2019 Misc MLB News

[yfinn6]

Also probably the first time someone 27 years old was 2nd in active WAR. This guy is just crazy.

 

I think we've mentioned this before here but Trout is arguably going to be the best player in the history of the game and is probably underrated.

 

I remember getting into an argument with a bartender in Milwaukee about Mike Trout. His position was that Trout was overrated and "not even that good. His numbers don't mean anything, he only plays well when his team is out of it."

 

I couldn't believe what I was hearing as I think he's already one of the best players ever.

[trwi7]

I remember getting into an argument with a bartender in Milwaukee about Mike Trout. His position was that Trout was overrated and "not even that good. His numbers don't mean anything, he only plays well when his team is out of it."

 

I hope you cut him off for having a few too many shots with his customers.

[yfinn6]

I remember getting into an argument with a bartender in Milwaukee about Mike Trout. His position was that Trout was overrated and "not even that good. His numbers don't mean anything, he only plays well when his team is out of it."

 

I hope you cut him off for having a few too many shots with his customers.

 

The argument got heated. I couldn't help but laugh at his arguments and embarrass my girlfriend in the process.

[KeithStone53151]

 

I found this to be a very good article on the electronic strike zone, if anyone is interested.

[tmwiese55]

Also probably the first time someone 27 years old was 2nd in active WAR. This guy is just crazy.

 

I think we've mentioned this before here but Trout is arguably going to be the best player in the history of the game and is probably underrated.

 

I remember getting into an argument with a bartender in Milwaukee about Mike Trout. His position was that Trout was overrated and "not even that good. His numbers don't mean anything, he only plays well when his team is out of it."

 

I couldn't believe what I was hearing as I think he's already one of the best players ever.

 

I mean, in his defense, like half of ESPN talking heads get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to say the same thing about NBA players and Ringz.

 

To be clear, I of course fully agree with you here.

[tmwiese55]

 

I found this to be a very good article on the electronic strike zone, if anyone is interested.

 

I think a better stat to figure out is the humans accuracy on what could be considered borderline pitches. That 97% is inflated by extremely easy calls one way or the other. Take outs at 1st as an example. They were probably correct on above 97% too because almost all aren't really close.

 

Maybe a way to get data would be to take balls within one or two ball sizes (I know, phrasing) either way and see the accuracy. I'd guess it's not all that high, probably in the 60s, and I don't blame the umps as it is a very difficult thing to judge, they're doing their best but it would show a large area of improvement that could be made. Most importantly to me, it eliminates the variable and subsequent complaining, whining, and excuses. Plus you'd have to clearly define that if the ball touches the line at all it counts as a strike, or some other definition if preferred.

[pacopete4]

Anyone who is a former catcher or loves that aspect of the game should hate the idea of machines calling pitches. But I guess we have already lost the art of pitching, small ball, etc... so in the end I’m sure the game will go on.

[KeithStone53151]

Anyone who is a former catcher or loves that aspect of the game should hate the idea of machines calling pitches. But I guess we have already lost the art of pitching, small ball, etc... so in the end I’m sure the game will go on.

 

I personally think pitch framing and pitchers expanding the strike zone is pure trash and should never have been a part of baseball. It's dishonest in my opinion, basically manipulating the umpire into calls you don't deserve. The strike zone should be binary, either a pitch is a strike or it isn't.

 

All that said, that article had a lot of good arguments against the electronic strike zone that need to be worked out if they were to implement. I just firmly disagree with the reasons such as pitch framing and command guys being able to expand the strike zone as if those things are normal, acceptable parts of the game.

[trwi7]

I don't think pitch framing is trash. If you can do it and give your team an advantage, more power to you. However, umps in general are trash and pitch framing wouldn't be as big of a deal if umps weren't so bad at their jobs.

[KeithStone53151]

I don't think pitch framing is trash. If you can do it and give your team an advantage, more power to you. However, umps in general are trash and pitch framing wouldn't be as big of a deal if umps weren't so bad at their jobs.

 

I'm well aware that I'm in the minority on disliking pitch framing. To me, it's not really different from flopping in soccer to try and get a penalty kick. Only in soccer, they started giving yellow cards to guys that dishonestly tried to trick the ref by flopping...in baseball teams give you more money for being better at tricking the umpire.

 

And I definitely 1000000% agree with the bolded. They can say they get 97% of calls correct all they want, but I personally don't buy it.

[jerichoholicninja]

A couple nights ago a Phillies pitcher was tossed after hitting Justin Turner in the leg with a slider. An absolutely ridiculous act by the umpire. So ridiculous in fact, that Turner himself was arguing there was no intent behind the pitch.

 

The next night a different Phillies pitcher drills David Freese in the back with a fastball and is tossed as well. This one almost certainly intentional. JT Realmuto set up outside and right after Freese was hit he threw up his hands in a very much *** are you doing fashion and shook his head.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Don Mattingly not to subtly said he wants robot umps yesterday. Interesting when one of the old school "back in my day" guys is calling for a huge change like this.

[folly412]

A couple nights ago a Phillies pitcher was tossed after hitting Justin Turner in the leg with a slider. An absolutely ridiculous act by the umpire. So ridiculous in fact, that Turner himself was arguing there was no intent behind the pitch.

 

The next night a different Phillies pitcher drills David Freese in the back with a fastball and is tossed as well. This one almost certainly intentional. JT Realmuto set up outside and right after Freese was hit he threw up his hands in a very much *** are you doing fashion and shook his head.

 

 

Caught the first one on the Jomboy Media YouTube channel. Anyone else watch his highlights? His videos are fantastic, should have his own show. He does recaps of ejections and other crazy plays, and either gets the enhanced audio or uses really good lip-reading to add some color.

 

Dodgers arguing against ejection of Phillies pitcher:

 

Counsell ejection when Estabrook was being terrible and a turd:

 

Counsell ejection on Arcia foul:

[stoutdude04]

The Boone one is hilarious. The ump was 'shockingly' bad.

[stoutdude04]

Houston is mad that LA made them play a night game on a getaway day. If I understand correctly, teams set the game times for their home games and it is lame when teams do that.

[KeithStone53151]

Houston is mad that LA made them play a night game on a getaway day. If I understand correctly, teams set the game times for their home games and it is lame when teams do that.

 

Not as lame as when a team has a city ordinance forcing their friday games to always be day games...but they get a special exception to have a night game for competitive reasons. Also not as lame as having a "rain out" on a sunny day because your bullpen is tired and the other team is hot.

 

Ok rant over...yes it is pretty lame if teams do that for competitive reasons...but sometimes they have valid reasons. I know St Louis does it because its very hot and humid during the day in certain months(on a side, the Cardinals host the Cubs at the end of July and are forcing the Cubs to have a night game on 8/1 followed by a day game against us at Wrigley on 8/2). I'm sure LA has their reasons, but as long as they aren't competitive or directed specifically at said team...it's whatever.

[JCREW]

Houston is mad that LA made them play a night game on a getaway day. If I understand correctly, teams set the game times for their home games and it is lame when teams do that.

 

Doubly infuriating when it's a Pacific Time team doing it to an Eastern or Central time team. I'm usually not for MLB stepping in and changing things, but in this case, it seems like they could come up with a quick rule about start times for games and time zones crossed by teams traveling after the game.

[jerichoholicninja]

Houston is mad that LA made them play a night game on a getaway day. If I understand correctly, teams set the game times for their home games and it is lame when teams do that.

 

Also lame that the Angels threw at Marisnick's head. I know why and I personally have no problem with beanball wars but if they're going to whine about that play at the plate throwing at a guy's head seems like a rather hypocritical response.

[Zad Fnark]

Cubs are interested in Sogard now. Curious...

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Cubs are interested in Sogard now. Curious...

 

This is likely the type of improvements they are looking at, as they don't have much prospect capital to trade from, and are right up against the luxury tax threshold.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Trevor Bauer lost his cool just a teensy bit while being taken out of a game today in the 5th after giving up 8 runs and threw a ball off the batters eye (from the mound). Runner on 2nd and 2nd baseman ducked, and Francona asked him "what the (expletive) is wrong with you?"

 

He's gonna throw at someones head some day.

[pacopete4]

Trevor Bauer lost his cool just a teensy bit while being taken out of a game today in the 5th after giving up 8 runs and threw a ball off the batters eye (from the mound). Runner on 2nd and 2nd baseman ducked, and Francona asked him "what the (expletive) is wrong with you?"

 

He's gonna throw at someones head some day.

 

[sarcasm]Let the kid’s play.[/sarcasm]

[trwi7]

Trevor Bauer lost his cool just a teensy bit while being taken out of a game today in the 5th after giving up 8 runs and threw a ball off the batters eye (from the mound). Runner on 2nd and 2nd baseman ducked, and Francona asked him "what the (expletive) is wrong with you?"

 

He's gonna throw at someones head some day.

 

The guy is just a pile of garbage on the field and off.

[MadThinker88]

Trevor Bauer lost his cool just a teensy bit while being taken out of a game today in the 5th after giving up 8 runs and threw a ball off the batters eye (from the mound). Runner on 2nd and 2nd baseman ducked, and Francona asked him "what the (expletive) is wrong with you?"

 

He's gonna throw at someones head some day.

 

Some day????

This is not a defense of Trevor. He is definitely an odd duck....

[rickh150]

Trevor Bauer lost his cool just a teensy bit while being taken out of a game today in the 5th after giving up 8 runs and threw a ball off the batters eye (from the mound). Runner on 2nd and 2nd baseman ducked, and Francona asked him "what the (expletive) is wrong with you?"

 

He's gonna throw at someones head some day.

 

[sarcasm]Let the kid’s play.[/sarcasm]

 

Ha! Those MLB commercials are the worst teaching tools out there for kids on how to play the game with a little, just a little, dignity.