Baseball 2025 - Batter Up! ⚾

[DCPatriot]

Ugh. My other pet peeve. It's ridiculous.

Is that the Orioles or the Nationals?  I haven't looked at the schedule today, since I already know we don't play until 9:40pm.  (I also hate starting the season on a West coast trip. Ugh.)

Edit to add - Oops, nevermind.  I see you already said it was the O's.  Best of luck to them!

Thanks, Polly!

O's are lacking a quality pitching rotation...on paper.  And I'm from the Church that you can't win anything without quality pitching.

[Hoodat]

MLB Opening Day 2025 takeaways: Orioles' home run bonanza, Skenes vs. Alcantara, Phillies and Guardians extra-innings victories stand out

Also, the White Sox won their opener, and surprise heroes came through for several teams on Thursday

Jordan Shusterman  |  March 27, 2025  |  11:39 PM EDT

With 28 teams in action, Opening Day was sure to bring its fair share of excitement and surprises, and Thursday’s contests did not disappoint.

The Dodgers logged another victory, and so did the Marlins and White Sox. Two Yankees not named Aaron Judge hit home runs, and so did Tyler O’Neill. Two games went to extra innings, and nobody got no-hit.

Here are some of the highlights and takeaways from Opening Day 2025.

The Orioles can’t stop hitting homers  .  .  .

Chicago White Sox … win?  .  .  .

Phillies strike out 19 times and blow a save, win anyway  .  .  .

Paul Skenes vs. Sandy Alcantara delivers. As for their teams?  .  .  .

Padres beat Braves thanks to superior NRI  .  .  .

Wilyer Abreu reminds everyone that he is good at baseball  .  .  .

Guardians Indians win a wild one in Kansas City  .  .  .


https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-opening-day-2025-takeaways-orioles-home-run-bonanza-skenes-vs-alcantara-phillies-and-guardians-extra-innings-victories-stand-out-033918552.html

[catfish1957]

Yesterday's boxscore line on the Stankees....

20-16-5.  I'll venture that's likely never happened before.

[catfish1957]

Tyrus on Gutfeld last night made a good comment....   Just a matter of time, where pitchers will adjust, and watch much more pitching on the outside corners off the center of gravity of the bat. 

[catfish1957]

The torpedo bat mania continues.  How many of you think this is a step change in batting technology, or just due to pure randomness?

One point that doesn't seem to be being covered is that with the physics of the new bats, it seems there would be a drop off, though slight in bat speed.   I still think MLB pitchng is still adjusting, and will learn or almost obsess on painting outside corners.  I also want to see a full year of data on bat exit velocity and HR lengths.

It might end up being where the bats may be more advantageous for those hitting for average vs the sluggers.    Still, I am skeptical that these bats are changing the game as much as they are thinking.

[DCPatriot]

The torpedo bat mania continues.  How many of you think this is a step change in batting technology, or just due to pure randomness?

One point that doesn't seem to be being covered is that with the physics of the new bats, it seems there would be a drop off, though slight in bat speed.   I still think MLB pitchng is still adjusting, and will learn or almost obsess on painting outside corners.  I also want to see a full year of data on bat exit velocity and HR lengths.

It might end up being where the bats may be more advantageous for those hitting for average vs the sluggers.    Still, I am skeptical that these bats are changing the game as much as they are thinking.

IMHO, if they're going to allow the new tech "torpedo" bats, they have to go back to calling the RULE BOOK strikezone....knees to the top of the letters of the jersey. 

Oh...and raise the mound back to its original height of fifteen inches.

But NOOOOOOOO.... the restless/hyper ADHD fans must be 'entertained', right??

[catfish1957]

IMHO, if they're going to allow the new tech "torpedo" bats, they have to go back to calling the RULE BOOK strikezone....knees to the top of the letters of the jersey. 

Oh...and raise the mound back to its original height of fifteen inches.

But NOOOOOOOO.... the restless/hyper ADHD fans must be 'entertained', right??

 

Nailed it.  New stadiums already have been made to look like pinball machines.  MLB has turned the game we used to love into Home Run Derby, and destroyed 75% of the charm of the record book and strategy with their silly tactics and rules.  I think the "ghost man" on base for extra innings  garbage finally sealed the deal for me.   

I used to be obssessed April- October.  Now, I'll spend 5 mnutes a day checking box scores, and watch playoffs if my team is in it.   That's it.

[DCPatriot]

Just seeing that the Blue Jays are paying Vlad Guerrero Jr. $500M over 14 years!

Wondering if the fine print forbids him from walking on the shoulder of the road...crossing against the light...owning/driving sports cars or eating by himself in case he chokes, etc..

[mountaineer]

IMHO, if they're going to allow the new tech "torpedo" bats, they have to go back to calling the RULE BOOK strikezone....knees to the top of the letters of the jersey. 

Oh...and raise the mound back to its original height of fifteen inches.

But NOOOOOOOO.... the restless/hyper ADHD fans must be 'entertained', right??

Agreed. It's just like all the new rules in football, designed for more and more offense, and nothing but offense.

 I would like to think knowledgeable baseball fans appreciate an outstanding leaping or diving outfield catch or nicely turned double play at least as much as (yet another) towering home run.