2013 MLB Regular Season running thread

I'd love to see a story from a reporter who went to a MLB baseball-making factory to see the process.

Probably no way to figure it out, maybe ballpark it, but from the first pitch of Opening Day to the last out of the World Series, how many baseballs do you suppose MLB uses in a season?

 

Speaking of Dodgers-Diamondbacks, they'll open next season at the Sydney Cricket Grounds in Australia:

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-cricket-ground-to-host-13-million-us-baseball-curtain-raiser/story-fni0cx12-1226662783768

 

Rany Jazayerli tweet:

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/344841329626464256

 

How could you leave out Randall Simon?

 

At Triple-A, he struck out 6.2 per 9. That's pretty pedestrian, especially for a guy who throws mid-90s easily with a very good change-up. He has strikeout stuff, but he has a reputation of knowing how to pitch efficiently without needing strikeouts. Can he do that at the major-league level with consistency? Time will tell.

And the Pirates could use a guy who goes late in games. AJ Burnett has been filthy, but he can't go deep because of all the pitches he's thrown in putting up gaudy K numbers.

 

I didn't mention Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens, either. I kept it to active players (though Jones is currently in Japan).

Will this make it up to you?

 

McGwire was ready to chew off faces during the big brawl. Matt Williams is lucky to have his.

 

I wouldn't have bet against Williams in that one.

 

I would have. McGwire was mid-froth.

 

And once again, MLB sells out the great American institution of Opening Day.

 

McGwire was hot. I originally though it was him who tossed Turner Ward over the railing.