The boys of summer! (Baseball Thread)

[Some Irish Bloke]

You clowns ready to buy stock in the Twins yet??

Lmaooo these boys rock. Hitting dingers and getting quality pitching for dayz

I'm getting there, lol.

(I'm saying this with my tail tucked with the upcoming series this weekend)

 

[Rogue219]

We are clearly past the point of having to put Ned Yost out to pasture. There is no longer a reason for him to be managing anywhere.

 

[IrishLion]

I was really looking forward to a repeat of this, but with Derek Dietrich

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hang this in the Louvre. <a href="https://t.co/2ArAXSEOqf">pic.twitter.com/2ArAXSEOqf</a></p>— Cut4 (@Cut4) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1114965703541559298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But the Pirates got a lead and then hit Suarez, instead ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I understand that Dietrich pimped the shit out of his homer(s), but the whole deal started because Archer acts like a goon every time he gets a strikeout... if you're gonna act like that when you get a K, maybe don't get all butthurt when someone goes yard on you, and then respond by throwing behind them.

The "unwritten rules" of baseball are largely bullshit, especially when you consider the built-in protections for pitchers when retaliation incidents flare up.

 

[NorthDakota]

Twins have been a good team every year aside from one for five years running. I don't think anyone outside the coasts doesn't think they can continue this.

The Twins havent been good for a long time now. They have occasionally been good enough to look okay considering the division is trash.

This year it looks like they are actually for real though. Cross your fingers!

 

[Irishize]

The Twins havent been good for a long time now. They have occasionally been good enough to look okay considering the division is trash.

This year it looks like they are actually for real though. Cross your fingers!

Gotta give props to their pitching coach, Wes Johnson. This time last year, he was directing the Arkansas Razorbacks pitching staff to the College World Series finale and now he’s in the bigs. It’s weird, I grew up playing with and against Wes & he never pitched. Went to Dallas Baptist and trained under their pitching guru who emphasized bio-mechanics, etc. After turning around Mississippi St’s staff, the Hogs plucked him. If his success continues, we’ll see a new trend in hiring from the college ranks assuming they utilize similar analytics and engineering.

 

[ACamp1900]

The Twins havent been good for a long time now. They have occasionally been good enough to look okay considering the division is trash.

This year it looks like they are actually for real though. Cross your fingers!

I guess it depends on your definition of good... they've only been BAD once in the last number of years...

 

[NorthDakota]

I guess it depends on your definition of good... they've only been BAD once in the last number of years...

They've had trouble getting above .500 in the worst division in baseball. My standard for them is pretty reasonable.

You are right about the being BAD. Wallowing in mediocrity is just as bad to be as bring terrible. Boys havent won a playoff series for like 15 years.

 

[Rogue219]

The "unwritten rules" of baseball are largely bullshit, especially when you consider the built-in protections for pitchers when retaliation incidents flare up.

Not largely. They just are bullshit.

Hence my Ned Yost post.

 

[Rogue219]

No division championship since 2010 BUT the Twins were 85-77 in 2017 and lost the Wild Card Game that year.

The best thing they could have done was hire someone from the intelligent Tampa Rays organization, and they did that in hiring Rocco Baldelli. He's not that far removed from being a player at 37 years of age.

They have some good infrastructure there now and with the Indians falling off in the midst of the three other clubs in the Central doing rebuilds, the timing looks pretty good for them. A 10 game lead in the loss column headed into June is nothing to ignore. Consider the shitty weather in the Midwest they've endured to this point.

They certainly seem for real based on these past couple of weeks.

 

[ACamp1900]

Baldelli being a coach melts my mind... seems like he was just the 'top prospect in baseball' just a few years ago...

 

[NorthDakota]

Baldelli being a coach melts my mind... seems like he was just the 'top prospect in baseball' just a few years ago...

When the Twins hired him I read his wikipedia page. Felt really sad afterwards. Poor guy had a tough time. Hoping he sticks in Minnesota for awhile.

 

[Rogue219]

Baldelli being a coach melts my mind... seems like he was just the 'top prospect in baseball' just a few years ago...

Oh yeah, and with Joe DiMaggio comps to go with it.

He and Gabe Kapler are two of the better recent hires in MLB. Curious to see how it all goes.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

No division championship since 2010 BUT the Twins were 85-77 in 2017 and lost the Wild Card Game that year.

The best thing they could have done was hire someone from the intelligent Tampa Rays organization, and they did that in hiring Rocco Baldelli. He's not that far removed from being a player at 37 years of age.

They have some good infrastructure there now and with the Indians falling off in the midst of the three other clubs in the Central doing rebuilds, the timing looks pretty good for them. A 10 game lead in the loss column headed into June is nothing to ignore. Consider the shitty weather in the Midwest they've endured to this point.

They certainly seem for real based on these past couple of weeks.

The Tigers were pretty dominant in the decade between '06 and '16 and took advantage of the weak division, to be fair. We really missed our chance. Collective 1-8 in two world series appearances, along with the heart breaking series in Boston in 2013, when Torii Hunter flipped over the wall on Big Papi's grand slammer.

I'm okay with the power shift from Cleveland to the Twins. Outside of the Indians I typically pull for the division.

Can't stand that drum, one of the most annoying antics in sports. I'll never return after my single trip to Progressive.

 

[ACamp1900]

Can't stand that drum, one of the most annoying antics in sports. I'll never return after my single trip to Progressive.

Try being a Halo fan and having your biggest rival being the Oakland A's... if you're not aware of the noise that goes on up there, feel lucky.

 

[Rogue219]

The Tigers were pretty dominant in the decade between '06 and '16 and took advantage of the weak division, to be fair. We really missed our chance. Collective 1-8 in two world series appearances, along with the heart breaking series in Boston in 2013, when Torii Hunter flipped over the wall on Big Papi's grand slammer.

I'm okay with the power shift from Cleveland to the Twins. Outside of the Indians I typically pull for the division.

Can't stand that drum, one of the most annoying antics in sports. I'll never return after my single trip to Progressive.

It has always seemed like the "Battle of the Tallest Midget" in the AL Central. Tigers had a nice run from 2011-14. Royals had their brief stint there where they won it all.

2006 was the best. Chicago came in third and won 90 games. There was only wild card then.

 

[Legacy]

2019 MLB Draft Tracker

 

[Rogue219]

Happy Monday Irish Envy Baseball Fans,

Just a reminder that Ned Yost fucking sucks.

Also, Max Muncy telling Madison Bumgarner to go scratch is a wonderful moment in baseball history.

 

[ACamp1900]

Happy Monday Irish Envy Baseball Fans,

Just a reminder that Ned Yost fucking sucks.

Also, Max Muncy telling Madison Bumgarner to go scratch is a wonderful moment in baseball history.

Yeah, everyone in the press complains about this stuff... honestly baseball needs more of this, not less. Just my two cents.

 

[Irish Joe]

I have no issue with MadBum (or any pitcher) getting upset....but I also love that Muncy told him to eff off.

 

[ACamp1900]

I have no issue with MadBum (or any pitcher) getting upset....but I also love that Muncy told him to eff off.

yup

 

[ACamp1900]

So the Trop just lost power,... not sure if it’s an area or stadium issue but it’s messing with my Halo viewing!!!

 

[ACamp1900]

Obtain just hit for the cycle

 

[Rogue219]

We've yet to see what Ohtani can do at full health. Think about that for a second. Much of his production in the USA has come with a torn or surgically repaired right ulnar collateral ligament.

 

[ACamp1900]

We've yet to see what Ohtani can do at full health. Think about that for a second. Much of his production in the USA has come with a torn or surgically repaired right ulnar collateral ligament.

He's a beast,... been a pleasure watching him day after day.

 

[Rogue219]

White Sox are going with protective netting from foul pole to foul pole. One down, 29 to go.

The "America is going soft" parade is out in full force on social media over this. I have yet to see a lucid thought arguing why this is bad. Just pissing and moaning.

I didn't know so many keyboard warriors have the reflexes to pay attention and handle a ball coming at their face barehanded with an exit velocity of 115 MPH. Why are these dudes on Twitter and Facebook when they should be getting tryouts in the minors?

Anyway, baseball is awesome and people are stupid. It's Wednesday.

 

[DONTH8]

White Sox are going with protective netting from foul pole to foul pole. One down, 29 to go.

The "America is going soft" parade is out in full force on social media over this. I have yet to see a lucid thought arguing why this is bad. Just pissing and moaning.

I didn't know so many keyboard warriors have the reflexes to pay attention and handle a ball coming at their face barehanded with an exit velocity of 115 MPH. Why are these dudes on Twitter and Facebook when they should be getting tryouts in the minors?

Anyway, baseball is awesome and people are stupid. It's Wednesday.

Im happy to hear that Chicago is protecting all 214 fans in their park!!

 

[Rogue219]

Im happy to hear that Chicago is protecting all 214 fans in their park!!

They value human life.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

After what happened to that little girl at the Astros/Cubs game in Houston, and the older woman who passed away at the Dodgers game last year, I struggle to understand why more teams haven't followed suit.

It's as though traditionalists struggle to grasp common sense. At some point, your unlikely odds of catching a foul ball aren't as important as the safety of the fans.

I would be willing to bet that the old lady and the young girl weren't typing way at their phones, either. Little girl was probably distracted...like most little kids are (especially in that environment), and the old lady's reflexes probably weren't what they used to be.

Even so, the shot the cubs player hit foul that struck the girl was an absolute missile. I have to imagine any poster on this board would have had a hard time handling that rope if they were paying 100% attention during our peak years.

Change isn't always bad. I know baseball is rich in tradition but players weren't always throwing the ball 95 mph with an even higher exit velocity.

 

[Rogue219]

After what happened to that little girl at the Astros/Cubs game in Houston, and the older woman who passed away at the Dodgers game last year, I struggle to understand why more teams haven't followed suit.

It's as though traditionalists struggle to grasp common sense. At some point, your unlikely odds of catching a foul ball aren't as important as the safety of the fans.

I would be willing to bet that the old lady and the young girl weren't typing way at their phones, either. Little girl was probably distracted...like most little kids are (especially in that environment), and the old lady's reflexes probably weren't what they used to be.

Even so, the shot the cubs player hit foul that struck the girl was an absolute missile. I have to imagine any poster on this board would have had a hard time handling that rope if they were paying 100% attention during our peak years.

Change isn't always bad. I know baseball is rich in tradition but players weren't always throwing the ball 95 mph with an even higher exit velocity.

This.

People enjoy the game live in a far different way than they do at home. Not everyone has a phone out, and even if you don't, there are "LOOK LOOK" amenities all over a ballpark or stadium. Take Wrigley and Fenway for example. Significantly expensive upgrades have been made at both parks over the years, including massive scoreboard screens with all of the bells and whistles included.

Your eyes adjust sitting behind netting. It isn't a big deal. If it is a big deal, sit in the bleachers or upper deck. Or stay home. The ball is juiced, the bats are being manufactured to suit hitters and the players are hitting the ball harder than ever before. It's a recipe for disaster. Many of the players want this.

Baseball is unique in this respect. Someone needs to be proactive before more people get hurt and or die.

Also, Ned Yost is bad.

 

[ACamp1900]

Hockey went through the same thing,... El Paso has full netting and it’s an eyesore for all of the first five minutes until you get used to it