Around Baseball 2021

[Solaxys]

Hicks not having a good day.

[BTS]

Hicks not having a good day.

 

Yeah, took some well-deserved boos after the second misplay.

[Jays24]

Should we sign him to a 1 day contract just to put the Jays fans at rest?

 

Lol just isn't right otherwise.

[BTS]

Nola with a 2-hit 0BB 10K shutout.

[Spanky__99]

Nola with a 2-hit 0BB 10K shutout.

 

Yup, he killed my dreams and hopes in 2 match-ups today, lol.

[Stangstag]

Looks like Acuna has some sort of rib/oblique injury. He looks like he’s definitely feeling some pain

[connorp]

Stroman trying to get paid.. I’m not a fan but he does have the best quality you can hope for in a FA athlete. Even if you give him $100 something million, he’ll still carry the huge chip around on this shoulder

[BTS]

Looks like Acuna has some sort of rib/oblique injury. He looks like he’s definitely feeling some pain

 

Seemed to hurt himself sliding back into first on a pickoff play. Then a couple minutes later slid home on his stomach on a play that he could have moonwalked home on, then immediately left the game.

 

Maybe he just needed to take a s***.

[Stangstag]

Stroman trying to get paid.. I’m not a fan but he does have the best quality you can hope for in a FA athlete. Even if you give him $100 something million, he’ll still carry the huge chip around on this shoulder

 

Did you see his play from today when he fielded the comebacker and threw to first? What a moron... so glad we don’t have to cheer for him anymore

[Spanky__99]

Should he not have fielded it and thrown to 1st to record an out?

 

lol

[G-Snarls]

A's the streakiest team in baseball started off 0-7, now they've won 8 in a row

[Stangstag]

A's the streakiest team in baseball started off 0-7, now they've won 8 in a row

 

Wow. That playoff odds graph must look nutty

[G-Snarls]

Wow. That playoff odds graph must look nutty

 

Why yes it does

 

-

 

[G-Snarls]

That nadir on the A's graph reminds me of the adage "you can't win your division in April but you can sure lose it". They came dangerously to close to a point of VERY difficult to climb back up. But they've already got back to baseline.

[BTS]

Anyone else paying attention to Joey Votto? He's swinging more than he ever has. Swinging at 48% of pitches, up from 42% career. And most of that is being more aggressive on pitches in the zone (80% z-swing % up from 68% career). And he's crushing the ball - his 0.443 wOBA is higher than any he's recorded since they started tracking it in 2015.

 

He's such a cerebral hitter. Constantly tinkering with his approach to remain a contributor instead of falling into Pujols/Miggy black hole territory.

[BTS]

Tony La Russa has Yermin Mercerdes pitching with his team only down 6 in the 7th.

[BTS]

Now Danny Mendick pitching and sitting 60.

[Brownie19]

Now Danny Mendick pitching and sitting 60.

 

He faired better than Giolito - jesus, rough outting for him.

[BTS]

He faired better than Giolito at least.

 

Baseball is such a weird sport. Mendick generated like 4 swinging strikes in one inning throwing a 60 mph fastball.

[Stangstag]

He literally said he wants to do damage and completely changed his swing. He has a huge leg kick now.

 

And surprise, it works.

 

I'm so upset that he went through that phase for a couple years where he was trying not to strike out and hit .400 or something. Literally like a bored kid in school just tinkering with useless s***.

 

When you're on a garbage team getting paid like 30 million a year, you gotta keep yourself entertained somehow I guess.

[Grant77]

Votto has got to be getting close to being a sure fire Hall of Famer. Led the league in OBP seven times, MVP, Gold Gloves, 2000 hits this season. There's not much more he can do.

[BTS]

Votto has got to be getting close to being a sure fire Hall of Famer. Led the league in OBP seven times, MVP, Gold Gloves, 2000 hits this season. There's not much more he can do.

 

I’ve been hoping the Reds could win a WS with him contributing meaningfully, but that’s probably not happening.

 

But in a world where Harold Baines is in, you have to think he has a chance.

[connorp]

I’ve been hoping the Reds could win a WS with him contributing meaningfully, but that’s probably not happening.

 

But in a world where Harold Baines is in, you have to think he has a chance.

 

“There’s worse in” would be a really solid argument. Traditionally speaking, huffing and puffing past 300hr, 1000 rbi, and 2000 hits prob doesn’t scream HOF, even with the random MVP and Gold Glove. He’s got a solid reputation though and nowadays that counts for a lot, so I’d guess he’ll get in at some point. I don’t know his politics but hopefully he’s on the right side of the fence there

[Krylian]

“There’s worse in” would be a really solid argument. Traditionally speaking, huffing and puffing past 300hr, 1000 rbi, and 2000 hits prob doesn’t scream HOF, even with the random MVP and Gold Glove. He’s got a solid reputation though and nowadays that counts for a lot, so I’d guess he’ll get in at some point. I don’t know his politics but hopefully he’s on the left side of the fence there

 

Fixed

[Jimcanuck]

Speaking of HOF, you guys think Yadier deserves?

[BTS]

Speaking of HOF, you guys think Yadier deserves?

 

He'll get in, and I think he deserves it. 9th all-time in catcher fWAR, played a starting role on two championships, played his entire career with the same org, and generally seems to be an awesome guy.

[G-Snarls]

Speaking of HOF, you guys think Yadier deserves?

 

Yes and yes

 

Deserving and will get in comfortably

 

The very definition of good performance and loads of intangibles respected by everyone in the game

[Jimcanuck]

He'll get in, and I think he deserves it. 9th all-time in catcher fWAR, played a starting role on two championships, played his entire career with the same org, and generally seems to be an awesome guy.

 

Agree he deserves to get in.

 

Yadier, Russell, Mauer, Posey all with 50-55 WAR. Will be interesting to see how the voters handle these guys.

[Laika]

Agree he deserves to get in.

 

Yadier, Russell, Mauer, Posey all with 50-55 WAR. Will be interesting to see how the voters handle these guys.

 

Yadi first ballot. Posey and Mauer will get in but not first ballot. Martin won't get in.

[Brownie19]

Agree he deserves to get in.

 

Yadier, Russell, Mauer, Posey all with 50-55 WAR. Will be interesting to see how the voters handle these guys.

 

You can add Brian McCann to that list as well. Ironically, Martin has the fewest games and PA's out of all these guys - yet has the same career WAR. Personally, I think all 5 probably deserve to get in - they are all Top 15 all-time for catchers. But - I doubt all 5 do get in for one reason or another (I'll say Martin & McCann miss out).

 

Yadi will be a 1st ballot HOFer. There's no doubt in my mind. He's like the Derek Jeter of catchers. I completely agree with him being a 1st ballot HOFer, but it will irk me when Martin and McCann get overlooked.