2018 MLB Week 1

[mister d]

1. Chris Sale went to the hospital because of an infection caused by a belly button ring.

If this is true, it’s worth the tradeoff of them winning the World Series.

[degenerasian]

Hader coming in for the 3rd would be crazy. It's only 2-1.

[mister d]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

[degenerasian]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

Bullpen and pinch hitter in the 3rd? Is this game still 9 innings long?

[mister d]

You’re going to use Hader no matter what. Inning doesn’t matter in a G7.

[EdRomero]

I'm leaning towards Pederson being hurt -- using up a ph to lead off against the Brewers best pitcher doesn't seem to make much sense

[A_B]

I'm leaning towards Pederson being hurt -- using up a ph to lead off against the Brewers best pitcher doesn't seem to make much sense

Yeah that was odd. I don’t care how good pitcher is you don’t take pederson bat out that early.

[degenerasian]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

I think the difference is later in the game it's more situational. He can go 1 2 or 3 innings depending on what Roberts does. Him coming in in the 3rd he must pitch 3 innings and maybe 4. Plus they still may not have the lead when he gone.

[EdRomero]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

I think the difference is later in the game it's more situational. He can go 1 2 or 3 innings depending on what Roberts does. Him coming in in the 3rd he must pitch 3 innings and maybe 4. Plus they still may not have the lead when he gone.

You put in someone not as good as Hader, then Hader may come in down a lot of runs so those late innings become more meaningless than the early ones against the top of the order.

[degenerasian]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

I think the difference is later in the game it's more situational. He can go 1 2 or 3 innings depending on what Roberts does. Him coming in in the 3rd he must pitch 3 innings and maybe 4. Plus they still may not have the lead when he gone.

You put in someone not as good as Hader, then Hader may come in down a lot of runs so those late innings become more meaningless than the early ones against the top of the order.

Was Chacin that bad though? At that point just a 2 run homer. For a starter that's normal. Hader goes 3 shutout innings which is great but now they might be handcuffed and the Dodgers aren't as worried anymore.

[mister d]

So the dodgers hitting against the same group of relievers would depend on whether or not Hader was waiting in the pen?

[EdRomero]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

I think the difference is later in the game it's more situational. He can go 1 2 or 3 innings depending on what Roberts does. Him coming in in the 3rd he must pitch 3 innings and maybe 4. Plus they still may not have the lead when he gone.

You put in someone not as good as Hader, then Hader may come in down a lot of runs so those late innings become more meaningless than the early ones against the top of the order.

Was Chacin that bad though? At that point just a 2 run homer. For a starter that's normal. Hader goes 3 shutout innings which is great but now they might be handcuffed and the Dodgers aren't as worried anymore.

Maybe they don't pinch hit for the starter if there aren't two guys on base.. not having a DH in both leagues is stupid.

[degenerasian]

So the dodgers hitting against the same group of relievers would depend on whether or not Hader was waiting in the pen?

I think it can effect decisions. Say the Brewers rode Chacin a few more innings and took the lead at some poin Then the Dodgers might press and take Bueller out earlier knowing they need to turn the game around soon or else Hader comes in the 7th and kills off the last 3 innings.

[Joe K]

If you don’t like Puig, you have a huge dump in your pants. That was awesome!

[Joe K]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

I think the difference is later in the game it's more situational. He can go 1 2 or 3 innings depending on what Roberts does. Him coming in in the 3rd he must pitch 3 innings and maybe 4. Plus they still may not have the lead when he gone.

You put in someone not as good as Hader, then Hader may come in down a lot of runs so those late innings become more meaningless than the early ones against the top of the order.

Was Chacin that bad though? At that point just a 2 run homer. For a starter that's normal. Hader goes 3 shutout innings which is great but now they might be handcuffed and the Dodgers aren't as worried anymore.

Maybe they don't pinch hit for the starter if there aren't two guys on base.. not having a DH in both leagues is stupid.

Funny, I love the NL for exactly this reason. Adds another strategic wrinkle.

[EdRomero]

If it’s the right part of the lineup it doesn’t matter. 3rd or 6th there’s no difference tonight.

I think the difference is later in the game it's more situational. He can go 1 2 or 3 innings depending on what Roberts does. Him coming in in the 3rd he must pitch 3 innings and maybe 4. Plus they still may not have the lead when he gone.

You put in someone not as good as Hader, then Hader may come in down a lot of runs so those late innings become more meaningless than the early ones against the top of the order.

Was Chacin that bad though? At that point just a 2 run homer. For a starter that's normal. Hader goes 3 shutout innings which is great but now they might be handcuffed and the Dodgers aren't as worried anymore.

Maybe they don't pinch hit for the starter if there aren't two guys on base.. not having a DH in both leagues is stupid.

Funny, I love the NL for exactly this reason. Adds another strategic wrinkle.

Having my team's best hitter being a DH for all but a few years since 2003 makes me a little biased

[Joe K]

Fair point. I don’t think JD is that terrible defensively, though. He DH’s more because the Sox have a great defensive outfield than because of necessity. Playing Betts at 2B is probably the right move the way Bradley is playing but they could also shift him to CF for Games 3-5.

[EdRomero]

I'm guessing Bradley comes off the bench and replaces JD for defense if they have a lead and replaces Holt/Kinsler if they need runs. I don't think they want Betts there at second a lot, especially with Machado on the base paths

[A_B]

You gotta play JBJ

[EdRomero]

Fine. No second baseman and they go with 4 outfielders

[mister d]

Writing Sabathia's name and drawing hearts around it.

Nothing can bring me down today!

[DSafetyGuy]

The clubhouse attendant is the son of a high school friend of mine. I’m glad he was fired and there was no half assed suspension instead. That kid loves his job more than life and this broke him.

I am so sorry to hear that, Moreta. Glad the Tigers immediately dealt with Bosio.

Bump.

Ex-clubhouse attendant sues Tigers, alleges racial discrimination; team denies claims

Some highlights:

The former Detroit Tigers clubhouse attendant who says he was on the receiving end of multiple insensitive remarks by Chris Bosio is suing the franchise and the ballclub's former pitching coach, alleging racial discrimination.

-- snip --

Coleman's lawyers allege in the filing that "a culture of racism was tolerated by the upper echelons of management."

Coleman is black and alleges he was treated differently than his white counterparts.

Among Tigers employees named multiple times in the lawsuit are general manager Al Avila, assistant general manager David Chadd and long-time clubhouse attendant Jim Schmakel.

-- snip --

Earlier in 2018, at spring training in Lakeland, there apparently was a running gag in the clubhouse to plant odd items in players' and coaches' lockers, so they'd be caught on camera during interviews. Coleman put an item in Bosio's locker, and after Bosio found out, he allegedly approached Coleman and told him if he "ever touches (his) locker again, (he) would skin (Coleman) alive." Coleman alleged Bosio also would throw garbage at him in the dugout.

-- snip --

Bosio was talking to then-bullpen catcher John Murrian, and as Coleman approached, Bosio allegedly said, "He was a dead-brained idiot, like this monkey here," referencing Coleman.

Coleman responded, "What did you say?" Bosio responded, according to the lawsuit, "I called you a monkey, so what?"

-- snip --

Coleman suffers from Asperger's, a disorder that makes social interaction and communication difficult, and the Tigers were aware of this during the 2018 season.

According to the lawsuit, after the Tigers told him he no longer was to be employed, he was admitted to the hospital for "suicidal ideations and chest pain." Then, in Feburary, the Tigers reached out to him after Bosio filed a lawsuit, the team asking Coleman to sign an affidavit supporting the Tigers — which Coleman's lawyers told The News he refused to sign, for a number of reasons, including possible retribution from Bosio.

That request by the Tigers, according to the lawsuit, resulted in Coleman "developing symptoms of intrusive distressing memories, recurring distressing nightmares, prolonged psychological distress," among other symptoms, including panic attacks. Lawyers say Coleman has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Just a good look all-around.

[rass]

Not enough u’s in suck for that story.

[DSafetyGuy]

Not enough u’s in suck for that story.

It was hard to pick out "just the worst parts" for the post. And, then I went and checked the article in Detroit's other paper, which had additional details that could have made the cut.

I think a current version of "Ball Four" would show how much the sport has evolved in 50 years.