2021 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes

[tom81]

A ‘San Diego Kid’ Gives the Padres Their First No-Hitter

[Philsmania]

A ‘San Diego Kid’ Gives the Padres Their First No-Hitter

The Mets have one with an asterisk since that one batted ball was not foul.

[zambonir]

The Baseball Project is starting a series of quick-reaction songs about the current season. First up, yesterday's Jacob DeGrom start.

Don't Go To The Pen (Disposables #1), by The Baseball Project--The Disposables...

[andyb]

After what happened to the Nationals and the Vancouver Canucks, do we really think this story ends here? The virus is just much more contagious now. Players testing positive that share a plane and a clubhouse is usually the first story, not the last.

Cubs place 3 relievers on virus list after positive

[Philsmania]

Welcome to the new normal for now.

[zambonir]

Hey this could have gone in the ex-Phillies thread. Twice!

So far no positive player tests for the past six days though, the first person who had it was the 1B coach. These guys now out for contact tracing.

Hopefully vaccination will still outrace the variants. If not we may yet have post-season berths decided by winning percentage.

[tom81]

Not MLB but a very impressive baseball story.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/13/sports/hope-trautwein-21-strikeout-perfect-game.html?

[Lucky_Beagle]

Did anyone see the article stating umpire Joe West won a 500,000 suit against Paul La Duca for comments he made about him on a podcast. I don't have a link. Hopefully someone else read it and can post a link.

[Jeff05]

MLB umpire Joe West awarded $500,000 in defamation lawsuit against former...

[zambonir]

You would think Billy Wagner might have a case too.

[Philsmania]

I remember LoDuca being something of a bigmouthed jerk and one of the spiritual leaders of the Mets team the Phillies got into the heads of in 2007. Of course, West is a big jerk too and that might make his HOF induction be delayed, if it ever comes.

[bkox]

Moving the mound, the 'Double Hook' — what MLB and the Atlantic League are...

Here’s the way the Double Hook works: Every team starts out the game with a designated hitter. But once the starting pitcher leaves the game, that team also loses its DH. Hence the DH 2.0 terminology –

The double hook idea stinks IMO. Pitcher gets blown up or get injured in the first and suddenly the guy you signed to be your DH is out of the game early? I understand how it adds the NL strat while still keeping the DH but this hybrid just hurts the player at DH... AND if a pitcher leaves early with an injury, it puts the team at a disadvantage the rest of the way.

[zambonir]

I don't imagine they'll reallly end up doing that - the DH genie is already out of the bottle. Moving the pitching rubber seems like a much bigger deal!

[bkox]

I don't imagine they'll reallly end up doing that

I said the same about the runner on 2nd in extras rule

[andyb]

That kind of does have a positive effect of ending long games quicker and saving bullpens. This double hook rule seems designed to just get more pinch hitters in the game. Does that really make the game any better? Seems an unnecessary quirky rule. Why should a team not have their DH available the entire game if they have a permanent DH?

[bkox]

this would also end the use of openers.

[andyb]

I just don't know why we want to incentivize starters to stay in the game longer. Who actually cares about that other than their agents? All teams have the same roster limits and the same number of innings. If they want a starter to go 7 or 3 relievers to each go 3 innings it is kind of up to them.

Sometimes baseball has fancy solutions to things that are not problems. And then really does nothing about real problems like the ball being too lively. Lots of stories today about no significant change from last year (more drag but bouncier?). If they want more balls put in play they need to make a 10-20 foot dent in how far the ball carries. No dancing around the edges with seams and humidors. Deaden the ball purposely. Golf should do this too of course, though the equipment companies are the problem there.

I am divided on the mound distance. Probably worth trying, though velocity is still going to be more important no matter where the mound is. At least a less lively ball would incentivize small ball a bit so that might be as good a fix on the velocity end.

The New Ball Is Confusing!

[zambonir]

I hear you but they have been trying to shorten/speed up the games for a long time. The pandemic gave them an opening and they took it. And neither the players nor the owners like extra innings game (free labor, late nights, no TV viewers).

But I don't think they need an opening to have the NL DH, both sides want it. And this would ultimately please no one, fans who hate the DH wouldn't like this any better.

Even though, ironically, the thing I like about the 2nd base rule is it does create a bit of strategy and excitement.

[el-pietro]

If they want more balls in play they need to cut down on strike outs. Turning homers into fly balls likely doesn't have a huge effect on BABIP and more likely reduces overall offense as many homers become fly outs rather than doubles.

[andyb]

It is lessening the incentive for swinging for the fences that would produce more balls in play. Think of Kingery or Quinn not really believing they could hit home runs all the time. It might also increase the incentive to hit opposite the shift also.

The key is to change the offensive strategy so the incentives are more aligned with putting balls in play. And then BABIP might actually go up a bit.