Baseball 2025 - Batter Up! ⚾

[Hoodat]

Did any of you see the re-alignment and and expansion Rob Manfred is proposing?
It is more geographical, 8 divisions, 4 teams each.

Might as well.  Everything is the gay-ass American League now.  Old school National League baseball is dead.

[Bigun]

Might as well.  Everything is the gay-ass American League now.  Old school National League baseball is dead.

Fixed!

[catfish1957]

Fixed!

Yep...   Idiots in the past 30 years have been hell bent on making MLB into the NBA. 

Ruined the game.

[Bigun]

Yep...   Idiots in the past 30 years have been hell bent on making MLB into the NBA. 

Ruined the game.

I wouldn't walk across the street to watch them for free but any that want to for $60.00 are welcome to.

[GrouchoTex]

Astros in the worst offensive drought in 40 years.
Scored zero runs in 3 games.
Scored zero runs in the last 4 out of 5 games.
Yet, the Mariners keep losing right along with them.
Still have a 1.5 game lead in the west.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Professional sports is a media entertainment business.  They are out to increase their number of media markets and maximize their TV revenue.

Whatever happened with balks?  They were all the rage for a brief time in the late 1980s.

[DCPatriot]

Astros in the worst offensive drought in 40 years.
Scored zero runs in 3 games.
Scored zero runs in the last 4 out of 5 games.
Yet, the Mariners keep losing right along with them.
Still have a 1.5 game lead in the west.

That because they ran into the 'awesome' Cy Young rotation of the ORIOLES.  /s

O's will hopefully play the spoiler in October games.

[catfish1957]

Astros in the worst offensive drought in 40 years.
Scored zero runs in 3 games.
Scored zero runs in the last 4 out of 5 games.
Yet, the Mariners keep losing right along with them.
Still have a 1.5 game lead in the west.

And why I for the first time in a long time, don't really care if they make the playoffs.  I think we have like a 10 year run. 

If they do make it, this team is too weak, and lack of depth, to go far.    I say let another team enjoy the party for a change.

[catfish1957]

That because they ran into the 'awesome' Cy Young rotation of the ORIOLES.  /s

O's will hopefully play the spoiler in October games.

The Orioles are one of my favorite non-Houston team.   Was wowed and inspired by their late '60's and early '70's pitching.  4- 20 game winners on one team?  That will never happen again,   Brooks, Boog Powell, Belanger, Robinson...  How could you not like those teams.

Your team reminds me of our '95 team....  Great on paper....  On the diamond, not so much

[catfish1957]

Professional sports is a media entertainment business.  They are out to increase their number of media markets and maximize their TV revenue.

Whatever happened with balks?  They were all the rage for a brief time in the late 1980s.

Back in the '80's- early '90's  'ol Faye Vincent went on purist rampage with rule book/umps.  Foot drags, phantom stops, and even a wayward pitcher' glance were triggering  faux balk calls.  Same with "in the vicinty" at second base on pivots.  There were enough collective groans in the stands, that if finally evened out,.

Our problem is we haven't had a decent Commish since Bowie Kuhn. And the worst of all time?  Bud Selig.

[DCPatriot]

The Orioles are one of my favorite non-Houston team.   Was wowed and inspired by their late '60's and early '70's pitching.  4- 20 game winners on one team?  That will never happen again,   Brooks, Boog Powell, Belanger, Robinson...  How could you not like those teams.

Your team reminds me of our '95 team....  Great on paper....  On the diamond, not so much

Baseball is strange.  The O's traded a third of their starting lineup last earlier this month or so.

Because virtually the entire starting rotation on OPENING DAY was recovering from surgeries.

Told my sons...they should fire the entire pitching training staff.

THAT...or write into contracts that they have to live at the ORIOLES Headquarters...no running, no playing pick-up basketball or ANYTHING.   

[jmyrlefuller]

I like the alignment, but ditching the term "League" for conference after 150 years of history?  Nope.

Unfortunately they haven't been leagues in the organizational sense for several decades.

And at least finally this might bring some darn consistency with the designated hitter rule.

[catfish1957]

Unfortunately they haven't been leagues in the organizational sense for several decades.

And at least finally this might bring some darn consistency with the designated hitter rule.

league /lēg/
noun
An association of states, organizations, or individuals for common action; an alliance.
An association of teams or clubs that compete chiefly among themselves.
A class or level of competition.
"The ski jump was out of his league."

Since interleague play is a minority of team schedule, I guess that point could be debated. 

[GrouchoTex]

Professional sports is a media entertainment business.  They are out to increase their number of media markets and maximize their TV revenue.

Whatever happened with balks?  They were all the rage for a brief time in the late 1980s.

Funny that you mentioned balks,
I just saw one yesterday in the Orioles/Astros game.

[GrouchoTex]

That because they ran into the 'awesome' Cy Young rotation of the ORIOLES.  /s

O's will hopefully play the spoiler in October games.

Followed by Detroit...ouch.

[Hoodat]

Elizabeth Warren at a baseball game.

https://twitter.com/jasonscheer/status/1964142596395004369

[DCPatriot]

As I had expressed here, my ORIOLES are relegated to playing the "spoiler" this Fall.

Yesterday, Yamamoto was merely 2 strikes away from NO-HITTING the Birds...at home...on the 30th anniversary of Cal Ripken's breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive game record.

On a 2-1 pitch, Jackson Holliday killed the "NO-NO", hitting it 362ft...ball barely clearing the HR level.

Yamamoto had thrown 112 pitches to that point and was pulled for Treinen.

...who threw only 9 Strikes among 22 pitches and earned the loss.

Oh yeah...did I mention that it was the Pennant-chasing Los Angeles Dodgers???    

[DCPatriot]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46269401/mlb-2025-new-york-yankees-lessons-aaron-judge-volpe-bednar-dominguez

Four rivals, 13 days: Five things we learned about Yankees
Jorge Castillo

With his New York Yankees in the thick of a 12-game gauntlet against four American League playoff contenders, manager Aaron Boone divulged his sleep strategy to manage the stress.

"Melatonin makes sure it doesn't keep me up," Boone said last week.

That 13-day stretch concluded Sunday with a loss to the Boston Red Sox. But the Yankees departed Fenway Park for Minnesota with a series victory, having taken the first two games against their rivals and feeling satisfied with their recent results.

The Yankees went 7-5 against the four likely playoff-bound clubs -- the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers and Red Sox -- to solidify their hold on the top AL wild-card spot.

con't at link above

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[DCPatriot]

YANKS vs ORIOLES play each other 7 times in the remaining dozen scheduled games in the regular season.

Yanks are talking sh*t claiming they're "...going to step on necks for the remaining dozen games"

[Canuck Conservative]

to solidify their hold on the top AL wild-card spot

Sad.

Last year they won the division and were in the World Series, this year they're desperately clinging to a wild-card spot.

Go Toronto!! (magic number = 7)

[DCPatriot]

Sad.

Last year they won the division and were in the World Series, this year they're desperately clinging to a wild-card spot.

Go Toronto!! (magic number = 7)

@Canuck Conservative

I'm pulling for the Blue Jays!!

Have hated the Yankees since Don Larson's "Perfect Game" in Game 5 in 1956..Yanks won in 7!!

I was ten years old. Almost 70yrs ago.   

[catfish1957]

Anyone watching all the AL playoff choke jobs this year?

Tigers, Astros, Rangers.......   all collapsing.  And still.....   either The Tigers or the Astros will back into the last WC slot.  (Unless CLE strangely gets cold)

Ugly.......

[GrouchoTex]

Astros do not have the tie breaker with Cleveland, and I am not sure if they have it with Detroit or not.
This means that the Astros have just 5 games to win 2 more than Detroit or Cleveland.
Tying by winning just one more will not work.
I do not think the Astros will make the playoffs this year.

[catfish1957]

Astros do not have the tie breaker with Cleveland, and I am not sure if they have it with Detroit or not.
This means that the Astros htave just 5 games to win 2 more than Detroit or Cleveland.
Tying by winning just one more will not work.
I do not think the Astros will make the playoffs this year.

Fully agree.  I thought the tandem of Brown-Valdez would allow us to limp across the finish line with a slot, but even they couldn't pull it off.  but

This is not a playoff caliber team, and if they do somehow make it in, will have a quick exit.

[Canuck Conservative]

Anyone watching all the AL playoff choke jobs this year?

Toronto is doing their best to give away their lead too ... lost 5 of last 6, and Yankees keep winning ...

*** Personal pet peeve rant -

Can someone explain to me why teams are celebrating with champagne and goggles when they simply qualify for the playoffs?

Blue Jays did it, and Yankees did it too ... but, they haven't won anything yet ... that's a sign of bad managing, IMHO

[catfish1957]

Toronto is doing their best to give away their lead too ... lost 5 of last 6, and Yankees keep winning ...

*** Personal pet peeve rant -

Can someone explain to me why teams are celebrating with champagne and goggles when they simply qualify for the playoffs?

Blue Jays did it, and Yankees did it too ... but, they haven't won anything yet ... that's a sign of bad managing, IMHO

Good points....   I especially hate it when the clinching hungover team's performance has a bearing on those other races.

[DCPatriot]

Good points....   I especially hate it when the clinching hungover team's performance has a bearing on those other races.

Well, I'm hoping my terrible, awful ORIOLES, who've played .500+ baseball since the Break, can arrange for the Yankees to play in the Wildcard Round.

We'll see... 

[AllThatJazzZ]

I don't see October baseball in my future. 

P.S. I admit that I've been less interested in baseball since Charlie Kirk's assassination. In fact, everything's changed since then. 

[Bigun]

I don't see October baseball in my future. 

P.S. I admit that I've been less interested in baseball since Charlie Kirk's assassination. In fact, everything's changed since then. 

The baseball of my youth is now long gone, and I have zero interest in what remains.  Next up! Electronic balls and strikes.

[DCPatriot]

The baseball of my youth is now long gone, and I have zero interest in what remains.  Next up! Electronic balls and strikes.

Going to be quite embarrassing for these home plate umps when the stats are compiled showing the percentage of challenged calls being overturned.

I don't expect "close" calls to be reviewed by the broadcasters...as they do for...JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE!!!

There would be a dramatic rise in MLB umpire suicides.        /S

[catfish1957]

Going to be quite embarrassing for these home plate umps when the stats are compiled showing the percentage of challenged calls being overturned.

I don't expect "close" calls to be reviewed by the broadcasters...as they do for...JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE!!!

There would be a dramatic rise in MLB umpire suicides.        /S

Embarrassing Angel Hernandez would have been quite fun, 

[Bigun]

Embarrassing Angel Hernandez would have been quite fun,

Hell! They would never get through a game!

[DCPatriot]

In fact, I'll bet the deal is that pitches cannot be reviewed by the technology...that only a legal rulebook challenge of a specific pitch can be shown on the SCOREBOARD and televisions everywhere.

PS:  It's also going to be trip to watch a "twelve to six" curveball being judged in 'real time'...as the strikezone box depth is also highlighted.

[catfish1957]

I don't see October baseball in my future. 

P.S. I admit that I've been less interested in baseball since Charlie Kirk's assassination. In fact, everything's changed since then. 

It's been a great run....   

Division is pretty much out of reach now, though not we are not mathematically eliminated.  On the good side though is the Mariners do have to play the Dodgers inthe final three with the division on the line, likely for at least one of the two teams., 

Our best chances hinges on either Cleveland or Detroit winning their final two.  Especially Cleveland since we win the head to head tiebreaker.  We lose the tiebreaker to Detroit.  If Boston has a last 5 game tail spin, they will be in the mix too.  We do lose the tiebreaker though to the Bosox. 

Fan Graphs have our probability of making the playoffs at 43.9%

But from my POV, unless the 'Stros miraculously turn around all aspects of the game, this thing might be over before the weekend,

[DCPatriot]

Cal Raleigh Home Run Watch: The Big Dumper hits No. 60

The Big Dumper just left the yard again!

In what has become a regular occurrence during Cal Raleigh's incredible 2025 season, the Seattle Mariners catcher added another pair of home runs to his 2025 total on Wednesday -- one in the first inning, and one in his final at-bat of the night in the eighth -- and is now at 60 for the year.

Raleigh has already surpassed the record for home runs by a catcher and by a switch-hitter and set a Mariners franchise record, and who could forget his Home Run Derby triumph earlier this summer?

What record could Raleigh set next, how many home runs will he finish with and just how impressive is his season? We've got it all covered.

continued at: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46209014/mlb-2025-cal-raleigh-seattle-mariners-home-run-watch-tracker-catcher-record

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Who is this Calvin Raleigh?

Can you imagine how large the pitched ball appears to him? 

How it's simple for him to square up on just about every "hitter's pitch" in the count?

Now I realize MLB power hitters today can only protect half the plate, but to have the necessary plate discipline to only offer at balls entering 'YOUR' swing zone.

And we're not even discussing the mental aspect of trying to best Ruth and Maris

[Bigun]

Cal Raleigh Home Run Watch: The Big Dumper hits No. 60

The Big Dumper just left the yard again!

In what has become a regular occurrence during Cal Raleigh's incredible 2025 season, the Seattle Mariners catcher added another pair of home runs to his 2025 total on Wednesday -- one in the first inning, and one in his final at-bat of the night in the eighth -- and is now at 60 for the year.

Raleigh has already surpassed the record for home runs by a catcher and by a switch-hitter and set a Mariners franchise record, and who could forget his Home Run Derby triumph earlier this summer?

What record could Raleigh set next, how many home runs will he finish with and just how impressive is his season? We've got it all covered.

continued at: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46209014/mlb-2025-cal-raleigh-seattle-mariners-home-run-watch-tracker-catcher-record

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Who is this Calvin Raleigh?

Can you imagine how large the pitched ball appears to him? 

How it's simple for him to square up on just about every "hitter's pitch" in the count?

Now I realize MLB power hitters today can only protect half the plate, but to have the necessary plate discipline to only offer at balls entering 'YOUR' swing zone.

And we're not even discussing the mental aspect of trying to best Ruth and Maris

For a host of reasons, you simply cannot compare what Ruth did when he did it with anything that might happen in this brave new world of juiced balls, lowered mounds and all the other crap they have done to the game since.

[catfish1957]

For a host of reasons, you simply cannot compare what Ruth did when he did it with anything that might happen in this brave new world of juiced balls, lowered mounds and all the other crap they have done to the game since.

This guy has floated between .210-.240 his entire 4 1/2 years, and always near league lead in strike outs.  The M's can keep their version of Dave Kingman.

[DCPatriot]

This guy has floated between .210-.240 his entire 4 1/2 years, and always near league lead in strike outs.  The M's can keep their version of Dave Kingman.

AHH!  But that is my point!!  WHO THE HECK IS HE?????  It's fascinating!

All of us who have played the game understand slumps and hitting streaks, etc..

This mediocre-hitting catcher wakes up one Winter morning, and become Babe Ruth for a season.

HOF Golfers have wilted in big tournaments playing the back 9 on Sundays.  It's got to be the same level of personal pressure you put on yourself...needing a half dozen HRs with only 12 games remaining.

[catfish1957]

Great run for us Astros fans.  Streak of making the playoffs ends at 8.  (Barak Obama was POTUS)


My last last post on the '25 thread, will seem odd with no October baseball.

[AllThatJazzZ]

Fan Graphs have our probability of making the playoffs at 43.9%

But from my POV, unless the 'Stros miraculously turn around all aspects of the game, this thing might be over before the weekend,

@catfish1957

I think Fan Graphs was being generous. Largely based on our ability to come through in a clutch situation.

So we're staying home this year for the first time since I became interested in baseball. I guess I'll find out if I'm a fair-weather fan or a dyed-in-the-wool fan.

Any thoughts on which heads are gonna roll?

[DefiantMassRINO]

Red Sox beat the Yankees in Game 1.  Life is good.

[DCPatriot]

Just watched Manny Machado go deep with Tatis, Jr on base to go up 3-0 over the CUBS in the 5th in Chicago.

They should be told to take more ground balls during the week instead of choreographing their "Secret Celebratory Handshake"
I mean, it could have had an 'Intermission'.    

[DCPatriot]

Observation #2.  Game 1 RED/SOX-YANKEES

Even while only watching the game from my recliner, I sat up straight when Max Fried threw his 4-seamer.

His arsenal to use against RH hitters...SEVEN (7)!! 

But that fastball is so much faster than his other junk...it was almost impossible to track the ball to the catcher's mitt.  It just simply POPPED into the glove like CGI.

Unless the hitter is sitting on it...he ain't catching up to it!

6.1 innings.  102 pitches.  63 strikes  ...expected to go a 3RD time thru the order???

I agreed with Boone's decision to go get him.

[Hoodat]

Red Sox beat the Yankees in Game 1.  Life is good.

That last pitch in the bottom of the ninth was the fastest baseball I have ever seen thrown.  I would love to know what that pitch was clocked at.  The only 'movement' I saw was the ball leaving the pitcher's hand and crossing the plate.  Like quantum physics.

[Polly Ticks]

Observation #2.  Game 1 RED/SOX-YANKEES

Even while only watching the game from my recliner, I sat up straight when Max Fried threw his 4-seamer.

His arsenal to use against RH hitters...SEVEN (7)!! 

But that fastball is so much faster than his other junk...it was almost impossible to track the ball to the catcher's mitt.  It just simply POPPED into the glove like CGI.

Unless the hitter is sitting on it...he ain't catching up to it!

6.1 innings.  102 pitches.  63 strikes  ...expected to go a 3RD time thru the order???

I agreed with Boone's decision to go get him.

Love that guy.  Hated to lose him. 

[DefiantMassRINO]

Dammit, Red Sox beat by a Yankees pitcher from Walpole, Mass.

The Sox didn't deserve to be in the playoffs.  They were too inconsistent and making too many fundamental mistakes all season.

Congratulations, Yankees.  Go, Blue Jays!

[DCPatriot]

Dammit, Red Sox beat by a Yankees pitcher from Walpole, Mass.

The Sox didn't deserve to be in the playoffs.  They were too inconsistent and making too many fundamental mistakes all season.

Congratulations, Yankees.  Go, Blue Jays!

Have been tracking the evening temperatures in New York City and Toronto.  Mid 40's!  70 degrees during the day!!

It's ridiculous to work around television advertising for start times, after playing 164 games to get to this point  ..

[andy58-in-nh]

The Red Sox were a significantly improved team this year, especially with the addition of Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman and Aroldis Chapman and with the emergence of promising young players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer.

Alas... too many injuries, poor defense and undisciplined hitting did them in. Jaren Duran's performance didn't help, either.

Go, Blue Jays!

[catfish1957]

The Red Sox were a significantly improved team this year, especially with the addition of Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman and Aroldis Chapman and with the emergence of promising young players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer.

Alas... too many injuries, poor defense and undisciplined hitting did them in. Jaren Duran's performance didn't help, either.

Go, Blue Jays!

Bregman?

Bregman is in def. decline.  I watched his entire career in Houston,  and any year he only gets 18 HRs and 62 RBI's is not good.   What Bregman (and Springer too) brought to the team was clutch hitting in the post season.  Tough to put a price tag on that skill. 

[Lando Lincoln]

Nine Innings by Daniel Okrent

This was a book I enjoyed immensely back in the day. The author selected a single game in 1982 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles and analyzed every pitch, every hit, every player, every strategy. It was a fascinating read from an era of real baseball - even if it was the American League.