MLB 2025 Season

LloydXmas

Ted Lily is stealing Strasburg's thunder tonight.

Too bad Ted has 3 runs through

The Juggler

amazing how there's a little less than a month left and there is absolutely no drama at all in the nl.

only thing that's even remotely close is the battle of who's not going to face the phillies.

looks like it will be the d backs, but they're only 3.5 behind the brew crew at this point...

Johnny Abruzzo

The Juggler wrote:

amazing how there's a little less than a month left and there is absolutely no drama at all in the nl.

only thing that's even remotely close is the battle of who's not going to face the phillies.

looks like it will be the d backs, but they're only 3.5 behind the brew crew at this point...

Last year it was fun to watch the Phils almost knock the Braves out of the playoffs the last weekend when they had nothing to play for. Guess neither team will have anything to play for this year.

The Juggler

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

The Juggler wrote:

amazing how there's a little less than a month left and there is absolutely no drama at all in the nl.

only thing that's even remotely close is the battle of who's not going to face the phillies.

looks like it will be the d backs, but they're only 3.5 behind the brew crew at this point...

Last year it was fun to watch the Phils almost knock the Braves out of the playoffs the last weekend when they had nothing to play for. Guess neither team will have anything to play for this year.

i've made it a point to appreciate every inning of every game this season...but right now kinda feels like preseason football. i just want to fast forward 3 and a half weeks.

kinda funny watching games with my family. my mom is hillarious. she's not a huge baseball fan (only of my teams when i played and whenever the phils have been winners which, obviously, hasn't happened much until recently). i'm sitting there watching the 9-0 game the other night and she is living and dying with every single pitch. mom---it's 9-0~! relax! they got this.

Wobbie

The Juggler wrote:

amazing how there's a little less than a month left and there is absolutely no drama at all in the nl.

dude, we're only 6 back! :wtf:

The Juggler

imalive wrote:

The Juggler wrote:

amazing how there's a little less than a month left and there is absolutely no drama at all in the nl.

dude, we're only 6 back! :wtf:

:thumbup:

Johnny Abruzzo

imalive wrote:

The Juggler wrote:

amazing how there's a little less than a month left and there is absolutely no drama at all in the nl.

dude, we're only 6 back! :wtf:

The streaky d-bags could be in store for a losing streak. But I don't think your team will take advantage.

Newch91

Surprised no talk about Mariano passing Hoffman for all-time saves leader.

Johnny Abruzzo

Newch91 wrote:

Surprised no talk about Mariano passing Hoffman for all-time saves leader.

Did it happen yet? Sorry - I hate the save stat - think it's garbage.

Newch91

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

Surprised no talk about Mariano passing Hoffman for all-time saves leader.

Did it happen yet? Sorry - I hate the save stat - think it's garbage.

Explain

Johnny Abruzzo

Newch91 wrote:

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

Surprised no talk about Mariano passing Hoffman for all-time saves leader.

Did it happen yet? Sorry - I hate the save stat - think it's garbage.

Explain

So you honestly think the "save" is a respectable statistic? Is there anything notable about coming into a game and getting 3 outs without giving up 3 runs? Any team up by 3 runs going into the 9th inning wins something like 98% of the time. And that percentage hasn't change since the popularization of the "closer."

"Closers" are generally some of the most overrated players in all of sports. Somebody (Jayson Stark maybe?) mentioned Craig Kimbrell as an NL Cy Young candidate and I threw up in my mouth. Starting a game and going through a lineup 3 or 4 times is many degrees more difficult than "closing." (I use "quotes" for things that I don't like, as you might have noticed.) The idea of the one inning closer is an artificial creation where managers use pitchers according to the definition of a "save." Isn't the statistic supposed to reflect what happens in the game, not vice versa?

By the way, I'm not saying that Mariano hasn't been a great, Hall of Fame, pitcher. But, for two examples of what I'm talking about:
-Mariano, the greatest closer ever, was a failed starting pitcher. You can never be a successful starter with one pitch, no matter how good it is.
-In 2007 the Phillies converted Brett Myers, a mediocre starting pitcher, to a closer and he was basically lights out the whole year.

Cliffy6745

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

So you honestly think the "save" is a respectable statistic? Is there anything notable about coming into a game and getting 3 outs without giving up 3 runs? Any team up by 3 runs going into the 9th inning wins something like 98% of the time. And that percentage hasn't change since the popularization of the "closer."

"Closers" are generally some of the most overrated players in all of sports. Somebody (Jayson Stark maybe?) mentioned Craig Kimbrell as an NL Cy Young candidate and I threw up in my mouth. Starting a game and going through a lineup 3 or 4 times is many degrees more difficult than "closing." (I use "quotes" for things that I don't like, as you might have noticed.) The idea of the one inning closer is an artificial creation where managers use pitchers according to the definition of a "save." Isn't the statistic supposed to reflect what happens in the game, not vice versa?

By the way, I'm not saying that Mariano hasn't been a great, Hall of Fame, pitcher. But, for two examples of what I'm talking about:
-Mariano, the greatest closer ever, was a failed starting pitcher. You can never be a successful starter with one pitch, no matter how good it is.
-In 2007 the Phillies converted Brett Myers, a mediocre starting pitcher, to a closer and he was basically lights out the whole year.

And Johnny, while your at it, what are your thoughts on the DH?

Johnny Abruzzo

Cliffy6745 wrote:

And Johnny, while your at it, what are your thoughts on the DH?

And this year we have, ta da, the rookie DH. :roll:

Wobbie

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

So you honestly think the "save" is a respectable statistic? Is there anything notable about coming into a game and getting 3 outs without giving up 3 runs? Any team up by 3 runs going into the 9th inning wins something like 98% of the time. And that percentage hasn't change since the popularization of the "closer."

"Closers" are generally some of the most overrated players in all of sports. Somebody (Jayson Stark maybe?) mentioned Craig Kimbrell as an NL Cy Young candidate and I threw up in my mouth. Starting a game and going through a lineup 3 or 4 times is many degrees more difficult than "closing." (I use "quotes" for things that I don't like, as you might have noticed.) The idea of the one inning closer is an artificial creation where managers use pitchers according to the definition of a "save." Isn't the statistic supposed to reflect what happens in the game, not vice versa?

I'm with you. I almost think a closer's head is more important than his arm.

and even tho it's not always a 3 run lead, most pros ought to be able to throw one scoreless inning.

Johnny Abruzzo

I heard somewhere, I think on MLBN, that Bud Selig is going to ask the new Astros owner to move to the American League.

Wobbie

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

I heard somewhere, I think on MLBN, that Bud Selig is going to ask the new Astros owner to move to the American League.

you misheard...he's asking the phillies :shock:

there are a lot of better ways to align the leagues and divisions.....but fuck bud selig :evil:

Johnny Abruzzo

imalive wrote:

you misheard...he's asking the phillies :shock:

Hopefully 129 years of losing baseball are enough history to merit staying in the National League.

I believe some of the rationales are as follows:
-It will make six 5-team divisions. I think the Players Association wants equal divisions before adding a 2nd Wild Card.
-It will make a natural division rivalry between the Astros & Rangers. And gives Texas another Central time zone team in their division. Also nobody in the NL Central is geographically anywhere near Houston.
-It will make the interleague scheduling function properly again - it's apparently been fucked up for years because of the Astros vs. Rangers "rivalry" games.
-Because of the change in ownership, the Astros will not have veto power to prevent moving.

Jearlpam0925

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

imalive wrote:

you misheard...he's asking the phillies :shock:

Hopefully 129 years of losing baseball are enough history to merit staying in the National League.

I believe some of the rationales are as follows:
-It will make six 5-team divisions. I think the Players Association wants equal divisions before adding a 2nd Wild Card.
-It will make a natural division rivalry between the Astros & Rangers. And gives Texas another Central time zone team in their division. Also nobody in the NL Central is geographically anywhere near Houston.
-It will make the interleague scheduling function properly again - it's apparently been fucked up for years because of the Astros vs. Rangers "rivalry" games.
-Because of the change in ownership, the Astros will not have veto power to prevent moving.

Yeah, for the kind of legs this issue has, I'm starting to think this is more and more of a possibility. I'm actually down with it.

Johnny Abruzzo

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

Yeah, for the kind of legs this issue has, I'm starting to think this is more and more of a possibility. I'm actually down with it.

The downsides (which are crap I believe) are:
-Interleague play will have to happen throughout the season. (Why is this a big deal? it works fine in all other sports.)
-The Astros will have a lot of west coast games. Well maybe they can start them slightly earlier.

Jearlpam0925

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

Yeah, for the kind of legs this issue has, I'm starting to think this is more and more of a possibility. I'm actually down with it.

The downsides (which are crap I believe) are:
-Interleague play will have to happen throughout the season. (Why is this a big deal? it works fine in all other sports.)
-The Astros will have a lot of west coast games. Well maybe they can start them slightly earlier.

I think the biggest thing that comes out of it is whether or not it leaves an open door for the discussion of the DH being used in both leagues. Which would definitely suck.