2026 MLB Talk & Such

[JSngry]

I saw that first ABS challenge today and didn't mind it. This time.

[Dan Gould]

ABS made a big difference in Bosox game ... inning ending strikeout turned into inning-extending walk, followed immediately by two RBI singles that turned 1-0 game into 3-0 game.

I was actually surprised that Cincinnati had challenges left in their half of the 9th, as the strikezone box suggested at least two bad strike calls by the ump.  Did they hold off because none of them were strike 3 or on a 3 ball count? Chapman got 3 flyouts and I don't think he got to 3 balls.

New world.

[GA Russell]

 

[ghost of miles]

Of course I'm lovin' ASB for the sake of Aaron Judge alone--Yankee fans have long been anticipating its implementation, given his usually MLB-leading status for most balls-called-strikes pretty much since his full-time debut in 2017. Crazy that that first challenge of his was only 1/10 of an inch below the zone, but it changed the nature of the at-bat to his advantage, and he went on to homer in a 3-2 count. 

But I'm also enjoying checking out the clips of ASB in action around all of MLB, and it seems the fans at the games are generally enthusiastic about it? It does add a few more moments of replay drama and uncertainty to the game, and it's much quicker than a play challenge. And I'm not going to miss Aaron Boone and other managers screaming as much at the umps over blown calls or multiple blown calls, though it's pretty hilarious that we've already had a manager thrown out over an ASB challenge... but he was objecting on the grounds that the batter had not tapped his helmet quickly enough. *There* lay the potential for future manager/umpire dust-ups over ball-and-strike calls, if that is one's thing. 

I'll also be interested to see, as the season develops, whether the outcomes of ASB challenges end up statistically favoring pitchers or hitters, or if the outcomes are roughly equal. 

[Patrick]

Chase DeLauter!!

[Ken Dryden]

If they still have kangaroo courts in clubhouses, players will be fining those who lose ABS challenges in good fun.

[Dan Gould]

1-5 to start the season, Crochet can't even help them, reverse image of the mf-ing Yankees and it really SUCKS to say NO BASEBALL til further notice on fucking April 2nd.

[ghost of miles]

While I was thoroughly delighted to see Giancarlo Stanton, of all people, manufacture a small-ball run last night, this undoubtedly was the highlight of yesterday’s MLB games:

Adell robs 3 HRs in one game

[jlhoots]

I saw some challenges yesterday where calls were overturned by 0.4 to 0.1 inches.

[GA Russell]

 

[Dan Gould]

Without a doubt, the greatest Jomboy breakdown of all time.

 

Also, RIP Davey Lopes.

[ghost of miles]

Whoa...

... and hard disagree with the rule that umps used to judge this a base hit. If the ball had fallen out of Gilbert's shirt and hit the ground, OK, but he retained control, weird as the circumstances may have been. How is this different from a ball hitting a fielder in the chest or elsewhere, and then he still catches it in his glove or hand? And if it's ruled a hit, why, with runners on first and third, did the umps advance the runner on first but kept the runner on third where he was? According to the article below, a ball that gets caught in a player's or coach's uniform is considered "out of play." So then how does this turn into a single? 

Why Gilbert's shirt catch was ruled a hit

Obviously not a situation MLB is likely to encounter again any time soon, if ever, but still seems like a wrong outcome to me, and it did affect the game--A's went on to score two runs that innning, though Mariners ultimately prevailed in a 5-4 walkoff. 

Edited April 24 by ghost of miles

[GA Russell]

Bosox fire manager.

https://www.bing.com//search?q=alex+cora&FORM=TSFLBL&qs=PN

[Dan Gould]

Continuing shitstorm  in Boston.  Only answer is total house cleaning.  A huge part of this horrid start is pitching - but pitching coach didn't get shit-canned because he is the GM's buddy. 

A crap roster is the GM's fault but firing him - immensely justified IMO - doesn't change the people on the field so Cora had to go.

He'll be fine and probably much happier.  The team, who the hell knows?

[Milestones]

Regarding Gilbert's "catch," how did that not hurt?   Or rip the short off his back?

 

[ghost of miles]

1 hour ago, Milestones said:

Regarding Gilbert's "catch," how did that not hurt?   Or rip the short off his back?

 

I went to the archived game to watch the whole sequence of events unfold in real time, and he was definitely in discomfort afterwards. 

[Dan Gould]

And .... just in time for their annual June Swoon, the Yanks will be without Judge who has a stress fracture, rest for 4-6 weeks then re-evaluate. "Will play again this year" sounds a little like a wish than a medical diagnosis.

With the Red Sox among the worst teams in baseball and the Cubs horrendously streaky, this is all I got.  So I am going to enjoy it!

[Neal Pomea]

We had a feeling that when Mitchell Parker came into the game against the Giants that there would be trouble! Gave up a grand slam to end the game 11-10! It was on all the highlights as the wildest game of the day!

[Dan Gould]

Just read Laz Diaz and CB Bucknor are leaving MLB after this year (Bucknor hasn't been umpiring due to a medical issue).

The two absolute worst umps currently in the biz. Between ABS, video review and cleaning out the shittiest umps can MLS really improve the product?  Too bad we're heading toward a strike/lockout after this year but I am, overall, encouraged.

[GA Russell]

 

[Dan Gould]

So I looked at the standings this morning after verifying that the Sox closed out win #30 of their last 35 games, and discovered that the Yankees lost and are just 1 game ahead of the Red Sox. This made me wonder how this compares to the infamous 1978 collapse when the Yankees sat 14 games back and caught the Red Sox in the standings.

 

So - in 1978, it took the Yankees 53 days to cover 14 games in the standings.

As of the end of games on June 24, the Sox were 15 1/2 games back of the Yankees. 

So - they have covered 14 1/2 games in just 43 days. Granted, they have not caught all the way up, and its not only a different post-season design but we aren't even talking about first place with the Rays outperforming their metrics. 

Can the Sox catch them this weekend? We get the A's at home, Yankees face the Braves. I kinda like their chances.

This has been one hell of an insane run.

[jlhoots]

Dodgers have lost 8 of their last 10.

Go Brewers.

[GA Russell]

 

[Dan Gould]

22 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Dodgers have lost 8 of their last 10.

Go Brewers.

Dodgers in the third seed position is a little shocking but obviously a lot of time left.

Its impossible not to respect what the Brewers have done ... manager defects? Who cares? Trade your ace? Don't worry he'll suck with the Mets.

Red Sox Update: Went to bed trailing 7-5 they came back in the 9th, 10th (two runs down), 11th, 12th and walked off in the 13th. In their streak they have swept the Rays, Yankees, White Sox (twice) and Dodgers. And gained 15 1/2 games on the Yankees in 44 days now.

[jlhoots]

Aaron Ashby - 13-2