2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[Jellybeans]

I hope the Yanks win tomorrow!

[Hi-Def Steve]

I don't think it was smart bringing Broxton in the 8th. He had to sit for like 20 minutes in between innings and you could tell he looked rusty in the 9th. Should have just let Sherill finish it off. Real bummer. Really hate the 2-3-2 format as well.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Jellybeans

I hope the Yanks win tomorrow!

You and me both a Phi / LAA WS! UBER YUCK!!!!!!!

I want Tori v. The Boss Man! a final showdown Jeter bring another to the AL East, only to be beaten next year by the resurgent O's marking a HUGE comeback from last place to a World Series Championship! shhh don't wreck my dream.


Can't everyone see it its me and HC's time to shine it'll be a JAYS, O's ALCS next year!

[hc666]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Can't everyone see it its me and HC's time to shine it'll be a JAYS, O's ALCS next year!

LOL

Yes O's and Jays in the ALCS next year at this time

[toef]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

I don't think it was smart bringing Broxton in the 8th. He had to sit for like 20 minutes in between innings and you could tell he looked rusty in the 9th. Should have just let Sherill finish it off. Real bummer. Really hate the 2-3-2 format as well.

Yeah, the 2-2-1-1-1 seems better, but it's an insane amount of traveling. I know in the NBA they use 2-2-1-1-1 in the early rounds, then switch to the 2-3-2 for the NBA Finals... but that makes sense, since the NBA is divided into East/West, so the NBA Finals often involves a lot of cross-country traveling.

But also, the NBA plays an 82-game schedule, where they play 1 team at a time for 1 game. There are usually 2 to 3 days between games to accommodate all the traveling. I don't really follow hockey, but I imagine it's pretty similar.

In baseball the season is huge, and is based around series, where they obviously play a team 3-4 times before moving on to the next town. And they play almost every day (I think they get 20 days off in the season, or so). So traveling isn't as frequent in baseball, and a 2-2-1-1-1 seems to go against the "natural" way baseball is played for the rest of the year.

[toef]

Originally Posted by hc666

LOL

Yes O's and Jays in the ALCS next year at this time

[toef]

Copying this over from MSNBC...

~~~~~~~~~



This took place in the bottom of the 10th yesterday, right after he completed his warmup pitches. He's facing away from home plate.

Call me crazy, but it appears to me like Rivera looks up to see if anyone is watching, then looks down and spits right on the ball. Is that the secret to his cutter? Anyone have an alternate explanation as to what is going on?

Holy smokes. I have to imagine we'll hear more about this as the day goes on.

UPDATE: I've had a bunch of conversations with a bunch of people on this in the past hour. Some general observations/questions:

Q: Is Mariano definitely spitting on the ball?

A: Hard to say. Looks like it to me, but the cutaway is quick and the angle could be deceiving. I'm just going with my first impression of what the video and photo show. I'd kill for another angle of this.

Q: Do you actually throw a spitball by, you know, spitting on the ball?

A: It's not the most traditional way -- according to everything I've read merely wetting the fingers is more common -- but it's certainly been done. Really, anything that either (a) adds a viscous fluid to the ball to alter its flight; or (b) lubes it up to decrease friction upon release, thereby increasing the spin and thus the ultimate drop is sufficient.

Q: If it is a spitball, why would Rivera be so obvious about it? He's a smart guy. He'd try to hide it better, wouldn't he?

A: Maybe so. But isn't it just as valid to say that Rivera, one of the most talented pitchers ever, never had to use a spitball before, and thus if he is now, he's less likely to be practiced at it than a guy who had to cheat just to keep his job?

I have no idea what he's doing here -- and I simply don't want to believe that Rivera was throwing a spitter, because I've always admired and respected the guy -- but it doesn't seem satisfying to simply say "Mariano would never do this, so he didn't do it." The video is very, very interesting. It may be completely debunked by another angle -- and if anyone has one, please send it ASAP and I'll update. But for now, it's all we have.

I know I have a reputation for baiting Yankees fans, but I am sincere in asking whether or not Rivera was doing this. I don't know, and I'm open to alternate interpretations and evidence.

(thanks to Jason Epstein for the link)

UPDATE #2:

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that MLB "is investigating video that shows Mariano Rivera spitting toward a baseball before facing his first batter in the 10th inning of Game 3." Sherman notes that "the initial reaction by the league is that the video plus still pictures they have of the incident are inconclusive."

~~~~~~~

Maybe this is how he's been so good.

Edit: Oh, and here's the link to the video they were talking about.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KihPKUZni8Y

[sawzalot]

Originally Posted by Rantlers

Had to dig for this one!

Man, I really love this Phillies team! What an amazing win, makes up for game 2 which they giftwrapped for the Dodgers. The best part is I'm going to game 5, I can only imagine the insanity if they win that one! Pretty sure I won't be going to work the next day...

I agree great 9th inning win yet again, walks will kill a team as we saw in game 2 but lets face it this PHILLIE team has a determination and desire to win like no other, so much heart and no, I repeat no show boating what so ever. Makes them shine over the rest.Go Phillies.

[Hi-Def Steve]

New Yorker's sure love Jeter don't they?

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by toefer

Thanks for the vote of confidence toefer

[toef]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

New Yorker's sure love Jeter don't they?

Haha, it'd be nice to think it's just a frame taken out of context, but the finger digging action is inexplicable.



And the classic Sheff one:



The real Jeter?

[Hi-Def Steve]

LOL, those pics are great! And yeah you can't deny the firm grasp grab into the ass

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

LOL, those pics are great! And yeah you can't deny the firm grasp grab into the ass

I guess thats why Arod's been so LOCKED IN this playoffs.

[sfmarine]

haha great pics of Jeter and A-rod....4 hrs to go! Enough time for me to watch Transformers...the MO talk is interesting though...I'll have to look into that.

[toef]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

haha great pics of Jeter and A-rod....4 hrs to go! Enough time for me to watch Transformers...the MO talk is interesting though...I'll have to look into that.

MLB apparently looked into it and concluded nothing happened. Or at least that's the latest from the NBC Sports blog.

The video certainly gives the appearance of him spitting on the ball though, but it's apparently an optical illusion.

[sfmarine]

It looks like he spit on it though...oh well.

[supersix4]

I really don't like having CC go tonight.

[sfmarine]

What was that, Jeter?

[toef]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I really don't like having CC go tonight.

It will hopefully be ok. Someone ran a stat somewhere earlier today, showing CC's career with 3-days rest. I think he's 3-1 with a 1.06 ERA, or something like that.

Of course, the playoffs this year have been all over the place, so stats have proven to be somewhat meaningless.

[walruswarrior]

Originally Posted by toefer

It will hopefully be ok. Someone ran a stat somewhere earlier today, showing CC's career with 3-days rest. I think he's 3-1 with a 1.06 ERA, or something like that.

Of course, the playoffs this year have been all over the place, so stats have proven to be somewhat meaningless.

Yeah because Jeter is the MVP even though you have all your BS "meaningless stats" lol. What a blown call. Swisher did not leave early. This is BS. Are you kidding me with that? What is up with these refs this postseason?