MLB 2022 Season Thread

[sancarlos]

That’s 80 games more than Trump will ever miss

Because they have the MLB Network in Leavenworth?

[bfj]

Rasmussen pitching a perfect game so far for TB.

Edit- Matteo leads of the 9th w a double. Shame.

[Reaper]

These aren't MLB, but amazing nonetheless.

What's harder to do? Hit a 111 MPH line drive 330 feet that embeds itself in the wall (not between seams) or hit a ball a foot and a half that embeds itself in the dirt?

[mister d]

How many legit, singular fireable offenses is TLR going to survive?

[mister d]

19 pitches, walk, HBP, walk, single and he's still in there. Hasn't broken 93 when he averages 95.2 and peaks a few mph higher.

[Steve of phpBB]

LOLrussa.

[mister d]

I fucking hate Gottlieb so this is pretty great.

After further review of his definitely real and independent sources that are not made up to cover for his bullshit, Gottlieb realized what his (real) sources said wasn't true and now he's very sorry.

[Giff]

The Rangers are so laughably bad. Tonight in the 10th with 2 outs and runners on 1st/2nd, they intentionally walk a struggling Yordan to load the bases to pitch to the reigning player of the month. It didn't even matter because Astros win on wild pitch which wouldn't have scored a runner had they not issued the IBB. This is the same team that intentionally balked earlier this season to move Bregman to 3rd because they thought he would steal signs.

[brian]

I mean the Nelson Muntz GIF exists for a reason.

[Reaper]

Here come the rule changes!

In a nutshell:
1) Pitch clock of 20 seconds with man on base, 15 without
2) Two infielders on each side of 2nd base, feet on the dirt
3) Unanimous vote on larger bases

[L-Jam3]

I read a summary of the rule changes on CBS Sports. The way I’m reading it is it’s unclear whether the defending team could shift an outfielder into the short field area, e.g. move the LF just beyond the dirt in shallow right for a LH batter, while the CF and RF stay at their relative normal depth.

[mister d]

That should be allowed and I imagine teams would rarely do it because the downside isn't the same as the IF shift.

[EnochRoot]

Here come the rule changes!

In a nutshell:
1) Pitch clock of 20 seconds with man on base, 15 without
2) Two infielders on each side of 2nd base, feet on the dirt
3) Unanimous vote on larger bases

Eliminating the shift is a big one, yes, but so is the fact you can only step off the rubber twice per plate appearance, which means no more than two throws over to 1B to keep the runner close. A third step off during the PA = balk and runners advance (unless that time leads to a pickoff).

[mister d]

There are going to be sooooooo many balk arguments because of that rule. Not that it isn't a good one, I like it, but there will be growing pains.

[HaulCitgo]

Here come the rule changes!

In a nutshell:
1) Pitch clock of 20 seconds with man on base, 15 without
2) Two infielders on each side of 2nd base, feet on the dirt
3) Unanimous vote on larger bases

Eliminating the shift is a big one, yes, but so is the fact you can only step off the rubber twice per plate appearance, which means no more than two throws over to 1B to keep the runner close. A third step off during the PA = balk and runners advance (unless that time leads to a pickoff).

How exactly does that work? If you can't throw after 2 then you can't step off the second time or it's a sprint to second as soon as the pitcher steps back on the rubber. So one pickoff or else the baserunner knows you can't really throw?

[mister d]

Right. The runner can go free as soon as they know the pitcher is going home and if they’re wrong, they’re picked off.

[mister d]

I would have said, more arrogantly than merely confidently, that this would never happen modern era:

[A_B]

I don't understand why people still pitch to him.

[EnochRoot]

I don't understand why people still pitch to him.

From the Red Sox perspective it’d go something like this:

They’re in last place in the AL East. Despite the Yankees *massive* swoon since like the middle of June, they’re still 30 games over .500. If Judge reaches 62 home runs (and doesn’t get popped for PEDs between now and his next contract), he is going to go to the highest bidder for likely 8 or 9 years.

The Yankees are too full of hubris to let him go, so the Sox may as well make it cost more money to keep him.

[mister d]

Abraham Almonte just had my two nightmare plays in one inning but the fact that they’re a coed softball (L)CF’s nightmare and he’s living them out in the majors is a big problem.

[Steve of phpBB]

The Mets.

[Steve of phpBB]

[sancarlos]

[EnochRoot]

So everyone loves them some Aaron Judge, but what about the 22 year old, Munetaka Murakami in NPB?

.333 / .471 / .750, with 55 HR in 448 AB (565 PA, 111 BB).

[mister d]

I could be hanging onto something that's 10 years outdated, but whenever I see huge power numbers in Japan I think AAAA slugger who either can't hit serious velo or can't hit anything offspeed if there's a threat of velo.

[EnochRoot]

I could be hanging onto something that's 10 years outdated, but whenever I see huge power numbers in Japan I think AAAA slugger who either can't hit serious velo or can't hit anything offspeed if there's a threat of velo.

Yeah that's usually retreads out of MLB that didn't stick and then for whatever reason wind up in Japan and can hit the long ball. I'd like to see a scouting report before I dismiss this kid.

[mister d]

His age could definitely make him different, he's just playing in the league he has to at this stage. In general I don't look at 50 HRs in NPB and think there's any translation to MLB, even at 50% production.

[EnochRoot]

His age could definitely make him different, he's just playing in the league he has to at this stage. In general I don't look at 50 HRs in NPB and think there's any translation to MLB, even at 50% production.

Given most of the 50 HR guys were retreads, I agree with you. At the very least, his 111 BBs in 565 PAs and .471 OBP both suggest he’s an incredibly disciplined hitter for his age.

Not quite apples to apples (Ichiro not only simply did not strikeout much at all, he also didn’t walk either), but Ichiro’s OPS during his 9 years in Japan was .943. Murakami’s first 5 years in Japan has been .996.

[A_B]

Does he use Norwegian wood in his bats?

[govmentchedda]

Does he use Norwegian wood in his bats?

Slow clap

[DSafetyGuy]

The Tigers hired Scott Harris from the Giants to be their president of baseball operations.

Steve Yzerman was involved in the search process.

[EnochRoot]

60th HR for Judge. 8-5 Pirates over the Yankees in the top 9. Fastforward a few moments and it's bases loaded Yankees, nobody out. Stanton hits a grand slam.

That'll work.

[rass]

The youngest somehow decided over the summer that she (A) likes watching baseball (don't know) and (B) she's a Red Sox fan (really don't know), and really wanted to watch the Pirates/Yanks last night. She had the game on downstairs and I sat down with her after I got done making dinner and we watched the 3rd through the 7th or so. She had to take a shower before bed so I told her how to listen to WFAN but didn't stick with the game myself after that. At some point she told me it was 8-4 Bucs in the bottom of the ninth, and like 10 minutes later I turned the game on, apparently right after Judge's HR, and watched through the end. I walked into her room after Stanton's walk-off and she was a good 30 seconds behind so I waited to hear Sterling's call. She gave me the most "WTF???" look and said "The Yankees won???" and I said, "yeah, love you, good night".

[Rex]

If the girl ever has trouble sleeping, I recommend this:



I’m sure there’s one of Sterling calls out there.

[mister d]

Votto’s the best.

[rass]

Making your kids happy can be a drag man

[Jerloma]

I don't understand why people still pitch to him.

From the Red Sox perspective it’d go something like this:

They’re in last place in the AL East. Despite the Yankees *massive* swoon since like the middle of June, they’re still 30 games over .500. If Judge reaches 62 home runs (and doesn’t get popped for PEDs between now and his next contract), he is going to go to the highest bidder for likely 8 or 9 years.

The Yankees are too full of hubris to let him go, so the Sox may as well make it cost more money to keep him.

This is one of those theories that sounds way overthought but still makes sense. I mean how many team can even afford to pay him at this point? Four? Five?

[A_B]

Can? All of them. Will? Yeah 4-5 sounds right.

[Jerloma]

Yankees announcers blasting Pirates relief pitcher for walking Judge on 4 pitches in the 8th. Kay says "Do you really think Aaron Judge is gonna swing 3-0 with an 11-2 lead in the bottom of the 8th?"

Did anybody actually not think he had a green light there?

[mister d]

He tried to refuse a curtain call after tying Ruth because of the score. There’s no chance he’d tie Maris 3-0 while up 9.