2021 MLB Regular Season thread

Really, a 5-4-3 TP and it wasn't even close at first.

 

Chapman threw 8 straight balls and 9 in 10 pitches and looked atrocious only to end the game on that. Just damn.

 

Murphy has to be taking there. He's just not a good enough hitter to be swinging away until Chapman proved he could put one over the plate in that situation.

 

Here’s one way to distract from the “L6” in the “Streak” column and the loss of the No. 1 starter:

Rays To Promote Wander Franco

 

Next will be Shane Baz, the third player the Rays got from the Pirates in that deal for Archer. Baz made AA hitters look foolish to start the season and hasn't slowed down since moving to AAA.

 

Crazy question here, even for where we are: Any real difference between the substance being cracked down on by MLB and what Gaylord Perry and Mike Scott were doing to the ball during their heyday?

 

Perry and Scott were somewhat anomalous; it's generally asserted that the huge majority of pitchers now are gunking up the ball to some degree.

 

From what little I've read, the difference is that the substances used now increase spin rates, which make the FBs drop less. I'm not sure about the effects on breaking balls.

The Perry and Scott stuff made the balls move more, which I'm not sure is happening here.

In any event, IF its only more grip that is needed, a uniform substance available to all would be a step in the right direction.

 

On the ESPN game last night, Tim said they allow batters to use rosin and pine tar. Let the pitchers have the same two substances. Seems fair.

 

I heard rosin and sunscreen suggested to let pitchers hang on with some grip. That one seems like it would allow pitchers control without creating a cartoon breaking ball.

 

Cleveland’s entire opening day rotation is either hurt or in AAA. The offense is really bad. The team is 40-30 and within two games of the White Sox. I’ve never seen a team improbably keep winning this many games when watching them would tell you it’s a team that should win 75 games.

 

Maybe we’re coddling these guys too much.