Baseball thread

[RKP]

Fair enough. The first MLB game I saw in the flesh (I had no interest prior to that), was at old Yankee Stadium 10 years ago. Was enough to get me hooked.

I'm lucky enough to have seen games at Camden Yards before, and the atmosphere has been decent, when it's been dry that is. A gorgeous ballpark, although the atmosphere at Nationals Park and old Yankee Stadium is/were better IMO.

Sold out night games at Camden Yards are special, when the Nats come to town it is special (although most of the time was spent booing Bryce Harper).

It's a shame the O's don't seem like retaining the AL East, but it's about time the Yankees had their turn in the Postseason. A-Rod, this season, has been outstanding. The Blue Jays score for fun but can't win consistently, the Rays are the worst offensive team in the AL, and the Red Sox are even worse after the All-Star break (though they did beat the Tigers 11-1 yesterday).

 

[.V.]

They're pretty close to each other geographically, and I know it's no secret that the two clubs don't like each other. Have you been to a game in the flesh yet?

We've only missed the post season the last 2 years, but, without tempting fate, we do look the best of a bad bunch in the AL East. Long may it continue

 

[RKP]

They're pretty close to each other geographically, and I know it's no secret that the two clubs don't like each other. Have you been to a game in the flesh yet?

We've only missed the post season the last 2 years, but, without tempting fate, we do look the best of a bad bunch in the AL East. Long may it continue

I'd love to say yes I have been, but family commitments over the past years and work commitments meant I haven't found time to go over.

And yeah, the AL East ain't the best in all honesty this year. Only the Yankees are doing good, but the rest are slugging behind. It was very competitive a few months back but now, it's spread out a bit.

Braves @Orioles tonight, and the homecoming of Nick Markakis, which will be good to see.

 

[.V.]

I'd love to say yes I have been, but family commitments over the past years and work commitments meant I haven't found time to go over.

And yeah, the AL East ain't the best in all honesty this year. Only the Yankees are doing good, but the rest are slugging behind. It was very competitive a few months back but now, it's spread out a bit.

Braves @Orioles tonight, and the homecoming of Nick Markakis, which will be good to see.

Flights to the US aren't cheap sadly. I've been to Baltimore and Washington DC a number of times, so if you do ever end up going to a game, feel free to pick my brain.

A nice 7 game lead now for the Yankees.

And wow, Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays!

 

[RKP]

Forever grateful to Matt Wieters. A walk-off home run, in the bottom of the 11th wins it for the O's, 2-1.

And a rare home run given up by Zach Britton, Garcia smashing one onto the roof deck, then bottom of the 9th, former O's Closer Jim Johnson gives up a sac fly by Hardy to score Jones.

But both starting pitchers dominated. Counting my lucky stars, thank you Wieters!

 

[.V.]

David Price is available! Be still my beating heart! But I don't want to give up top prospects for a rental. I'm so conflicted!!!

 

[RKP]

He's due to pitch on Sunday at Camden Yards...

And bloody hell, Yankees score 20+ runs against the Rangers, Rays lose at home to the Tigers...

And of course the Orioles won, but really Chris Davis won it. 25 HR, 60+ RBIs for the season, not bad for someone who has a low average.

Hoping for the O's to complete the sweep tonight... With Tillman on the mound, a man who retired 23 consecutive batters @Tigers, I hope it does happen.

 

[.V.]

Baseball is officially going crazy! Price to the the Blue Jays, and a 13 player trade involving the Dodgers, Braves and Marlins

We've upgraded second base, which isn't nothing. Pineda is on the DL now though, and could miss 6 weeks, so a move for a starting pitcher has to be on the cards, even if it's a minor move.

 

[RKP]

So close... From 9-3 down to 9-8. Some terrible pitching by Gonzalez, and then Bud Norris.

Let's hope for better tonight. Wei-Yen Chen is on the mound, he's much better.

Also, according to rumours, we have traded Zach Davies to the Brewers in return for Gerardo Parra, an outfielder.

By 21:00 (9PM GMT) we'll know if it is true or not.

Edit: confirmed by the Orioles, let's see if he can help the push for that Wildcard place.

2nd edit: Bud Norris has been designated for assignment, best news all year! (Poor fella though, last year he was great, this year he's giving out runs like they were Smarties).

 

[RavenBish]

took my eye off this for about a month and now I can't name a single Reds pitcher in the starting rotation.

I'm cool with Cueto going, I think they'd been kidding themselves for the last 18 months that he'd stay but there's no chance he'd have been a Red next year and the haul for him seems fairly decent, a couple of good young arms. Superb timing from Leake too to string together a nice bit of form and get some decent value in return...there is the hindsight factor though of wishing we could have paid either of them instead of giving Homer Bailey that big deal.

But yeah, don't see why FO guys are getting such a hard time recently. Seem to have got a good return and done the right thing with Latos, Simon, Leake and Cueto. The minors have gone from being a barren wasteland to actually having 5-10 intriguing prospects that might make an impact next year and, most importantly, cash has been freed up whereby Frazier can be re-signed easily.

Very much enjoying the arms race that's developed as well now that we're officially not a play-off contender. There's a good 8/9 teams with more than enough on paper to win the WS...which probably means the Cards and/or Giants get hot in preseason and win it.

 

[.V.]

The White Sox just homered against the Yankees; queue excited commentators and fireworks. Except that home run now makes the score Yankees 12 White Sox 2!

 

[RKP]

When I listened to the Orioles @White Sox, their commentators were too over-reactive on every hit.

Tigers down Orioles 6-1, and now onto Oakland, at 3:00PM GMT, for 2 days. Ffs

At least Chris Davis is still crushing HR's.

 

[.V.]

We've picked a really bad time to start slumping. We best pick it up before we play the Blue Jays again.

 

[RKP]

One day we'll be consistent.

One day.

Beat the Mariners 3-2 in game 1, lose 6-5 in extra innings yesterday. At least Chris Davis is crushing home runs.

But yeah, the Blue Jays have soared, score for fun and win a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if they won the AL East, they certainly will be in the Postseason (unless they flop).

 

[.V.]

BJs win 10 straight whilst the Yankees lose 5 straight. I hate baseball right now.

 

[RKP]

Mariners pitcher pitches a no-hitter against us... Before long, even Tampa Bay will be above us. We need to utilise our home advantage.

1 out of 3 series taken from the west coast, and we've got Kansas City coming up!

 

[SALTIRE]

Watched my first baseball game last night after reading the rules and I have to say it was pretty good. May begin to watch some more though I'll probably need a team to start following if so.

 

[.V.]

Just watch a team and see if there's a team you have an affinity for. Only advice I would give us don't look at teams past Chicago, on account of the time difference.

 

[RKP]

Try to avoid the West Coast teams, their games start at around 03:10 GMT. E.g. Angels, Padres, Athletics etc. I'd say watch a few games, and see if there is a team that catches your eye. .V. Is a Yankees fan, whilst I root for the Orioles.

 

[SALTIRE]

Yeah it was a Yankee's game I was watching, seeing them get beat by the Indians. Good tip on the time difference, that is something to think about!

May get another game in tonight (if they are on, haven't checked yet) after I watch Atletico and Murray get gubbed at the tennis!

 

[.V.]

CF is a Red Sox fan, toffee_joe is a Rays fun, Ravenbish is a Reds fan and TomPNE94 is a Marlins fan.

 

[.V.]

Yeah it was a Yankee's game I was watching, seeing them get beat by the Indians. Good tip on the time difference, that is something to think about!

May get another game in tonight (if they are on, haven't checked yet) after I watch Atletico and Murray get gubbed at the tennis!

If you're staying up past midnight, Dodgers at Astros could be a good one.

 

[SALTIRE]

If you're staying up past midnight, Dodgers at Astros could be a good one.

Yeah I'm up and going to watch a game. Dodgers it is then!

 

[SALTIRE]

Watched from the 4th innings of the Dodgers/Astros game missing the first hour due to a mix up on the start time from myself.

That Neshek for the Astros has a hell of a pitching motion, very weird, but it works. I suppose its one of these motions that isn't taught, but it just comes natural to the person, so it shouldn't be mucked around with, like Furyk's swing in golf or Alex Higgins cue action in snooker.

One thing I'm not getting though is when a batter hits the ball but it isn't deemed a ball or a strike, nothing happens and they start again. Is that because the pitcher has thrown a foul ball but the batter has hit it or am I way off?

 

[.V.]

Watched from the 4th innings of the Dodgers/Astros game missing the first hour due to a mix up on the start time from myself.

That Neshek for the Astros has a hell of a pitching motion, very weird, but it works. I suppose its one of these motions that isn't taught, but it just comes natural to the person, so it shouldn't be mucked around with, like Furyk's swing in golf or Alex Higgins cue action in snooker.

One thing I'm not getting though is when a batter hits the ball but it isn't deemed a ball or a strike, nothing happens and they start again. Is that because the pitcher has thrown a foul ball but the batter has hit it or am I way off?

Is there two strikes? You can't make an out on a ball hit out of play (a foul ball), but it does count as a strike for the first two strikes. So if a player hits 10 foul balls in a row, the count would be 0-2.

 

[SALTIRE]

Is there two strikes? You can't make an out on a ball hit out of play (a foul ball), but it does count as a strike for the first two strikes. So if a player hits 10 foul balls in a row, the count would be 0-2.

Yeah the last time it happened the guy was on two strikes as it was the end of the game and I thought it was game over when he hit it. Still getting used to some of the rules. For instance I had to look up a tag out as I didn't know a runner could get out that way and thought the fielder always had to have one foot on the Base to get the runner out!

 

[.V.]

Some basic stuff here. Don't know how much is of use to you.

 

[.V.]

Andy Pettitte day in the Bronx today. I was lucky enough to see him pitch in 2008.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's almost like there's something they've left out of that video. Something they didn't want to mention. Some inconvenient stain. Can anyone remember anything like that about Andy Pettitte? It's really bugging me.

 

[.V.]

I don't know what you mean No doubt when David Ortiz's number is retired by Boston the same will be omitted.