MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

Can't wait for the pitch clock next year. And for the reactions of some who will get all bent out of shape - when the ump starts calling automatic balls and strikes - about a rule change that should have happened 20 years ago.

 

Anyone here ever watch this doc called The Cuban Dream?

You have to watch it on Vimeo's page.

 

Maybe Pirates' fans have finally wised up.

 

Reports out there that both the Yankees and Red Sox were fine with ending the game because they had late travel for Monday’s games. But ESPN supposedly was pushing for the game to continue because of Judge. So the Yankees apparently threatened to bench Judge and some other guys because of fear of injury on the wet field and ESPN relented.

 

How many more jacks would Pujols have had if he'd stayed and played in New Busch?

 

I am sure people around here will fully agree with this.

 

What can I say? The National League home run leader, Schwarber, bats leadoff for the Phillies, too, despite a batting average under .220. They've had a pretty good year, too. Clearly there's a data point inside baseball that escapes me, but must have come validity to it.

 

Well if you're up first you have the best chance of getting the most at-bats. I don't think it's more complicated than that: give your best hitter the most opportunities to hit.

 

He also leads the league in OBP at .422, which happens to be about 100 points higher than any Yankee not named Rizzo. So in the 600 ABs when he doesn't hit a home run, he's putting pressure on the other team by getting on base.

Rizzo (OBP .340) is the only other Yankee regular with an OBP north of about .320, so it makes some sense to try to give yourself a chance to put someone on base right away. The counter point, of course, is that maybe if Judge were looming behind Rizzo or Torres, or whomever, they'd get some better pitches to hit because pitchers won't want to walk them ahead of Judge.

Both approaches have merit.

 

I always prefer the power guy hitting second, just to avoid first inning power being wasted (sequencing matters!) and hitting your best OBP guy first, but in this case there’s no real candidate other than Rizzo to lead off.

 

Bonds would have been the best leadoff hitter of all time.

 

Maybe if he had gone the clean route, though Henderson was tough to beat. He didn't have as much power, but he was more disruptive on the basepaths.