2013 MLB Regular Season running thread

Willie Stargell says hi.

 

Bonds already had an MVP Award by the time he was the age McCutchen is now.

 

Man, the Nats looked so ready to win like eight division titles in a row.

 

Did anyone catch the dumbass Tweet war between the Braves and Senators?

Braves send out a Tweet about Harper mouthing off after being hit by a pitch that says: "Clown move Bro."

The Nationals respond: "The clown move was throwing at a 20-year-old."

OK, it was low-rent for Atlanta to snipe at an opposing player like that.

But as far as the Nationals go: Bryce Harper is playing big-boy baseball. And playing it well. The fact that he's delicate and just 20 years old somehow should protect him from the rough-and-tumble realities of the game? Other teams are supposed to take it a little bit easy on him?

 

Nationals also tried to claim Braves catcher Brian McCann put down his middle finger (which I guess is some sort of signal for a beanball) right before Harper got hit. But video analysis apparently showed it was two fingers.

https://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP/status/365231609445761024

 

I rest my case.

 

The Phillies close to extending Iron Man Chase Utley through 2015:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chase-utley-philadelphia-phillies-nearing-contract-extension-080713

 

Jackie Robinson statue outside of the Mets' minor league affiliate on Coney Island found defaced with swastikas:

http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/07/jackie-robinson-statue-defaced-brooklyn-mlb/?sct=hp_t2_a7&eref=sihp

 

Cubs just lost two guys to injuries in the same inning in Philly.

Thomas Neal, who the just picked up on waivers from the Yankees, hurt his arm somehow on a throw to second base from foul territory in shallow left field then a few hitters later, Dioner Navarro had to be carted off after a collision at home plate.

Update: Neal dislocated his right shoulder on the throw. Navarro is being taken to the hospital to have his leg x-rayed.

 

Harvey takes a liner off the knee in top-9 -- ball ricochets into right field -- but he waves off the training staff, though it comes to the mound anyway. He throws 1 pitch to prove to them he's OK. He stays in to finish off his first MLB shutout. Big. Strapping. Hoss.

 

Danny Salazar just had the chance to be the first pitcher to ever strike out Miguel Cabrera four times in a game. For some reason, Francona let him try, even though the Indians only led by a run in the 8th, and the Tigers had a runner on first.

First pitch was a 96 mph fastball. Landed 450 feet away in right-centerfield. Tigers lead 4-3. Why in the world would you give Cabrera a fourth look at a kid making his second major-league start?

 

The game's not over, but the Rangers, Orioles, Royals and Yankees thank Tito profusely for that.