Major League Baseball Thread

by **Major-Tom** » Fri May 10, 2019 1:07 am

The Kansas City Royals are already choking, but hey, a man can dream. This year is definitely our year...

by **Maineiacs** » Fri May 10, 2019 2:27 am

Major-Tom wrote:The Kansas City Royals are already choking, but hey, a man can dream. This year is definitely our year...

...to finish last. Go Twins!

by **Karteria** » Fri May 10, 2019 7:29 am

Major-Tom wrote:The Kansas City Royals are already choking, but hey, a man can dream. This year is definitely our year...

I feel that. At least the lineup can make games a little more fun to watch, and hopefully Duffy becomes a pitcher again (no one else will).

by **Partybus** » Fri May 10, 2019 12:09 pm

This is turning into a very odd baseball season for me. I have been going to Fenway Park three or four times a year for the last few years running. At this point I'm going to two games, White Sox/A's in Chicago, and Brewers/Angels in Milwaukee (a Grateful Dead tribute game) the following day. I am going to make it to Fenway this summer, but, it is for an "internationally friendly" futbol match (Liverpool FC vs Sevilla FC) I am really looking forward to seeing baseball in alternative parks, but still, kinda weird...

by **United Muscovite Nations** » Fri May 10, 2019 12:21 pm

>tfw the Braves on 4 game losing streak

On a semi-related note, the braves would be a much better team if their bullpen was any good.

by **The Two Jerseys** » Sat May 11, 2019 4:21 pm

~~Oakland~~ Cleveland blew that game...

by **Ameriganastan** » Sat May 11, 2019 4:31 pm

The Two Jerseys wrote:~~Oakland~~ Cleveland blew that game...

I saw that. That poor guy is never gonna live that one down.

by **The Two Jerseys** » Sat May 11, 2019 4:38 pm

Ameriganastan wrote:
The Two Jerseys wrote:~~Oakland~~ Cleveland blew that game...

I saw that. That poor guy is never gonna live that one down.

Can't be worse than Fred Merkle...

by **Maineiacs** » Sun May 12, 2019 12:17 pm

At what point will it be safe to be optimistic about the Twins chances? :unsure:

by **Northwest Slobovia** » Sun May 12, 2019 12:22 pm

Maineiacs wrote:At what point will it be safe to be optimistic about the Twins chances?

I usually start thinking about how teams will do at the All-Star break.

by **The Two Jerseys** » Sun May 12, 2019 1:19 pm

What's the matter Tampa, can't pay the electric bill?

by **Karteria** » Sun May 12, 2019 1:37 pm

Maineiacs wrote:At what point will it be safe to be optimistic about the Twins chances?

After about a month, it's probably safe to do some analysis. The season is long, but still.

I tend to think that the ways in which teams win games determine how sustainable their success is. For example, the Mariners had the success they had earlier on because of an overachieving offense reliant on home runs – however, we are already seeing their significant faults.

The key for the Twins is their rotation, I'd say. Berrios is definitely good; Odorizzi and Gibson have had success in the past. While they won't be as dominant as they have been all season, my gut feeling says it's sustainable.

by **Maineiacs** » Sat May 18, 2019 8:13 pm

We bring you this live feed from tonight's game in Seattle, with Minnesota up to bat...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE8gF-1D5Mg

by **Ameriganastan** » Mon May 20, 2019 1:29 pm

Yoenis Céspedes broke his ankle.

by **Ameriganastan** » Wed May 22, 2019 3:54 pm

You hear about this kid? Just giving the MLB a big middle finger and headed for Japan. Kid has cajones.

by **Karteria** » Wed May 22, 2019 8:47 pm

Ameriganastan wrote:You hear about this kid? Just giving the MLB a big middle finger and headed for Japan. Kid has cajones.

True that, but it does make more sense once you read the article. Seems like he's not a surefire star that would guarantee an ascendency to the big leagues – otherwise, there's much more guaranteed money in Japan. It could be better for his career long-term, considering that there's likely less pressure oversees.

I didn't know there was a limit to the number of foreign players (4) per Japanese team... interesting.

by **Ko-oren** » Thu May 23, 2019 1:37 pm

I decided to follow the Mets (as a European fan) since the start of the season, and I'm getting to understand the MLB a little better. Today I realised the Marlins somehow have a 6-game winning streak, and still are last in the NL E and are stuck on .340... while the Mets, having lost 3 to the Marlins, won 4 straight over the Nationals.

How much of a thing is momentum in baseball?

by **Karteria** » Thu May 23, 2019 2:05 pm

Ko-oren wrote:I decided to follow the Mets (as a European fan) since the start of the season, and I'm getting to understand the MLB a little better. Today I realised the Marlins somehow have a 6-game winning streak, and still are last in the NL E and are stuck on .340... while the Mets, having lost 3 to the Marlins, won 4 straight over the Nationals.

How much of a thing is momentum in baseball?

Depends on who you ask. I'd say momentum has some (intangible) effect on ball-clubs; if you've had recent success, then you probably feel more confident when you play. However, there are more-documented reasons why the Marlins and Mets are doing well recently, i.e. the Nationals's bullpen and Detroit not being very good.

by **Ameriganastan** » Thu May 23, 2019 2:06 pm

Ko-oren wrote:I decided to follow the Mets (as a European fan) since the start of the season, and I'm getting to understand the MLB a little better. Today I realised the Marlins somehow have a 6-game winning streak, and still are last in the NL E and are stuck on .340... while the Mets, having lost 3 to the Marlins, won 4 straight over the Nationals.

How much of a thing is momentum in baseball?

The Mets? Come on, don't pull for the little brother. Be a fan of the big, far more successful brother.

...Yeah we're in a decade long championship drought and like 90% of the team is landing on the injured list...but still.

by **Ethel mermania** » Thu May 23, 2019 2:26 pm

Ameriganastan wrote:
Ko-oren wrote:I decided to follow the Mets (as a European fan) since the start of the season, and I'm getting to understand the MLB a little better. Today I realised the Marlins somehow have a 6-game winning streak, and still are last in the NL E and are stuck on .340... while the Mets, having lost 3 to the Marlins, won 4 straight over the Nationals.

How much of a thing is momentum in baseball?

The Mets? Come on, don't pull for the little brother. Be a fan of the big, far more successful brother.

...Yeah we're in a decade long championship drought and like 90% of the team is landing on the injured list...but still.

And we are in first place Bitches!!

by **Karteria** » Thu May 23, 2019 2:28 pm

Ethel mermania wrote:
Ameriganastan wrote:The Mets? Come on, don't pull for the little brother. Be a fan of the big, far more successful brother.
(Image)

...Yeah we're in a decade long championship drought and like 90% of the team is landing on the injured list...but still.

And we are in first place Bitches!!

The Yanks are good for sure, but with Tampa and Boston in the division, I doubt first place will last long.

by **Dresderstan** » Thu May 23, 2019 2:45 pm

Ethel mermania wrote:
Ameriganastan wrote:The Mets? Come on, don't pull for the little brother. Be a fan of the big, far more successful brother.
(Image)

...Yeah we're in a decade long championship drought and like 90% of the team is landing on the injured list...but still.

And we are in first place Bitches!!

Hell yeah!

by **Idzequitch** » Sat May 25, 2019 12:55 am

Ameriganastan wrote:
Ko-oren wrote:I decided to follow the Mets (as a European fan) since the start of the season, and I'm getting to understand the MLB a little better. Today I realised the Marlins somehow have a 6-game winning streak, and still are last in the NL E and are stuck on .340... while the Mets, having lost 3 to the Marlins, won 4 straight over the Nationals.

How much of a thing is momentum in baseball?

The Mets? Come on, don't pull for the little brother. Be a fan of the big, far more successful brother.

...Yeah we're in a decade long championship drought and like 90% of the team is landing on the injured list...but still.

I tried being a Yankee fan as a little kid. I've long since repented of my ways.

by **Ko-oren** » Sun May 26, 2019 5:09 am

Karteria wrote:Depends on who you ask. I'd say momentum has some (intangible) effect on ball-clubs; if you've had recent success, then you probably feel more confident when you play. However, there are more-documented reasons why the Marlins and Mets are doing well recently, i.e. the Nationals's bullpen and Detroit not being very good.

Of course bad opponents factor in

I can't really tell a bad opponent from a good one apart from their record.

@the rest: it's tempting to go for the successful teams. Or actually, there isn't, really. Avoiding the bandwagon is an important one for me. I've been a Detroit Lions fan for 8 years or so now, and recently chose the Canucks and Mets so maybe I've been looking for disappointment a bit much, I'll admit...

by **Karteria** » Sun May 26, 2019 3:05 pm

Ko-oren wrote:
Karteria wrote:Depends on who you ask. I'd say momentum has some (intangible) effect on ball-clubs; if you've had recent success, then you probably feel more confident when you play. However, there are more-documented reasons why the Marlins and Mets are doing well recently, i.e. the Nationals's bullpen and Detroit not being very good.

Of course bad opponents factor in
I can't really tell a bad opponent from a good one apart from their record.

Totally understandable. There are a lot of teams year-to-year (and especially this year) that have mediocre or okay records but are either a) not that great, or b) actually better than their record. The Athletics, for example, were in the cellar of the AL West but just won six games in a row (or something like that).

Baseball itself is one large enigma sometimes.

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