:idea: :arrow: -Dodgers back in 1st place. Samardzija lost a no-hitter and then the game to Thor in Frisco... - I have no idea how the Dodgers are doing it with no pitchers. The team has put 34 players on the DL this year and that's the all-time record. Today's victory over the Reds was credited to Julio Urias, who finally turned 20 years of age. He's the youngest player in MLB. - The best trades are the ones that are never made. The Dodgers didn't make any big moves at the trade deadline last year, because every team that called demanded Corey Seager. This year, everybody wanted Urias...
On this day in History in 1927, Babe Ruth hit his 40th HR of the season on his way to the fabled 60 hr's that stood so long. Lou Gehrig battled him most of the season for the HR lead but finished with "only" 47. Murderers Row indeed.
That's not unlike Mantle and Maris in '61. Mantle ended up with - I think - 56, and of course we remember that Maris finished with 61. Another murderers' row was Mathews and Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves in the '50s. I can't recall offhand the annual combined totals, but I'm guessing there were 2 or more seasons in the 70s-80s, maybe even 90s.
New star being born in the Bronx? http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17371368/gary-sanchez-sets-new-york-yankees-mark-eighth-home-run
I wasn't aware that outfield shifts have become scientific... But they have. What do you think? http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17165225/lasers-outfield-infield-only-place-where-defense-shifting
Regarding the Yankees strategy, they are in 4th place in their division, and their record places them in the lower half of all MLB teams. Given those facts, it's difficult to take seriously their "strategy" of outfield shifts. I guess they could justify it by saying, their record would be worse if they didn't do it. Rolling Eyes
Sid, reading through the article it says that it's becoming more common, JO'Co's Dodgers are doing it as well. It also says that due to the decline in runs scored and the increase in infield shifts, that MLB is considering making some new rules regarding infield shifts. Not sure though what it could be. Infield shifts have been a part of baseball for a very long time, maybe always. It's just that with modern computer data mining they can do so much in terms of knowing exactly what a hitters record says he'll do in very specific situations and which pitch he will hit where. Outlaw datapads in the dugouts?
I guess I'm old school, a dying breed for sure. I'd like to see a study of the number of times the shift doesn't work, and a batter gets a hit where if the players were in their "traditional" positions, he would have been out. If it works decidedly more often than it doesn't, then I'll begrudgingly concede. Regardless how I feel about it, I believe it would be a mistake for the MLB brass to outlaw it.
I think shifts should be illegal. As far as the Yankees go, I think a grossly under-performing starting staff complimented by power hitters who did not hit for power have more to do with their fate than positioning fielders.
Dodgers trade Kershaw's best friend and catcher, an interesting move. It seems like with things going so well for the Dodgers right now they might stand pat esp with the guy who catches their ACE even if he can't hit his weight. A couple of spectacular plays recently. Max Schnerzer's between the legs no look catch..that actually looks pretty easy http://www.espn.com/blog/Washington-Nationals/post/_/id/1730/cy-young-candidate-scherzer-pulls-out-all-the-stops-in-nats-shutout-win Then there is Billy Hamilton who made a bunch of acrobatic catches that only he can make with the great speed he has.
Also you need to see Jarrod Dyson's catch in Miami! Spectacular http://a.msn.com/02/en-us/BBw4cuF?ocid=se
2 words...Gary Sanchez. Red Sox seem comfortable right now. Orioles are of course the team everybody is chasing for that 2nd slot. Tigers, Astros, Mariners, Yankee's and Royals all have shots.
8) Yasiel Puig on waivers https://amp.mlb.com/198176862-yasiel-puig-placed-on-trade-waivers-by-dodgers.amp.html Everything with Puig's name on it was removed from the gift shops at Dodger Stadium weeks ago... He's been replaced on the roster by a guy who was bagging groceries in Atlanta last year. His name is Andrew Toles. He runs like a bullet and he's batting .365...
Astros season will be determined in the next 14 games. Finish with the A's, then it's the Rangers, Indians, Cubs, and Rangers again. Pretty rough road ahead.
:wink: That box boy who bags groceries beat the Rockies with a grand slam last night. He's batting a cool .400 since his call-up...
:idea: The Dodgers secret is all those guys that they obtained in the off season. They stacked their minor league teams sky high and discovered so many gems that other teams had discarded, that it can't be an accident. Even I have to admit that this management team knows what it's doing. Every one of their deals has worked out and their plan is working...