Baseball Thread -

[Bassomatic]

Well we had our first benches-clearing incident today involving Nick Castellanos and the Cardinals' battery to start. Castellanos was the only player ejected, which was pretty weak shit in my opinion since there was no violence at all by anyone. The best part is when the bullpens started to get into it a bit at the end. Idk why but the bullpens getting super heated is usually my favorite part of these things, because they have literally nothing to do with anything that preceded the bench clearing. Jomboy did a pretty quick rundown on it even though nothing really happened.

I was so thrilled we got a bench clearer and grand slam in the first week.

Plus I got to listen to a game on radio, while sipping a beer eating meat, I haven't felt such joy since last season.. well the Phillies won so I forget how long that's been maybe 4 years now

 

[Super-Chevy454]

We got to give some kudos to former Yankees player David Wells about what he think of the MLB's decision about the All-Star game.

https://nypost.com/2021/04/09/ex-yankee-david-wells-boycotts-mlb-over-all-star-game-move/

https://archive.ph/PncDy

Former Yankee David Wells on Thursday blasted Major League Baseball’s decision to move the All-Star Game from Atlanta, in protest of Georgia’s new GOP-led election reform bill.

The two-time World Series champion pitcher told Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that the move by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s has caused him to stop watching games.

“I’ve had a lot of dealings with Rob Manfred back in my playing days, and I never liked the guy,” Wells said during the interview.

“To me, how do you change the games, the dynamics, and hurt a city like Atlanta that really needs some income in that situation?” the left-handed hurler said on the show. “I mean, Atlanta’s a great place to play baseball.”

The controversial March measure tightened restrictions on absentee voting and allows the state to take control of local election systems.

 

[FaramirG]

This might be the worst call I've ever seen not involving Angel Hernandez. How the fuck do you call him safe here AFTER watching the replay? I'm not even a Braves fan and I'm livid.

https://streamable.com/e9n103

Also, wifebeater Domingo German got lit up again and the Yankees finally sent him to the "alternate site". Hopefully that's the last time I have to see him pitching for this team.

 

[Local Fed]

Aaron Hicks will be sitting out the game tonight against the Blue Jays in protest over the police shooting in Minnesota lol.

In more important baseball news that wasn't mentioned here, Joe Musgrove (a San Diego native) threw the first no-hitter in Padres history the other day when they beat the Rangers in Texas.

 

[Salubrious]

Expect the narrative to get unbearable tonight.

Easy headline: Anti-vaxxer catches COVID.

https://archive.md/Bieeo

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons has tested positive for the coronavirus and was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday before the team's doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox.

Simmons has said he doesn't plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which was made available in a single-shot dosage to the team at Target Field last Thursday.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Simmons was experiencing "very mild" symptoms and resting at home. The positive test result was received late Tuesday, after the Twins lost 4-2 to the Red Sox.

After the initial phase of contact tracing, the Twins determined no additional players needed to be quarantined.

Simmons was replaced on the roster by infielder JT Riddle, who was summoned from the alternate training site. Third baseman Josh Donaldson, out since the season opener with a strained hamstring, was expected back for the second game of the doubleheader.

The Twins held a meeting to remind players and staff to heed virus protocols, even though a majority of them have been vaccinated. The full immunization period isn't in effect yet.

"We're not out of the woods by any means on that front," Falvey said, adding, "Now is the time to be as vigilant as possible."

Simmons tweeted last month that he would not be getting the vaccine or advocating for it for "personal reasons and past experience," on which he declined to elaborate. He confirmed Sunday that he did not participate in the teamwide vaccination. Asked if he planned to get the shot in the future, Simmons said he didn't know.

"We want to continue to educate people in the environment. This is real. This is something that can enter. We know that," Falvey said. "Sometimes no one really knows exactly how it can come at different times. We know that from looking not just across our sport, but across all sports and across the country and the world. Our view of that is constantly reminding people of why we think it's a good idea to get vaccinated. Our docs have recommended that, and so we continue to provide them as resources to players, to learn as much as they can about this."

 

[Goyaanisqatsi]

I fucking HATE how they've retained the extra inning format from last year.

 

[Local Fed]

Just five days after Musgrove of the Padres, Carlos Rodon of the White Sox just threw the second no-hitter of the 2021 season, and the second White Sox no-hitter within their last 42 games. Just like Musgrove, the only runner he allowed was on a hit by pitch. Rodon hit his player (the catcher for Cleveland) on the top of the foot with one out in the top of the 9th inning. There was a lengthy and loud chant of "BULLSHIT" after it happened, but it clearly did hit him.

 

[FaramirG]

Just five days after Musgrove of the Padres, Carlos Rodon of the White Sox just threw the second no-hitter of the 2021 season, and the second White Sox no-hitter within their last 42 games. Just like Musgrove, the only runner he allowed was on a hit by pitch. Rodon hit his player (the catcher for Cleveland) on the top of the foot with one out in the top of the 9th inning. There was a lengthy and loud chant of "BULLSHIT" after it happened, but it clearly did hit him.

I kind of feel bad for the batter, there was nothing he could really do to get out of the way there but the fans were treating him like he was that prick who deliberately got hit to ruin Scherzer's perfect game a couple years back (forget the guy's name, some scrub from Pittsburgh).

https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1382526359927459841

 

[Philly Phunk Machine]

-Braves and Yankees have decent offense undone by bad pitching
-Mets aren't the juggernaut they imagined when signing Lindor
-Tigers' rookies moving up the rebuild clock
-Reds aren't dogshit somehow

It's just the first week too; shame the WS is going to be Dodgers vs AL sacrifice again.

 

[Local Fed]

If any of you are fans of the Reds and/or Jay Bruce, you may want to tune into the Rays and Yankees game today. Jay Bruce of New York announced that he'll be retiring after today's game.

Friday night against his former team, Arizona, Max Scherzer tied and then passed Cy Young for 22nd all time for strikeouts. And back to the Reds, yesterday Joey Votto turned a triple play against the Indians which was pretty cool.

 

[Preferred Penne]

Today, Shane Bieber became the first pitcher ever to record double-digit strikeouts in his first four starts of the season.

 

[Iron Hamster]

Today, Shane Bieber became the first pitcher ever to record double-digit strikeouts in his first four starts of the season.

Dudes on fire. I avoided him in DFS today because the Reds bats have been hot.

 

[Ralph Cifaretto]

Interesting decision by the Astros not to pitch Grienke in Colorado. I know it was a function of the calendar more than anything else, but I would have tried to give him a chance to hit. One of his career goals is to get 10 homers and he has 9 right now. Maybe they'll let him pinch hit later this afternoon lol.

 

[BIG BILL HELL'S]

Interesting decision by the Astros not to pitch Grienke in Colorado. I know it was a function of the calendar more than anything else, but I would have tried to give him a chance to hit. One of his career goals is to get 10 homers and he has 9 right now. Maybe they'll let him pinch hit later this afternoon lol.

Have him play right field à la Randy Johnson.

 

[Ralph Cifaretto]

Lol Astros won in 10 tonight and I absolutely hate the extra innings rule.

 

[Local Fed]

Arizona just finished really embarrassing the Braves today in their double header. In 14 innings between the two games Arizona outscored them 12-0 and only allowed 1 hit, a single to Freddie Freeman that didn't come until the 6th inning of the first game. Zac Gallen threw the unofficial one-hitter (with a pair of walks) in the 5-0 win. Then in game two, Madison Bumgarner threw an unofficial no-hitter. He actually would've had a perfect game if not for an error by Nick Ahmed to lead off the 2nd inning (the runner was then quickly erased with a double play).

Oakland's winning streak finally came to an end today at 13 with an 8-1 loss in Baltimore. After starting off terribly to start the year at 0-6, they're now 14-8 and have the third best record in baseball after only the Dodgers and the Royals, respectively.

 

[Ralph Cifaretto]

Then in game two, Madison Bumgarner threw an unofficial no-hitter.

If MLB is planning on adopting the seven inning rule for doubleheaders going forward, I think they should reconsider this designation. They're not quite on the same plane as a nine inning no-no, primarily because the pitcher likely won't face the full batting order three times, but I think they should still be somehow recognized. Just call it a "shortened no hitter" or something, because there's nothing more the pitchers can really do in this situation. Also I'd lean towards not including seven inning combined no-hitters in this scenario.

 

[Goyaanisqatsi]

Braves bats are absolutely horrendous right now. Acuna is starting to cool off and Freeman is slowly getting into his usual form after a very lackluster start but everyone is just flat out bad.

I didnt expect them to be as good as they were last season (Ozuna, mostly) but I still expected them to look like a contender by now.

Bumgarner was absolutely robbed of a no-hitter, I can totally agree with that.

 

[Local Fed]

If anyone is looking for something interesting to watch put on the Padres and Dodgers game immediately. Certainly the game of the season so far.

It was 2-1 for LA going into the bottom of the 7th. They then put up five runs to go up 7-1 and seemingly ice it. San Diego, however, put up two runs in each of the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings to tie it. To start extras, San Diego moved their runner to 3rd on a grounder. LA chose to walk the next batter to put runners on the corners. They managed to strike out the pitcher and Fernando Tatis Jr. to move to the bottom of the 10th. It started off just as the previous half inning did, with a grounder to move the runner up. San Diego elected to intentionally walk the next two batters to face the pitch-hitter Clayton Kershaw (both teams have used all of their bench players at this point.) He struck out after going up in the count 2-0. Rookie DJ Peters, yet to earn a hit, came up and with a full count fouled off a couple of pitches before striking out.

Now to start the 11th after a walk to Trent Grishim, he and Tatis Jr. pulled off a double steal with one out. Following a Manny Machado pop out to third base, Eric Hosmer hit a booming sac fly to centre to score Tatis Jr. and make it 8-7 with a man on third. San Diego's half just ended on a strikeout.

Edit: the Padres held them off despite having to face Mookie Betts and Corey Seager with a man standing on second.

 

[Bassomatic]

Bryce is paying for himself and I've always loved the underdog, set up man etc (baseball on sports lol) Hoskins is MERKING it.

I know we aren't a power team, but I'm so happy seeing what's going down.