MLB '24 Regular Season Thread

I used to think this when I covered high school football. Coaches, most of whom were teachers, would drop F bombs left and right during games, at refs, players and in normal conversation, with no repercussion. If the math teacher did that, he or she would be fired.

 

Big different (at least in my opinion)...Collins was as much a dyed-in-the-wool grinder/lifer as the umps. So there was a mutual respect there...Collins appreciated the umps b/c he knew they'd been calling Single-A games in the 110-degree heat, just as the umps appreciated Collins b/c they knew he'd managed those games. Hallion could understand TC was just going apeshit over a particular call and that he was just trying to protect his players and team. It was nothing personal. And eight years later, Hallion is on TC's podcast!

Aaron Boone, on the other hand, is a millionaire ex-ballplayer who's lived a life of luxury from day one as a third-generation MLBer. He popped into the dugout after a lucrative second career as a broadcaster and immediately began motherfucking umps for the cameras. He's somehow in the top 50 all-time in ejections despite barely managing seven seasons, one of which lasted only 60 games! So he's just out there disrespecting the umps on a daily basis and they get sick of the shit. Don't be a bitch and you won't get run five pitches into a game for something some clown said while sitting behind the dugout.

 

Willie Mays went 1-for-26 (.038) in his first seven games, then had two two-hit games and started becoming Willie Mays. Mays also had just three strikeouts in those seven games, so he wasn't being overmatched, just not hitting.

 

Totally agree that the Collins situation is a bit different but I think the idea that the larger athletic culture permits verbally abusing officials in a way almost no other part of society does is true. In a former professional life I had to walk through the dugouts at the Metrodome during games to get film from photographers (God I am old). Once while there I heard Ron Darling - urbane, Yale educated - yell one of the most profane things I have ever heard at an ump. And that wasn’t even during an argument.

 

To be fair, he's only 12 years old.

 

While I was watching BAL-KC, they showed a close up shot of him….I was stunned at how young he looks.
Cripes, his baby pictures were taken last year in Rookie Ball.
I hope they’re patient with the kid.

 

They will be. There's plenty of evidence of guys who struggled out of the gates but got going after a month or so. Don't have to look far back, either. Both Rutschman and Henderson struggled. So did some dude named Ripken in the 80s. They can hide him in that lineup right now. Any offense from him is a bonus, the way others are hitting.

 

He has been pretty solid defensively. And as bad as 1-for-30 seems, his at-bats don't look non-competitive. He's taking a few too many pitches, but when he cuts loose, that is a high-average swing. He's just not seeing the ball well right now.

I think the fans need to understand that this kid's mind doesn't work like other people we know. He came up in a professional athlete's home, looks at the game like a professional athlete, understands the hills and valleys. He's not quaking in his boots like some of Birdland claim he is.

 

This is getting a lot of run in LA. Entitled, has-been comedienne doesn't want to follow the rules and gets detained at Dodger Stadium. She is not getting the sympathy she expected.

Comedian Elayne Boosler arrested over handbag dispute at Dodger Stadium | KTLA

 

"But ... but ... I'm Elayne Boosler!!"

 

No one look at Cleveland…Just keep talking about the superteams… Pay no attention to the run differential…I need them to remain completely under the radar or this will all fall apart.