2024 MLB Season Thread
Nobody wants these games to start more than Mannfred.
Shohei just spoke to the media for the first time. In a prepared statement, he said:
-He never bet on baseball, or any other sport,
-He didn't know that Ippei lied to him, and that Ippei took the money from Shohei's account to pay his gambling debts
-He'll continue to cooperate with the investigation, and play as the investigation plays out.
If all that's true, then this is probably the best possible outcome for his reputation going forward. He's a naive star athlete who trusted the wrong person. It happens.
In any event, these games are about start! Last year, just like we all predicted, "Someone Else" came on strong in the playoffs, as the Texas Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks for the World Series. Can that happen again?
T-Mobile is giving away a free MLB.tv subscription ($149 value) to T-Mobile subscribers starting TOMORROW (Tuesday 3/26 - April 1). Don't miss out.
So speaking of gambling, here are the current best odds for the World Series you can find, from Vegas insider!
small sample size but this is looking like the best mid-season acquisition in MLB history so far
I know not serious but...
Randy Johnson '98 Astros
10-1 (11 GS)
1.28 ERA
0.98 WHIP
4 CGSO
322 ERA+
4.3 bWAR
CC Sabathia '08 Brewers
11-2 (17 GS)
1.65 ERA
1.00 WHIP
7 CG - 3 SO
255 ERA+
4.9 bWAR
JD Martinez '17 DBacks
62 Games
29 HR
65 RBI
.302/.366/.741
173 OPS+
2.4 bWAR
I thought it was a good Yankees-Phillies game last night. Too bad the Phils didn't win, but still good.
Judge might be in full walk mode and he's having a down month.
Manny Ramirez 2008 LA Dodgers
53 games, 17 hrs/53 RBI, 221 OPS+
.396 BA
.489 OBP
.743 SLG
4th in MVP voting with just 53 games played
Post season, 8 games
.520 BA with 4 home runs.
.667 OBP, 1.746 OPS
After that, Manny only had 28 more MLB home runs left in him. But for that 61 game stretch he hit over .400 with 21 home runs and 63 RBI.
In the case of Sabathia and Unit, both those guys were having their first NL experience, and went on absolute tears.
NL confirmed to be quadruple A
It is true that all 4 examples above were career AL players that suddenly became gods when they first moved to the NL.
JD did start his career briefly with the Astros while they were an NL team, but the other 3 had all never played an NL game prior to those monster stretches.
I’m more of a Mets fan these days but my favorite non Met has gotta be Jazz.
Aaron Judge about to win player of the month for the 3rd straight month.
April: .207/.340/.414 6 HR
May: .361/.479/.918 14 HR
June: .409/.514/.864 11 HR
July: .312/.480/.649 8 HR
Season: .315/.446/.696 39HR 99RBI.
We are still in July. Best hitter since Barry Bonds and it's not close at this point.
Also, Steven Kwan's batting average has been slowly dropping, so Judge could very well win the triple crown, which he almost did in 2022.
Don't think Judge is going to win player of the month for July... might finish 4th or 5th... Judge has 17RBI, and though not a great stat, is tough to ignore that Rooker has 30RBI
Brent Rooker 11HR/30RBI .410/.480./.867 OPS 1.347
and Bobby Whit is a sick 7HR/22RBI .483/.505/.839 OPS1.344
Vlad Jr for July.... 8HR/19RBI .363/.413/.714
Devers having a good month
I know not serious but...
Randy Johnson '98 Astros
10-1 (11 GS)
1.28 ERA
0.98 WHIP
4 CGSO
322 ERA+
4.3 bWAR
CC Sabathia '08 Brewers
11-2 (17 GS)
1.65 ERA
1.00 WHIP
7 CG - 3 SO
255 ERA+
4.9 bWAR
JD Martinez '17 DBacks
62 Games
29 HR
65 RBI
.302/.366/.741
173 OPS+
2.4 bWAR
CC also made his last 3 starts on 3 days rest as the Brewers won the wild card (only 1 back then) on the last day of the season.
My favorite thing about the Sabathia acquisition was the front office basically saying:
“Yeah there’s no way we can meet his price in free agency, so we’re gonna ride him and drive him like a rented mule for this half season we got him for”
Who has the modern record for most doubles + triples in a season (since 1950)?
Hal McRae 54 + 11 = 65 in 1977?
Lots of guys at 61 or 62.
Yup it looked like it was a big photo at 62 until I came across McRae. What a name. I saw him live fly out to the wall in dead center with the bases loaded in Game 7 of the '72 World Series, a sac fly a few feet short of a grand slam. He had that duel with Brett. That meltdown as a manager way better than Iverson's. Amazing guy.
My favorite thing about the Sabathia acquisition was the front office basically saying:
“Yeah there’s no way we can meet his price in free agency, so we’re gonna ride him and drive him like a rented mule for this half season we got him for”
It's one thing for them to want to do that, it's another thing for him to also want to be used that way.
Don't think Judge is going to win player of the month for July... might finish 4th or 5th... Judge has 17RBI, and though not a great stat, is tough to ignore that Rooker has 30RBI
Brent Rooker 11HR/30RBI .410/.480./.867 OPS 1.347
and Bobby Whit is a sick 7HR/22RBI .483/.505/.839 OPS1.344
Vlad Jr for July.... 8HR/19RBI .363/.413/.714
Devers having a good month
Yeah you're right Witt will win it this month.
Blake snell is a Cy young winner and I just heard the words ‘for the first time in his whole career blake snell will feel what it’s like to pitch in the 9th inning’
Btw snell going for a no hitter
And he got it
Blake snell is a Cy young winner and I just heard the words ‘for the first time in his whole career blake snell will feel what it’s like to pitch in the 9th inning’
Btw snell going for a no hitter
He did it. Well done Snell.
Somewhere a Bay Area Beast is smiling and celebrating with a non-alcoholic beer.
Nima!!!!
SRM!!!!
Celebrate!!!
The craziest thing about snell’s no hitter is a tossup between that being the first time he’s pitched the 9th and considering how hyperelite he’s been the last 6 or 7 starts yesterday was his first win of the season
Jarren Duran has a real shot at it this year. Sitting on 33 + 13 for 46 with 54 games to go. I'll take him to land on 51 & 17 for the new modern record.
I think doubles and triples are among the most exciting plays in baseball. Guys like Judge and Ohtani and Harper should be hitting home runs, but the game would be much better if it was designed in such a way that most guys were hitting more doubles and triples instead of home runs. Players are stronger, bats and balls are better, pitchers throw harder, and yet parks mostly got smaller vs baseball's earlier days. It should be harder to hit home runs than it is
Balls that stay in play lead to fielding, throwing and base running. When that weak sauce 370 foot fly ball disappears over the wall I've always been disappointed.
Ohtani just stealing bases everytime he gets on base now. 33/31 through 111 games.
Gerrit Cole sucks.
Blue Jays walked Aaron Judge multiple times with the bases empty. They want no part of the guy hitting .322/.456/.701.
Yankees should counter by flipping Judge and Soto.
