Around Baseball 2021

[Spanky__99]

Reds get ahead... yikes!

 

Good D

[BTS]

https://www.mlb.com/news/kevin-kiermaier-takes-fly-ball-from-randy-arozarena

 

This was an interesting situation. Was anyone in the wrong?

[Jays24]

https://www.mlb.com/news/kevin-kiermaier-takes-fly-ball-from-randy-arozarena

 

This was an interesting situation. Was anyone in the wrong?

 

Hell yes. Kiermaier treated Arozarena like a little league scrub. I'd be pissed if he did that to me especially when he didn't get the out at home.

[BTS]

Hell yes. Kiermaier treated Arozarena like a little league scrub. I'd be pissed if he did that to me especially when he didn't get the out at home.

 

I'm actually not sure what I think of it. Kiermaier absolutely disrespected Randy on the play. But he's also the CF general, and does have a cannon of an arm, so his justification made sense and Randy should have stood down when he heard him calling for it.

[Brownie19]

Don't be such a clown. You would have to live under a rock to not be aware of the fan response. You are clearly just being obtuse.

 

Here's a poll of with 5000 respondents and 18% like the 2nd base rule if you need some concrete numbers.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/mlb-experiment-knock-out-home-run-derby-extra-innings.html

 

Another poll with 80% of fans not supporting the extra innings gimmick:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/poll-a-major-change-to-extra-innings.html

 

Fangraphs, same question, same results.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-readers-werent-so-keen-on-those-2020-rules-changes/

 

One in five fans don't like watching extra innings. You and BTS are in that group and that's fine, but the vast majority of fans do enjoy watching extra innings.

 

That's fair Grant, but I suspect these results will change with time. You provided 3 polls, all taken at different times and here is the % that support standard extra innings:

 

June 24, 2020 - 80%

November 13, 2020 - 75%

April 27, 2021 - 66%

 

I suspect if you asked fans 2-3 months into the (original) season whether they liked the new takeout slide rules (which eliminated them) - 80% of people would have voted to scrap the new rule and allow runners to destroy middle infielders. A few years later and nobody even talks about it anymore because it was a great improvement to the sport (although I'm sure a few mouth breathers would tell you about the pussification of baseball if asked). You'd probably see the same results for shootouts in hockey. People hate change and it takes a few years for people to get over it.

 

We've only really be using this new extra innings rule for half a season - give it time.

[Brownie19]

I'm actually not sure what I think of it. Kiermaier absolutely disrespected Randy on the play. But he's also the CF general, and does have a cannon of an arm, so his justification made sense and Randy should have stood down when he heard him calling for it.

 

I suspect KK got a little to hyped up at the chance to gun someone down that he misjudged just how far that ball tailed away from him (lefty hitting to LF). When he watches the tape, he probably admits he should have let Randy have it, given he was in a much better position to throw home.

 

The reality is probably that neither of them were going to get the runner anyway.

[Deadpool]

Hell yes. Kiermaier treated Arozarena like a little league scrub. I'd be pissed if he did that to me especially when he didn't get the out at home.

 

If the CF calls it, it's the CF's ball. That's how baseball works.

[BTS]

That's fair Grant, but I suspect these results will change with time. You provided 3 polls, all taken at different times and here is the % that support standard extra innings:

 

June 24, 2020 - 80%

November 13, 2020 - 75%

April 27, 2021 - 66%

 

I suspect if you asked fans 2-3 months into the (original) season whether they liked the new takeout slide rules (which eliminated them) - 80% of people would have voted to scrap the new rule and allow runners to destroy middle infielders. A few years later and nobody even talks about it anymore because it was a great improvement to the sport (although I'm sure a few mouth breathers would tell you about the pussification of baseball if asked). You'd probably see the same results for shootouts in hockey. People hate change and it takes a few years for people to get over it.

 

We've only really be using this new extra innings rule for half a season - give it time.

 

I was going to post something like this. People are slow to warm to change. If you had asked me my thoughts on this in June if 2020 I would have said it was a gimmick and I hated the idea.

 

 

I’m also guessing that the kind of person to visit Fangraphs and MLBTR is more accepting of 4+ hour games than casual fans who watch their local team once in awhile.

[Deadpool]

Jays could finally get Bickford...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/brewers-designate-phil-bickford-for-assignment.html

[Laika]

https://www.mlb.com/news/kevin-kiermaier-takes-fly-ball-from-randy-arozarena

 

This was an interesting situation. Was anyone in the wrong?

 

KK f***ed up and should have admitted it after the game. Arozarena had a better chance to make that throw even if his arm is weaker.

[Stangstag]

I suspect KK got a little to hyped up at the chance to gun someone down that he misjudged just how far that ball tailed away from him (lefty hitting to LF). When he watches the tape, he probably admits he should have let Randy have it, given he was in a much better position to throw home.

 

The reality is probably that neither of them were going to get the runner anyway.

 

Actually quite the opposite, he doubled down and said he tries to get to every ball possible and he kind of insinuates that Randy should have given him more room to make a proper throw.

[TwistedLogic]

Actually quite the opposite, he doubled down and said he tries to get to every ball possible and he kind of insinuates that Randy should have given him more room to make a proper throw.

 

Yeah his interview quotes make it seem like he knows Arozarena is probably annoyed but doesn't actually care because he doesn't trust anyone in baseball to make that play over himself.

[Stangstag]

Yeah his interview quotes make it seem like he knows Arozarena is probably annoyed but doesn't actually care because he doesn't trust anyone in baseball to make that play over himself.

 

Yeah its so dumb, he says "I trust all my teammates" but then goes on to say "any ball I can get to, i'm going for it" and "I have one of the best arms in baseball".

 

If he actually trusted his teammates, he would have let Randy take the throw. This was not a situation where they both had to run about the same distance. Randy was camped under the ball preparing his momentum while KK was still trying to get to the ball.

[wilko]

Jays could finally get Bickford...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/brewers-designate-phil-bickford-for-assignment.html

 

Yikes. DFA'd for Zack Godley? Come back to the Jays!

[Deadpool]

Yikes. DFA'd for Zack Godley? Come back to the Jays!

 

There's a giant Zoinks shaped thing on the 40 man that could be removed to make room too!

[Deadpool]

Umpires can get f***ed, episode #129038u890037529081749321074987260154921-493-21

 

[Stangstag]

Umpires can get f***ed, episode #129038u890037529081749321074987260154921-493-21

 

 

Awful. Yes TECHNICALLY it is obstruction, because the pitcher was blocking the runner's path to the base without holding the ball, BUT the runner had absolutely 0 chance to beat the throw so it shouldn't matter.

[Brownie19]

Awful. Yes TECHNICALLY it is obstruction, because the pitcher was blocking the runner's path to the base without holding the ball, BUT the runner had absolutely 0 chance to beat the throw so it shouldn't matter.

 

The runner was on the f***ing grass - the pitcher isn't obstructing at all. That is really f***ed up.

 

Look at it this way, if that as a dribbler to the catcher and he hit the runner in the back with the ball, he would have been called out for being off the base path.

[max silver]

Awful. Yes TECHNICALLY it is obstruction, because the pitcher was blocking the runner's path to the base without holding the ball, BUT the runner had absolutely 0 chance to beat the throw so it shouldn't matter.

 

The runner was totally out of the base line though. Sometimes I wonder why they bother having the running lane painted onto the field since it's seemingly random when they choose to enforce the runner actually being in the lanes.

[Jimcanuck]

Buxton 5-5 with a tater and 2 doubles today. Tater yesterday too.

[Stangstag]

The runner was totally out of the base line though. Sometimes I wonder why they bother having the running lane painted onto the field since it's seemingly random when they choose to enforce the runner actually being in the lanes.

 

I've read that the baseline to the right actually only matters if the ball hits the runner, the runner is allowed to be on the left side like that.

[Stangstag]

The runner was on the f***ing grass - the pitcher isn't obstructing at all. That is really f***ed up.

 

Look at it this way, if that as a dribbler to the catcher and he hit the runner in the back with the ball, he would have been called out for being off the base path.

 

I agree

[Krylian]

Awful. Yes TECHNICALLY it is obstruction, because the pitcher was blocking the runner's path to the base without holding the ball, BUT the runner had absolutely 0 chance to beat the throw so it shouldn't matter.

 

TECHNICALLY it absolutely is NOT obstruction. Those double lines in foul territory are for the runner. He was not anywhere near where he's suppose to be.

[Krylian]

I've read that the baseline to the right actually only matters if the ball hits the runner, the runner is allowed to be on the left side like that.

 

Yes. He's allowed to be. But the defender is also allowed to make a play. Pitcher was not going out of his way to obstruct. That's a situation where the runner initiated contact to try and get the call...and good on him for getting it. But bad on the ump for being a useless turd.

[Stangstag]

TECHNICALLY it absolutely is NOT obstruction. Those double lines in foul territory are for the runner. He was not anywhere near where he's suppose to be.

 

I don’t think so, just repeating what lots on reddit are saying. Apparently the lines to the right only matter for possible throw interference.

[Brownie19]

The runner was totally out of the base line though. Sometimes I wonder why they bother having the running lane painted onto the field since it's seemingly random when they choose to enforce the runner actually being in the lanes.

 

As odd as it will look. I think baseball is going to adopt the softball style 'double' first base bag soon to reduce injuries and make the running lane more defined to avoid this s***.

[Stangstag]

As odd as it will look. I think baseball is going to adopt the softball style 'double' first base bag soon to reduce injuries and make the running lane more defined to avoid this s***.

 

Sure, why not

[BTS]

Imagine being DeGrom and having Dom Smith play the OF behind you.

[Abomination]

Imagine being DeGrom and having Dom Smith play the OF behind you.

 

Imagine being Dom Smith and being told you have to play the outfield.

[BTS]

Imagine being Dom Smith and being told you have to play the outfield.

 

Imagine being affiliated in any way with the Mets.