The MLB Thread

[Kubacheck]

Red Sox hire Dombrowski.  How does that work with DiPoto?

as far as I knew, DiPoto was just supposed to be a consultant type for the off-season, but hiring Dombrowski means Ben Cherington will be gone, something I'm not completely sad over..... I absolutely disagreed with Cherington saddling the team with bloated payroll by giving Sandoval 95 Mil over 5 years and Ramirez 88 Mil over 4 during the last off season, a complete departure from their stated objectives as it pertains to player contracts, while just trying to cut and paste in a pitching staff.... so yeah, the Sox grabbed a WS title 2 years ago, definitely a memorable year, but they also (have and are about to) finish last the other 3 years over this recent 4 year span.....

[vansmack]

Dodgers acquire Chase Utley

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

Norris, a Tigers pitcher, just hit a three run homer to dead center in his first career at bat. Off Lester. I know no one else will care but that was awesome.

[vansmack]

Norris, a Tigers pitcher, just hit a three run homer to dead center in his first career at bat. Off Lester. I know no one else will care but that was awesome.

Yes, it was awesome.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

Dan Patrick is having an interesting conversation about whether David Ortiz is a Hall Of Famer or not. Thoughts, anyone?

[vansmack]

Norris, a Tigers pitcher, just hit a three run homer to dead center in his first career at bat. Off Lester. I know no one else will care but that was awesome.

Yes, it was awesome.

BTW - he also apparently broke a score board in Wrigley during BP.  Even more awesome.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

BTW - he also apparently broke a score board in Wrigley during BP.  Even more awesome.

I found it weird he got through all of his minor league ball without ever coming up to bat either. Strange.

[Kubacheck]

BTW - he also apparently broke a score board in Wrigley during BP.  Even more awesome.

I found it weird he got through all of his minor league ball without ever coming up to bat either. Strange.

I don't think that's so strange.... as far as I know, the NL is the only league left in all organized baseball that still has the pitchers hit, so I'd think most pitchers would come up to the Majors without a professional at-bat..... could be wrong, of course.....

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

BTW - he also apparently broke a score board in Wrigley during BP.  Even more awesome.

I found it weird he got through all of his minor league ball without ever coming up to bat either. Strange.

I don't think that's so strange.... as far as I know, the NL is the only league left in all organized baseball that still has the pitchers hit, so I'd think most pitchers would come up to the Majors without a professional at-bat..... could be wrong, of course.....

I did not realize the DH was ubiquitous in MiLB. To be honest, I had never thought about it. Either way, Norris is now on the DL.

[vansmack]

I don't think that's so strange.... as far as I know, the NL is the only league left in all organized baseball that still has the pitchers hit, so I'd think most pitchers would come up to the Majors without a professional at-bat..... could be wrong, of course.....

It's not quite that clean, but pretty much, yes. 

In double and triple A ball, when both teams are NL affiliates, the pitchers bat.  In the Pac Coast league, both NL affiliates have to agree to have pitchers bat, but both have to agree.

In any minors game with an American League squad - no pitchers bat.

In rookie, single A, and all other leagues, no pitchers bat.

So it's not odd that an American league pitchers first AB is at the major's level.

[Kubacheck]

either way, it's pretty cool to hit a HR in your first ML at-bat.... to do it while never having had a professional AB previously is pretty amazing.....

[vansmack]

If you don't think I sent a message to Jules saying "Hey, no hitter!" in the late innings, then you don't know Smackie.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

If you don't think I sent a message to Jules saying "Hey, no hitter!" in the late innings, then you don't know Smackie.

There was a solid five minutes I hated you there.

[vansmack]

There was a solid five minutes I hated you there.

If it wasn't the Angels, I would have said "Hey, are you watching the Tigers game right now?"

But, it was, so I didn't.

Now it's on - who drinks more, the guy whose team almost had a no hitter or the guy whose team only managed one hit?

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

There was a solid five minutes I hated you there.

If it wasn't the Angels, I would have said "Hey, are you watching the Tigers game right now?"

But, it was, so I didn't.

Now it's on - who drinks more, the guy whose team almost had a no hitter or the guy whose team only managed one hit?

Your favorite baseball team will probably still get into the playoffs. That was the one shining potential star of the Tigers season (well. .  . Iglesias coming into arguably elite status??).

It also kills my ability to discuss if JV, with three no hitters, had guaranteed a HoF spot. Which would've been an interesting discussion. I'm deprived of that.

I stopped drinking shortly after we talked, FYI. Old man Julian can't do that on a Wednesday.