MLB 2014 season thread

I can't believe it's 2014 and nobody realizes yet how insane it is for pitchers to throw intentionally throw at hitters.

 

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Tanaka is filthy. Time will tell whether hitters are able to adjust as they see more of him, but he's a badass. Interestingly, I heard the other day that he'll only face, I think, two teams more than once before the All-Star break.

 

Is that unusual?

 

Probably not, but it does bode well for him putting up excellent numbers before the break. Whereas it might not make much difference for a veteran who has faced his division foes several times over the years, Tanaka is going to remain a largely unknown quantity to most of the batters he faces for the first half of the season.

 

You wrote intentionally wrote that on your own? Nice job, Sparky.

 

Beltran goes on the DL. I like how he's healthy until he plays for one of the New York teams.

 

He may need surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow, so he could be out a long time.

 

Nice FanGraphs look at how Johnny Cueto is vying to turn in the best season since Bob Gibson:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/what-makes-cincinnati-reds-ace-johnny-cueto-so-good-and-favorite-for-nl-cy-young-award-051614

In short, lots more called third strikes. Going to the cutter and sinker instead of hoping guys chase a curveball out of the zone.

He is the first pitcher since Harry Krause in 1909 to open a season with nine starts of 7+IP/2-ER.

 

5 years into AARP, Julio Franco returns.

http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24564480/julio-franco-55-to-play-independent-ball

In 2007 he became the oldest player hit a MLB homer at age 48.

 

When Julio was with the Braves, I used to delight in pointing out that he was older than then-hitting coach Terry Pendleton, who at that time had been retired for almost a decade.

 

Satchel is like, 59 -- and the major leagues, bitch!