MLB 2014 season thread

Agreed. Seems like Mauer just isn't hitting the ball hard at all. He used to have a decent slugging percentage because he would rack up doubles. Add that to the high contact rate and the patience to draw a lot of walks and he can be a damn good player even without the home runs, but he isn't even close to that player right now.

 

They didn't do him any favors with the configuration of the ballpark.
That place basically plays like a midwestern Petco.

 

That should play to his strengths. I know he's a big guy and people had hope that his power had finally arrived in 2009, but the 28 home runs that year were clearly a fluke. I think the Twins would be more than happy with the Mauer who contends for a batting title and drives a bunch of doubles into the gaps, using that very large outfield to his advantage.

I know Gardenhire insists that Mauer's troubles aren't related to the back problem he had earlier in the season, but it sure seems like the guy is hurt. He is only 31, way to young to completely lose it this way.

 

For his size, his lack of home runs is pretty sad.

 

Agreed on that. He should be hitting for power.

 

He doesn't need home runs to be a fantastic player. I'm sure the Twins were hoping for something like his 2012, but with more at-bats. (I say that because he missed a big chunk of last season).

 

Name other gap hitters making $23 million a season, small man.
I'll save you the time- there aren't any.

 

Manny Machado was ejected today after umpires ruled he intentionally let go of his bat while swinging at an inside pitch, sending the bat toward the third baseman. It was note second of two pitches the A's buzzed him to end a tense weekend that included Machado getting upset that he was tagged too hard running to third base.

He's acting his age, I guess.

 

I never said he would be worth the contract, fart boy. I'm saying that is the realistic expectation for Mauer's upside at this point. Even at his realistic best, Mauer is not going to be worth that much money now that he is no longer a catcher.

Are you one of the fools who thinks his 2009 wasn't a fluke?

 

Fun times in Baltimore today.
Eighth inning, A's up 10-0, and the A's reliever threw inside -- first with a fastball, then with a breaking pitch. On the breaking pitch, Manny Machado swung after the ball was in the catcher's mitt and flung his bat toward third base.
Machado and A's third baseman Josh Donaldson (who wasn't in the game at the time Sunday) had a dust-up on Friday night over a hard tag in the basepaths, the Orioles threw at Donaldson later on, and I guess Machado figured it was his last chance to avenge his honor against the A's.
Laughably, Machado insisted the bat slipped out of his hands.

Nothing much came of it. Benches cleared, O's first base coach did a good job of breaking up a potential brawl and Machado and the A's pitcher were ejected.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/orioles-manny-machado-and-as-fernando-abad-were-ejected-on-sunday?ymd=20140608&content_id=78856488&vkey=news_mlb

 

The name's Fart. Got it chump? Just Fart.
It looks like it was an outlier the more time passes.
Darin Erstad and Rich Aurilia had them, too. Big fukin deal.
His bilateral leg disease, coupled with the concussion and knee problem, appear to have robbed him of his power stroke.

 

It reminded me of Bert Campaneris "losing" his bat in the '72 ALCS. Just worse direction.