Official 2018 General Baseball Gamethread

[Youk Of The Nation]

Getting this up early because I am super-excited about the beginning of baseball season. I don't know why, but this offseason seemed longer than they usually do. Even the offseasons after the Sox had a bad year didn't seem to drag on like this. Maybe it's because baseball is all I have going, maybe it's because the weather keeps going nuts on us. 70 degrees for a week, then nine inches of snow less than two weeks later. I have no idea. All I know is that f***ING BASEBALL IS ALMOST BACK and that's all that matters in the end.

 

This will be the first true "Opening Day" since 1968, in that all MLB teams will begin on the same day. No one-game opener on the West Coast the night before everyone else, no games in Japan or Mexico or Puerto Rico or Liechtenstein a few days ahead of time, just 15 games all on the same day. f***ing yes.

 

So this is our discussion thread for in-game happenings other than those of the Red Sox or the, uh, I forget their name. That team full of *******s with the fanbase full of even more *******s, plus Billy Crystal. Anyways, Go Sox! And Rockies! And Pirates! And...well, go everyone, baseball rules! Except, you know, that other team. Oh, and the Orioles, f*** those guys.

[mvp 78]

I'm excited to see how the Rays starting rotation shenanigans works out.

[Spudboy]

I'm excited to see how the Rays starting rotation shenanigans works out.

 

I think Cash is going to look stupid on this idea.

 

But who really knows? Somehow the Rays can be good. They usually have talent show up each season.

[Kimmi]

I think Cash is going to look stupid on this idea.

 

But who really knows? Somehow the Rays can be good. They usually have talent show up each season.

 

I haven't really read the stories about Cash's 4 man rotation that closely, but on the surface, it just doesn't make any sense to me. We'll see.

 

Can't wait for the season to start. Two more weeks!

 

Forget that March Madness stuff. Go baseball!

[mvp 78]

I’m down for anything new. It may not work, but is another thing to discuss and ponder.

[notin]

A couple seasons ago, both Cash and Ned Yost were experimenting with the idea of minimizing starter innings and relying heavily on the bullpens. Our wad actually working out very well as the teams were 1 and 2 in ERA and 14 and 15 in starter innings in the AL...

[jacksonianmarch]

I haven't really read the stories about Cash's 4 man rotation that closely, but on the surface, it just doesn't make any sense to me. We'll see.

 

Can't wait for the season to start. Two more weeks!

 

Forget that March Madness stuff. Go baseball!

 

You can either run out a 5th starter who will get his teeth bashed in or you can have multiple looks once a turn. I understand the rationale. This was more a necessity due to circumstance as they dealt Odorizzi then lost their top two pitching prospects with arm injuries

[Kimmi]

You can either run out a 5th starter who will get his teeth bashed in or you can have multiple looks once a turn. I understand the rationale. This was more a necessity due to circumstance as they dealt Odorizzi then lost their top two pitching prospects with arm injuries

 

Well, if you don't have a #5 starter, there's not much of a choice. But you're also going to burn your pen out a lot quicker.

[jacksonianmarch]

Well, if you don't have a #5 starter, there's not much of a choice. But you're also going to burn your pen out a lot quicker.

 

That is true. I anticipate the Rays will be running their 25th man down every 5 days to get fresh arms.

[mvp 78]

Well, if you don't have a #5 starter, there's not much of a choice. But you're also going to burn your pen out a lot quicker.

 

If you're not looking to win, it's easy enough to rely heavily on a taxi squad.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Every day MLB.com has one game free to watch. Opening Day, the first Opening Day in decades where every team is playing, everyone has been waiting on the edge of their seats after an offseason full of big moves, and what do they choose as the free game of the day for Opening Day? San Diego and Milwaukee. That'll certainly be the one to entice people into buying MLB TV

[Thunder]

Every day MLB.com has one game free to watch. Opening Day, the first Opening Day in decades where every team is playing, everyone has been waiting on the edge of their seats after an offseason full of big moves, and what do they choose as the free game of the day for Opening Day? San Diego and Milwaukee. That'll certainly be the one to entice people into buying MLB TV

 

Hey, I got Chase Anderson starting in fantasy. Speak for yourself.

[Youk Of The Nation]

First pitch of the season is a HR, love it!

[Youk Of The Nation]

I honestly had no idea Gardenhire was managing the Tigers this year. What part of his managing career with the Twins made the Tigers' ownership say "Yeah, that's the guy we want!"? The multiple last-place finishes? Repeatedly getting swept out of the first round of the postseason?

[Jasonbay44]

Marlins just beat the Cubs in a 17 inning game.

[Bellhorn04]

I honestly had no idea Gardenhire was managing the Tigers this year. What part of his managing career with the Twins made the Tigers' ownership say "Yeah, that's the guy we want!"? The multiple last-place finishes? Repeatedly getting swept out of the first round of the postseason?

 

Gotta like him getting tossed out of his very first game, though.

[Bellhorn04]

Marlins just beat the Cubs in a 17 inning game.

 

Proving once again that any MLB team can beat any other MLB team on any random day.

[Kimmi]

Gotta like him getting tossed out of his very first game, though.

 

That was a well earned toss. The replay overturn was bogus, IMO.

 

And after the Tigers had already celebrated the walk off victory.

 

#nomorereplay

[Michfan]

lots of angles shown where tag wasn't seen but 1 where maybe the catcher caught the runners sleave. That wouldn't be called conclusive IMO.

[Bellhorn04]

That was a well earned toss. The replay overturn was bogus, IMO.

 

And after the Tigers had already celebrated the walk off victory.

 

#nomorereplay

 

Yes, it did look bogus.

[Youk Of The Nation]

One of the angles I saw seemed to show that he got the tag on the sleeve/elbow area before the runner touched the plate. He might have beat the tag if his legs were extended, but they were bent inward and he slid over the plate shins-first. I think they got him.

[Spudboy]

How the f*** did I miss this?

 

Good weed I guess.

[a700hitter]

Gabe Kapler reinforcing today that brains are not a requirement for field managers as he came out to give his pitcher a quick hook, but he had no one warming up in his bullpen. LOL!!! Edited April 1, 2018 by a700hitter

[Youk Of The Nation]

That's pretty bad even by MLB manager standards.

[Spudboy]

Holy f*** I'm a big Kapler fan. Lol.

 

How did everyone else in the dougout not notice this?

 

Brain farts all over the place.

[TedWilliams101]

Haha, the Twins were pissed with the bunt single to breakup a no hitter. Is everyone a cry baby now? No hitter are earned, not given. No hitter should go 'easy' for any reason. Don't want to get embarrassed by a bunt single... stop with the ridiculous over shifts. Teams are so soft today...

[Youk Of The Nation]

It's just gross that Bartolo Colon is still pitching.

[Bellhorn04]

Haha, the Twins were pissed with the bunt single to breakup a no hitter. Is everyone a cry baby now? No hitter are earned, not given. No hitter should go 'easy' for any reason. Don't want to get embarrassed by a bunt single... stop with the ridiculous over shifts. Teams are so soft today...

 

I read about this. It wasn't a no-hitter at the time though, it was a one-hitter. Otherwise I agree 100%, the Twins had no right to be complaining because this backup catcher bunts against their heavy over shift. The Twins made themselves look like a bunch of whiny pussies on this one.

[Bellhorn04]

It's just gross that Bartolo Colon is still pitching.

 

I hear you. I wonder if he's had any more injections.

[Northern Star]

Just heard about the Twins crying like babies. I can't understand it since it wasn't a no-hitter. But even if it was, the batter doesn't owe the pitcher a damn thing. It's his duty to his team to get on base by any legal means possible. How some baseball players don't seem to understand this is beyond me.