MLB 2024

[Nonlinear FC]

That's gotta be one of the worst calls in MLB history.

[Giff]

Ridiculous.

[Ryan]

I think we're picturing the wrong thing when we talk about robot umps. There should be actual robots standing out there that make the same exact calls as their human counterparts except the teams get to physically abuse them after bad calls and the crowd can cheer real loud and stuff.

[Nonlinear FC]

I should modify that to say worst call in a completely context free situation. Like, not calling an easy bang-bang play an out in a World Series or when a perfect game is on the line is a lot "worse."

But from a straight-up, objective WTF stand point? Woof.

[govmentchedda]

Brutal way to end a game. Was it the wrong call, or a quirk of baseball's sometimes idiotic rules?

[mister d]

No, it was absolutely the wrong call. When I read what happened before seeing the video I had assumed Vaughn had thrown a subtle hip-check or something.

[sancarlos]

Brutal way to end a game. Was it the wrong call, or a quirk of baseball's sometimes idiotic rules?

You can find a couple guys in the twitter comments who'll say it's the latter, but bullshit on that. He made the catch with no problem or issue. Interference, my ass.

[mister d]

The runner also has a right to his basepath. Like you can't plow through a SS in the act of fielding a grounder and claim rights, but the SS going forward on a popup and the runner going back to the base ... makes no sense.

[L-Jam3]

The runner also has a right to his basepath. Like you can't plow through a SS in the act of fielding a grounder and claim rights, but the SS going forward on a popup and the runner going back to the base ... makes no sense.

Especially when an infield fly is an automatic out to the batter-runner. Even if the SS was so compromised that the ball fell on the ground the batter would still be out.

[mister d]

Yup. The runner could only go back, it wasn't even inherently the SS ball. Just awful.

[bfj]

[mister d]

Went to Atlanta at Pittsburgh today. Kids know the Yankees and a few other players, got them hyped for two guys today and somehow O’Neil Cruz not playing worked out best of the two.

[DSafetyGuy]

Negro League stats are being integrated with MLB stats.

[sancarlos]

Negro League stats are being integrated with MLB stats.

Josh Gibson was known as a spectacular power hitter who, by some accounts, hit close to 800 career home runs. (In the Negro League statistical records, his career HR total was 166.)

[L-Jam3]

I feel like they added something to the record at least a couple years ago. They counted Josh Gibson and Oscar Charleston’s Triple Crowns in the Negro Leagues as bona fide Triple Crowns.

Good. And fuck Mountain Landis.

[A_B]

I too thought this had happened already but maybe it was just about the fact that the et were going to add. Or maybe it was bref

[sancarlos]

the fact that the et were going to add. Or maybe it was bref

Now, who can argue with that? I’m particularly glad these lovely children were here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, but it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age!

[A_B]

Shew. I gotta remember to wear my readers.

[brian]

Not that I can watch today but feel like we got robbed not getting Skenes v Skubal (Skubal pitching G1 and Skenes G2)

[DSafetyGuy]

Not that I can watch today but feel like we got robbed not getting Skenes v Skubal (Skubal pitching G1 and Skenes G2)

It's bad enough yesterday's rainout cost them Skenes v. Flaherty (2nd in K/9, 4th in BB/9) today. Tigers have games on seven straight days after today's doubleheader, so the 27th man Keider Montero, who is likely starting for them in the second game.

[L-Jam3]

Not that I can watch today but feel like we got robbed not getting Skenes v Skubal (Skubal pitching G1 and Skenes G2)

I just turned to this game. Is this being played behind closed doors? There’s literally no one at the ballpark.

ETA: never mind. I just saw. Lightning risk. It just passed so the fans are working their way back in.

[mister d]

I too thought this had happened already but maybe it was just about the fact that the et were going to add. Or maybe it was bref

B-Ref did a massive project to get the stats collected and into their system. I have to imagine their work allowed for MLB to do this.

[mister d]

They did it again!

[EnochRoot]

Yup. The runner could only go back, it wasn't even inherently the SS ball. Just awful.

They changed the rule in 2013. Runners can advance on an IF fly rule.

It was the correct call.

[A_B]

Yup. The runner could only go back, it wasn't even inherently the SS ball. Just awful.

They changed the rule in 2013. Runners can advance on an IF fly rule.

It was the correct call.

I thought that was always the rule. If you wanted to try to tag up, so be it. Batter's out, runners are on their own.

[L-Jam3]

This creates a literal trilemma for Soto in this instance:

1. If he takes the most direct route back to 2nd base, he risks making contact with the SS, so he'd get called for interference and be declared OUT.

2. If he goes around the SS to go back to 2nd base, he risks running out of the basepath so he'd get declared OUT.

3. If he has to stand to the 3rd base side of the SS, he has to wait until the SS makes the play on the ball, and if the SS catches it he runs the risk of being doubled off, as the SS is now closer to 2nd base than he is, so he'd get called OUT.

So in this instance, Soto is screwed either way because he chose to take a lead off 2nd base on the pitch. And whatever he does, he's going to be out, which is literally why the Infield Fly Rule exists in the first place, to protect the runners on base to be stuck in a double play anyway.

[degenerasian]

They could easily resolve this by saying if the infield fly rule is activated the ball is dead. You cannot get a double play of any kind.

[Steve of phpBB]

Yup. The runner could only go back, it wasn't even inherently the SS ball. Just awful.

They changed the rule in 2013. Runners can advance on an IF fly rule.

It was the correct call.

I thought that was always the rule. If you wanted to try to tag up, so be it. Batter's out, runners are on their own.

Me too. You can tag, or try to advance if the ball drops. The IFR just means you aren’t *forced* to advance.

On that play, it looked like Soto timed it so he would hit the fielder. I have no problem with him being called out there.

Last week’s play in the White Sox game was different.

[mister d]

They could easily resolve this by saying if the infield fly rule is activated the ball is dead. You cannot get a double play of any kind.

I think that would work if there was an objective way to define what an IF fly is, but there's still that subjectivity. It would just lead to other issues with ones not called or wrongly called and runners being affected.

[bfj]

Don’t expect I’ll see either one of them in black and orange again.

[MaxWebster]

you'll just have to win them a ring this October.

Don’t expect I’ll see either one of them in black and orange again.

[mister d]

Schmitt on the giants has an exceptionally dumb face.

[A_B]

Two things: there's going to be a whole lot of guys getting popped for gambling and how do you lose all 25 bets you make on your team's games?

[tennbengal]

Two things: there's going to be a whole lot of guys getting popped for gambling and how do you lose all 25 bets you make on your team's games?

Big Bet-esque success rate, really.

[GoodKarma]

Reds with the improbable sweep in Colorado. I know the Rockies are borderline-historically bad but a sweep here with two double-digit run games will hopefully be enough to kick start the offense after a dismal May.

[MaxWebster]

How am I just finding out now that Isiah Kiner-Falefa is related to Ralph Kiner.

[A_B]

How am I just finding out now that Isiah Kiner-Falefa is related to Ralph Kiner.

Did you just falefa truck or something?!?!?

[MaxWebster]

a. so dumb. and i laughed. out loud.
b. i've pretty much ignored I say "I kinda feel awful" for his entire unspectacular career. he's just fits that classic "just a guy"
c. just heard an interview w him on Sportsnet where he talked about it and I think I like him.

i've unfairly (and i know he hears me, too) ripped on him all year but it's not him - he is who he is - the problem is and has been the Toronto front office having no plan other than Ohtani-or-bust and now they're left with a terrible team that pretty much can't get any better and only about 4 guys worth anything in the minors.

Looking forward to a few token Maple Votto at-bats later in the season.

How am I just finding out now that Isiah Kiner-Falefa is related to Ralph Kiner.

Did you just falefa truck or something?!?!?

[sancarlos]

[mister d]

i've unfairly (and i know he hears me, too) ripped on him all year but it's not him ...

His value is that he can play any position if needed, including catcher, but he should play them all cumulatively a lot less than Texas, NY and now Toronto have chosen.