The Official 2013 MLB Thread

[korme]

I was kidding. The most fun part about this is watching the kids field. Really can't trust 'em

[Shkspr]

Prediction: Bryce Harper charges the mound in the finals after his father throws one too many brushback pitches.

[Logan]

Matt Harvey Interviews Oblivious Mets Fans About Matt Harvey

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Logan

Matt Harvey Interviews Oblivious Mets Fans About Matt Harvey

Ha, that's awesome.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Logan

Matt Harvey Interviews Oblivious Mets Fans About Matt Harvey

awesome, what a good sport.

[PilotMan]

I now regret starting Bruce Botchy over Terry Kennedy back in my 1984 SOM days.

[Logan]

Watching these guys pay tribute to Rivera, it made me think how rare it is that you could unequivocally state, as a player is retiring, that he is the greatest to ever play his position.

[PilotMan]

Prince Fielder sliding!!!!!!! That was the best thing all night!

[Lathum]

How does Mariano Rivera not have a hot wife?

[Matthean]

All the women flock to Jeter and Alex?

[Jon]

It's his elementary school sweetheart.

[cartman]

http://deadspin.com/all-star-game-id...tter-808296195

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Logan

Watching these guys pay tribute to Rivera, it made me think how rare it is that you could unequivocally state, as a player is retiring, that he is the greatest to ever play his position.

Actually listened to this on radio (was coming back from a work daytrip), sounded absolutely amazing. I loved the empty field tribute, he was excellent in the post-game interview about it as well.

You're spot on, no matter how much you hate to see him face your team, it's been a genuine privilege to have his career in my lifetime.

[sterlingice]

Rivera had the All Star Game's memorable moment but, let's be honest, his MVP was a lifetime achievement award. If it wasn't him, a guy who pitches a 1-2-3 8th with no Ks doesn't win it. But who should have? Cabrera for the double, game winning run, and the good play at 3rd?

SI

[spleen1015]

I think this whole Rivera deal is blown out of proportion. He's just a good closer and he happened to play for the Yankees.

Rivera's greatest moment:

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I think this whole Rivera deal is blown out of proportion. He's just a good closer and he happened to play for the Yankees.

141 postseason innings with an ERA of 0.70 says otherwise.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I think this whole Rivera deal is blown out of proportion. He's just a good closer and he happened to play for the Yankees.

Rivera's greatest moment:

I'll crap on the Yankees more than most but he does have sustained excellence and longevity that is unique to the closer position. I love some Billy Wagner and Trevor Hoffman (and Joakim Soria!) but Rivera is without peer in the modern incarnation.

Now we can argue what the value of the closer position really is and, yeah, Fox's love fest was predictably over the top.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Now we can argue what the value of the closer position really is and, yeah, Fox's love fest was predictably over the top.

Is it really overkill when the players on both teams largely seemed to agree with the general tone & sentiment?

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

141 postseason innings with an ERA of 0.70 says otherwise.

I think you are slightly making his point:

he happened to play for the Yankees.

No one can really come close to those postseason innings due to playing on other teams.

However, the argument to make is Rivera's saves and ERA+ are absolutely fantastic. Yankees or otherwise, he pitched wonderfully.

[rowech]

Rivera is a stud, a certain hall of famer, a guy who really can shut the door but how important is one inning a game? Well -- a lot of guys can't do it year in and year out and he could so I would say he's pretty masterful and worthy of the accolades. However, to put this into perspective just a bit -- in terms of WAR he is the equivalent of Will Clark and Robin Ventura.

He's the best modern day closer ever but I wonder if closing will eventually be viewed like the DH when it comes to the HOF.

[PilotMan]

Puig just made a sick catch in the corner in foul territory to get the Dodgers out of the inning. Running full steam toward the wall, basket catch just inches from and before crashing headlong into the wall. Only a youngster makes it. Everyone else just says, Aww fuck it.

[MrBug708]

That throw was probably even more impressive than the catch

[JPhillips]

Thanks to Reds Minor Leagues, I saw one of the more amazing stats I've seen.

Billy Hamilton is hitting .201 when the ball is fielded by an infielder.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Thanks to Reds Minor Leagues, I saw one of the more amazing stats I've seen.

Billy Hamilton is hitting .201 when the ball is fielded by an infielder.

I'm a little worried about him not showing development. Figured it would take him a solid year in AAA but now I'm thinking it could take two for sure.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by rowech

I'm a little worried about him not showing development. Figured it would take him a solid year in AAA but now I'm thinking it could take two for sure.

Yeah, I don't know if he'll ever hit enough to be a starter, but he's put up some sick minor league numbers. I do hope he gets a Sept. call up this year.

[cougarfreak]

I wouldn't worry about Hamilton too much yet, don't forget he jumped two levels last year. I expected him to struggle this year, and while he has, he also had a horrid June, when he had a wrist injury. If he can get on base at the ML level even at a .310-.320 clip, his baserunning is going to be worth 14-15 runs above average according to Baseball Prospectus. He'll be hard pressed to help a lot this year, but I'd guess by mid next year he may be ready to contribute. He needs to get stronger.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Thanks to Reds Minor Leagues, I saw one of the more amazing stats I've seen.

Billy Hamilton is hitting .201 when the ball is fielded by an infielder.

I would assume that is rather high, since most times the ball is fielded by an infielder it is an out...

[MizzouRah]

Have some awesome seats tomorrow.. and Wainwright is pitching!!!

[sterlingice]

Cut 4 | MLB.com: News

About 1000 Expos fans showed up at the Toronto game yesterday. That would have been fun to look for if I had been watching the Jays-Rays game.

SI

[SirFozzie]

Red Sox Yankees game is still going strong in the 11th inning, near 1 am, because.. well, it seems like every year the sox and Yankees play extra innings and the game goes to 1 am

[SirFozzie]

Dola: Napoli go boom, Sox Walk off!

[SirFozzie]

(Double Dola: Last one, I promise)

Great story from ESPN the Magazine on the abuse that Japanese Pitchers go through. They pay a price for short-term greatness.

Pitcher Tomohiro Anraku is the future of Japanese baseball - ESPN The Magazine - ESPN

[Logan]

#Brewers’ Braun suspended for rest of season, according to MLB. Effective immediately.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 22, 2013

[SackAttack]

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Logan

#Brewers’ Braun suspended for rest of season, according to MLB. Effective immediately.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 22, 2013

He will not appeal.

"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in the statement. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization.

"I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."

[SackAttack]

Translation: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain; I know I spent the last two years swearing I was clean and had never used and that this was just a witch-hunt but, uh...look, a kitty."

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

+1 you'd think he would learn after escaping on a technicality the first time.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Translation: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain; I know I spent the last two years swearing I was clean and had never used and that this was just a witch-hunt but, uh...look, a kitty."

Exactly. They should give a portion of his pay he's missing to the drug testing dude he spent so much time defaming.

[molson]

He still didn't really admit to anything, but I guess he's declining to appeal in exchange for the MLB not going after 100 games.

I bet the union isn't happy about this.

[lungs]

Good. Get it over with when the Brewers don't have a chance. He's not healthy anyway.

[molson]

I bet the successor to BALCO and Biogenesis is already in operation, but they've probably smartened up and are now operating out of Antiqua or something. I mean, there's huge money to be made in this, somebody is going to fill that vacuum.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by molson

He still didn't really admit to anything, but I guess he's declining to appeal in exchange for the MLB not going after 100 games.

I bet the union isn't happy about this.

Frankly, if MLB had the evidence to make a 100 game suspension stick, him not fighting it allows Weiner to not be in the uncomfortable position of saying "we're not going to defend players who deserve to be suspended," as he did a week or so ago, and then have to lawyer up.

[TroyF]

Braun, the 2011 MVP, was commended by MLB players association executive director Michael Weiner for accepting his punishment.

"I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step," Weiner said in a statement. "It vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work both on and off the field."

[mauchow]

He got way too lucky with this suspension -- he very well may not have played much the rest of the way anyway due to injury and the Brewers being completely out of any race. The fact that it doesn't go into next season is extremely bogus. Should have been 100. Braun and Brewers won this one big time.

[SackAttack]

yeah, but mau, as I've said elsewhere, if Braun thinks this is the end, he's sadly mistaken.

MLB isn't going to let this go now that they've gotten a suspension out of him. If you think an extra 16 games makes up for the embarrassment of last spring, you've got a surprise coming.

[DanGarion]

What a fucking cheater. I stand behind my words when I said Matt Kemp should have won the MVP in 2011.

[TroyF]

This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family,

Hmmmm. . . By this situation you mean you cheated, lied about it, attempted to destroy a guys career, told everyone they rushed to judgement and continued the lie for over a year and a half, and then after you were caught you made the choice to continue using drugs to gain an advantage, then lied about that as biogenesis was just someone you used to help your court case. .

Dude, if your family has had a toll on it, it's because of you. Take personal blame, don't call it a "situation"

Jack ass cheater scum bag idiot. UGH.

[lungs]

I hope he takes this time off to find a better supplier that uses a better chemist.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Ryan Braun is the Lance Armstrong of MLB - ESPN

[Thomkal]

And lawsuit from the drug tester in 3...2...1. What a complete bastard. They must really have the goods on him with Biogenesis to go down basically without a fight this time around. Anyone else connected with Biogenesis better make a deal now that one of the biggest names involved has admitted to be connected to them. Alex Rodriguez are you listening? He really should just retire at this point now.