2018 MLB Season

[knightedsoldier5000]

from 2017:
https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/02/20/dexter-fowler-donald-immigration-ban-cardinals-fans-reactions

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler has not changed his opinion on President Donald Trump's proposed immigration ban despite criticism from fans.

Fowler's wife, Darya Baghbani, was born in Iran, which is one of seven Muslim-majority countries on Trump's travel ban list. Fowler spoke out against Trump in an interview with ESPN.com and called the ban "unfortunate" as they initially planned on traveling to Iran to visit family.

 

[Don Wassall]

The Pirates lost to the Phillies last night 17-5 in Pittsburgh. It tied the longest nine inning game in NL history at 4:30. zzzzz

That's another problem with baseball, the games keep getting longer and longer, thanks to more commercials, more pitching changes, replay challenges, etc. A nine inning baseball game should be about as long as a hockey game, no more than 2 1/2 hours unless there's a lot of scoring. Four and a half hours is absurd, but then again that's how long some college football games drone on for now.

 

[Leonardfan]

Astros call up big time prospect OF Kyle Tucker.

 

[Leonardfan]

The Pirates lost to the Phillies last night 17-5 in Pittsburgh. It tied the longest nine inning game in NL history at 4:30. zzzzz

That's another problem with baseball, the games keep getting longer and longer, thanks to more commercials, more pitching changes, replay challenges, etc. A nine inning baseball game should be about as long as a hockey game, no more than 2 1/2 hours unless there's a lot of scoring. Four and a half hours is absurd, but then again that's how long some college football games drone on for now.

Totally agree. I enjoy watching baseball but so much of it has become consumed by what you have said. They have employed stupid rules about intentional walking and fined players for taking too long in the batters box. Totally misguided in their approach to making games shorter. As you mentioned in an earlier post - the emergence of middle relief and reduced inning counts for starting pitchers have a lot to do with it. The game has changed with all teams moving away from the small ball aspect to everyone trying to hit homeruns - like football and basketball at the professional level the lack of attention to the fundamentals has degraded the quality of the game and the type of players who play the game.

 

[Heretic]

Regarding the two posts above and modern day baseball injuries. I think physical activity and lifestyle probably plays a role but I am not sure how much? The players back in the day came by their strength naturally from either farm work or manual labor and they seemed more flexible.

Watching the NFL Combine I am struck by the fact that most all of the "black" players seem to have steroid builds. Perhaps that is the short answer. But also training has evolved over the years and I suspect this focus on strength training has been over emphasized in baseball. Power baseball all around with the home run being a centerpiece of the game today.

So it seems to me the modern training techniques have increased the chances for injuries. Weightlifting is a huge concern.

And we can't dismiss the "pansy" factor altogether either. NBA players have been crying like babies over back to back games and such. So back in the day with worse travel conditions the players grinded their way through the season without any whining. Now with first class travel and first class everything these spoiled pricks feel like they are being taken advantage of talk about hypocrisy.

Baseball players have the good life too. You know the old saying each previous generation was tougher than the next in line.

I've posted this vid before, but by today's standards Brett looks relatively diminutive, but that didn't stop him (or others with similar build) still be able to do this:

A lot of it just comes down to the right technique. A strength training program (that doesn't necessarily involve a lot of weight lifting), along with a good stretching routine, is probably the best formula for success in baseball (along with good diet).

 

[La France Blanche]

The intentional walk rule is like trying to put a Band-Aid on gout. They're not looking at the real problem.

The idea of bringing in a relief pitcher just to throw to one batter, then taking him out of the game immediately afterwards, epitomizes the state of Major League Baseball today. Yes, lefties vs. righties and all that, but every time I see it in a real game I keep thinking of that Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns pinch-hits Homer for Daryl Strawberry. Perhaps a better rule would be limiting managers to something like four pitching changes per game. Won't happen, because the managers would all go apes***, but it's interesting to think about.

 

[knightedsoldier5000]

Bryce Harper wins the 2018 HR Derby!!!

Kyle Schwarber comes in 2nd!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Bryce Harper wins the 2018 HR Derby!!!

Kyle Schwarber comes in 2nd!

Mike Trout another All Star game Homerun! He walked in his first AB. Could be in line for his third All Star game MVP!

 

[northwinds]

Why are 100% of the 'All-Star Youth Ambassadors' participating in this American tradition black??? Are there no White kids who wanted to be 'youth ambassadors' and walk out on the field tonight?

 

[Carolina Speed]

Mike Trout another All Star game Homerun! He walked in his first AB. Could be in line for his third All Star game MVP!

Trevor Story, HR for the NL. Scored tied 2-2. White players doing well despite being outnumbered, as usual.

 

[northwinds]

Phillies Scooter Gennett just tied it up 5-5 with a one out homer in the bottom of the ninth off some Hispanic pitcher......️

 

[Carolina Speed]

Phillies Scooter Gennett just tied it up 5-5 with a one out homer in the bottom of the ninth off some Hispanic pitcher......️

Alex Bregman named All Star game MVP after go ahead Homerun!

 

[Bruce]

Rob Manfred: Mike Trout limits his popularity because he won't market himself

Mike Trout would be an even bigger star if he would spend some more time marketing himself, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred maintains.

At 26, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder is a two-time American League MVP and a seven-time All-Star. In 2015, he became the first player in 38 years to homer leading off an All-Star Game, then became the first player to take home the Midsummer Classic's MVP award two years in row.


Manfred, Clark disagree on free agency, DH
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark says free agency was 'under attack' last offseason, but commissioner Rob Manfred defended the delay in signings, saying it was the free agent market at work. They also disagreed on whether a universal DH is close.

He homered off the New York Mets' Jacob deGrom in the third inning of the American League's 8-6 win this year on Tuesday night.

"Player marketing requires one thing for sure -- the player," Manfred said earlier in the day. "You cannot market a player passively. You can't market anything passively. You need people to engage with those to whom you are trying to market in order to have effective marketing. We are very interested in having our players more engaged and having higher-profile players and helping our players develop their individual brand. But that involves the player being actively engaged."

Manfred said Trout chooses not to spend his downtime marketing.

"Mike's a great, great player and a really nice person, but he's made certain decisions about what he wants to do and what he doesn't want to do, and how he wants to spend his free time and how he doesn't want to spend his free time," Manfred said. "That's up to him. If he wants to engage and be more active in that area, I think we could help him make his brand really, really big. But he has to make a decision that he's prepared to engage in that area. It takes time and effort."

"Yeah ... no," Trout said in response after exiting the All-Star Game. "I keep telling you guys, I do as much as I can. But it's a long baseball season. I got to pick and choose when I want to do things and go from there

Report: Mike Trout as recognizable to Americans as NBA’s Kenneth Faried
By Bill BaerJul 18, 2018, 4:13 PM EDT
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On Monday, the Washington Post cited Q Scores, a firm that measures consumer appeal of personalities, with regard to Angels outfielder Mike Trout. According to Q Scores, Trout is as recognized to Americans as NBA forward Kenneth Faried, who has spent seven seasons with the Denver Nuggets and is now a reserve with the Brooklyn Nets. Trout’s score was 22, which means just over one in five Americans know who he is.

We have talked here at various times about Trout’s lack of marketability. He has expressed zero interest in being marketed as the face of baseball. Additionally, based on the nature of the sport, it’s harder for baseball to aggressively market its stars since star players don’t impact teams the same way they do in other sports. LeBron James, for example, carries whatever team he’s on to the NBA Finals. James has appeared in the NBA Finals every year dating back to 2011. Trout, despite being far and away the best active player in baseball and one of the best players of all time, has only reached the postseason once, in 2014 when his Angels were swept in the ALDS by the Royals. Trout can’t carry his team to the playoffs and his team hasn’t helped him any in getting there on a regular basis.

Baseball is also more of a regional sport. Fans follow their local team, of course, and don’t really venture beyond that even though games are broadcast nationally throughout the week. The NFL schedule is much shorter and occurs once a week, so fans put aside time to watch not just their favorite team’s game, but other games of interest as well. A June game between the subpar White Sox and Tigers doesn’t have much appeal to it since it’s one of 162 games for both teams, and both teams will play again later in the season. Comparatively, a game between the Bears and Lions has more intrigue since they only play twice a year.

It’s kind of a shame for baseball that Trout isn’t bigger than he is because he is a once-in-a-generation talent, like Ken Griffey Jr. In fact, Trout is so good that he’s still underrated. He’s on pace to have one of the greatest seasons of all-time, going by Wins Above Replacement. Despite that, he’s anything but a lock to win the MVP Award at season’s end because the narratives around other players, like Mookie Betts, are more compelling.

Trout’s marketability is an issue that isn’t likely to be fixed anytime soon. Trout is who he is and forcing him to ham it up for the cameras would come off as forced and unnatural. Major League Baseball will simply have to hope its other stars, like Betts and Bryce Harper, can help broaden the appeal of the sport.

I don't follow baseball but I know the name Mike Trout. I had no idea that he's only in his mid 20s and he's been by far the best player in all of baseball for the last 4 years. Evidently I'm not the only one. The media is wondering why he's not a household name the way that the best players from other sports are. The commissioner of the MLB came up with the laughable excuse that it's because he's not marketing himself. Of course the real reason is that the (((media))) purposely ignores him because he's young and White and would be a great hero and role model for millions of White kids to look up to and try to emulate. The media would rather market hideous and alien looking blacks instead of a clean cut and well built white guy that people could actually relate to.

 

[Bruce]

btw I hear Aaron Judge's name all the time and see him in commercials. I decided to look him up and he's the same age as Trout but he's spent most of his career in the minor leagues. Why does the inferior player receive so much more hype and attention than the superior player? I wonder what it could be.

 

[Carolina Speed]

I don't follow baseball but I know the name Mike Trout. I had no idea that he's only in his mid 20s and he's been by far the best player in all of baseball for the last 4 years. Evidently I'm not the only one. The media is wondering why he's not a household name the way that the best players from other sports are. The commissioner of the MLB came up with the laughable excuse that it's because he's not marketing himself. Of course the real reason is that the (((media))) purposely ignores him because he's young and White and would be a great hero and role model for millions of White kids to look up to and try to emulate. The media would rather market hideous and alien looking blacks instead of a clean cut and well built white guy that people could actually relate to.

"Humble yourself before the Lord and he will exalt you." James 4:10.
Bruce, I hear you.
Mike Trout is not only the best baseball player on the planet and maybe the best of all time! I have posted many times that if you're not watching this man, your missing history. A once in a lifetime player! However, more importantly than being a baseball player, he's a humble/meek person who cares more about family as well as others more than himself. This is a rarity in today's society. Instead of looking for commercial self promotion, Trout chooses to spend time with his wife, his high school sweetheart, and family, instead of chasing the Hollyweird flavor of the month!
The Angels Organization released a statement today saying, Trout spends a tremendous amount of time marketing MLB. He continually chooses to participate in the community, visiting hospitals, schools, and countless charities. One of Mike's traits that people admire most is his humility! His brand is built upon his generosity in spending time with his family and friends both at home and on the road.. We applaud him for prioritizing his personal values over commercial success.
.
What a sick and selfish society we live in when a man of impeccable character is criticized for being just that!
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." Isaiah 5:20.

Here's wishing Mike Trout continued success on the baseball field, but more importantly success in his personal life!

 

[La France Blanche]

I've never heard of Kenneth Faried. Of course, I don't follow the NBA.

I don't think Mike Trout is THAT unknown, but I do wish MLB would "market" him more.

 

[celticdb15]

Another smear job by the ((usual)) suspects.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/33254/mlb-pitcher-must-take-sensitivity-training-tweets-ashe-schow

 

[La France Blanche]

Juvenile crime records are sealed so that offenses someone committed when he was a kid can't be held against him when he's an adult. Yet people (White people only, of course) are now being punished for tweets they made as minors. Josh Allen faced similar attacks from the usual cuckspects, although thankfully in his case the Bills showed more moral courage and just plain common sense than the Brewers.

 

[icsept]

Very strange that the years old tweets were “exposed” on the eve of the draft for Josh Allen, and during Josh Hader’s all star game appearance. Clearly timed for maximum effect by the malicious, hateful lunatics who relish in character assassination and smear jobs.

 

[Don Wassall]

Hader received a standing ovation according to this article, though when I went to the video it was nothing but some SI scold denouncing Hader's tweets. Good for the Brewers fans for showing common sense in the face of the latest communist onslaught against a White athlete.

Brewers' Josh Hader Receives Standing Ovation in First Return to the Mound

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader received a warm ovation from fans in his first appearance on the mound since his years-old racist and homophobic tweets surfaced during the All-Star Game.

The left-hander jogged in from the bullpen after the Brewers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He took a few warmup tosses before being introduced by the public address announcer.

Most of the more than 36,000 fans attending in attendance were applauding after he was introduced, with many fans standing at Miller Park.

https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/21/josh-hader-standing-ovation-tweet-scandal-milwaukee-brewers

 

[Flint]

"Humble yourself before the Lord and he will exalt you." James 4:10.
Bruce, I hear you.
Mike Trout is not only the best baseball player on the planet and maybe the best of all time! I have posted many times that if you're not watching this man, your missing history. A once in a lifetime player! However, more importantly than being a baseball player, he's a humble/meek person who cares more about family as well as others more than himself. This is a rarity in today's society. Instead of looking for commercial self promotion, Trout chooses to spend time with his wife, his high school sweetheart, and family, instead of chasing the Hollyweird flavor of the month!
The Angels Organization released a statement today saying, Trout spends a tremendous amount of time marketing MLB. He continually chooses to participate in the community, visiting hospitals, schools, and countless charities. One of Mike's traits that people admire most is his humility! His brand is built upon his generosity in spending time with his family and friends both at home and on the road.. We applaud him for prioritizing his personal values over commercial success.
.
What a sick and selfish society we live in when a man of impeccable character is criticized for being just that!
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." Isaiah 5:20.

Here's wishing Mike Trout continued success on the baseball field, but more importantly success in his personal life!

You are exactly right. What MLB wants him to be is a scandal ridden, loud mouth with a big ego so the media can write click bait articles about him, and work to run him down. He should get lots of tatoo's and his hair made into dreadlocks and have his front teeth capped gold. Thats what the fans want!!!

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Hader received a standing ovation according to this article, though when I went to the video it was nothing but some SI scold denouncing Hader's tweets. Good for the Brewers fans for showing common sense in the face of the latest communist onslaught against a White athlete.

Brewers' Josh Hader Receives Standing Ovation in First Return to the Mound

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader received a warm ovation from fans in his first appearance on the mound since his years-old racist and homophobic tweets surfaced during the All-Star Game.

The left-hander jogged in from the bullpen after the Brewers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He took a few warmup tosses before being introduced by the public address announcer.

Most of the more than 36,000 fans attending in attendance were applauding after he was introduced, with many fans standing at Miller Park.

https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/21/josh-hader-standing-ovation-tweet-scandal-milwaukee-brewers

I saw that earlier. It’s great to see the Milwaukee fans see right through the cuckold MLB’s BS cultmarx policy!

 

[Shadowlight]

The NFL Commissioner Goodell is too all over the map for me to endorse him and the NBA head honcho Adam Silver appears to me to be mostly a shill for the black players.

But even they pale next to the contempt I have for the previous MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and now Rob Manfred. Their racist push to expand the number of blacks and non whites on MLB Rosters is right out there in the open. And they fidget with the game desperately trying to make it into some hip version of the NBA. It was a while ago but they replaced the cheesy but effective enough ball park organ with more beat oriented sounds and music as they drifted into urbanizing the sport which still has a more country feel about it.

That said Manfred (see posts above) decided he would prefer mild mannered but fan friendly Mike Trout to turn into some loud brash media figure to promote the sport better. Thankfully there has been a massive push back on that notion as numerous media outlets and the Angels have pretty much told Manfred to lay off stating they like Mike Trout just the way he is so don't try and change him.

Trout is involved in all sorts of community help stuff and has a special connection with kids. He is universally admired and personally I prefer lower key athletes than self promoting braggarts. Manfred is just a tone deaf fool looking at the bottom line as his top priority not realizing that Trout is a major asset and conducts himself in a manner that most athletes should aspire to.

As for the leaking of previous twitter comments by Hader I have made this point before. I think all posts from a player under the age of 18 should not be allowed to be brought up in the general media. It is a form of child abuse and should not be tolerated.

 

[TomIron361]

Aaron Judge got hit by a pitch and is out about a month they say. I'm surprised it took this long before he got hurt. But this will be just the first of many injuries for this guy.

 

[knightedsoldier5000]

Trout has a shot at another SB title. Just depends on how much he's allowed to run. He only has 1 CS, so he can easily do this if he tries for it. Let's all hope Trout gets hot in the 2nd half of the season.

SB leaders:

1. Gordon • SEA 24
2. Ramirez • CLE 22
3. Merrifield • KCR 21
Anderson • CHW 21
5. Trout • LAA 20
6. Betts • BOS 19
7. Smith • TBR 18
DeShields • TEX 18
9. Benintendi • BOS 17
10. Davis • CLE 16

SB % leaders:

1. Bradley • BOS 100.00
2. Trout • LAA 95.24
3. Benintendi • BOS 94.44
4. Pillar • TOR 91.67
5. Ramirez • CLE 88.00
6. Altuve • HOU 87.50
7. Betts • BOS 86.36
8. DeShields • TEX 85.71
9. Moncada • CHW 83.33
Sanchez • CHW 83.33
Lindor • CLE 83.33