.

Shorter games, yet the same number of commercials.  Go figure.  If they want to shorten games, get rid of the commercials.  When at the ballpark, it is clear to the fans when the games are televised.  The breaks between half-innings are annoyingly long when a game is being televised.

[catfish1957]

Surprised no one commented on TB's record tying 13-0 start. 

Impressed with the level of young talent they have, and their upside potential.  Reminds me a lot of my Astros about 8 years ago. The AL-C better not let them get too far ahead, or they'll have a quite a hill to climb come late summer.

[DCPatriot]

Surprised no one commented on TB's record tying 13-0 start. 

Impressed with the level of young talent they have, and their upside potential.  Reminds me a lot of my Astros about 8 years ago. The AL-C better not let them get too far ahead, or they'll have a quite a hill to climb come late summer.

I remember Sparky Anderson's Detroit Tigers getting off to a ridiculous start one year.  Got to 35-5  (1984)

[AllThatJazzZ]

Surprised no one commented on TB's record tying 13-0 start. 

Impressed with the level of young talent they have, and their upside potential.  Reminds me a lot of my Astros about 8 years ago. The AL-C better not let them get too far ahead, or they'll have a quite a hill to climb come late summer.

@catfish1957

I was waiting until someone shut them out on their own turf. Guess what! 

Recap*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dR2O34EjCM

*Sans Altuve, Alvarez, Brantley

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

I was waiting until someone shut them out on their own turf. Guess what! 

Recap*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dR2O34EjCM

*Sans Altuve, Alvarez, Brantley

Or a full season of Verlander.

[GrouchoTex]

@catfish1957

I was waiting until someone shut them out on their own turf. Guess what! 

Recap*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dR2O34EjCM

*Sans Altuve, Alvarez, Brantley

Garcia was impressive on the mound last night, too.

[DCPatriot]

[DCPatriot]

[Polly Ticks]

Nice! 

[catfish1957]

Nice! 

Honestly, I didn't even know that MJ was scrubbed from MLB drug testing.   Guess I wasn't paying attention.

[Polly Ticks]

Honestly, I didn't even know that MJ was scrubbed from MLB drug testing.   Guess I wasn't paying attention.

Yes, in 2019.  But that was just poking fun at Bellinger always looking like he's stoned.  (See the fine print in the meme.)