**2015 MLB Season Thread: This is how the chapter ends (2 Viewers)

[Peyton Marino]

Also, I thought the Royals were supposed to have a good bullpen

Settle down. Your team is 2 games over.

Every single Royals player is a #####. And their bullpen sucks. It's why their record this season is so ####ty.

Well let's be fair, the Royals being massive c###s and how good they are are two separate questions.

Based on FG's "BaseRuns", which basically attempts to strip away all luck, the Royals "should" be 54-50. That's behind NYY, TOR, OAK, HOU, and basically tied with LAA. http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=BaseRuns

BP's 3rd order standings, pretty much the same thing but probably with different formulas, are: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/

They're good. Zobrist and Cueto help a whole lot, as will Gordon if he gets back, but they're not remarkable.

they ####### suck IMO

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Can someone link me to the head shots?

http://hockeybydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tobias-funke-headshot.jpg

 

[TobiasFunke]

Can someone link me to the head shots?

http://hockeybydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tobias-funke-headshot.jpg

(No Reality)

 

[Nugget]

Donaldson was hit intentionally in the first. One pitch by Volquez was up and in on him after that, but his next 4 plate appearances were a walk and 3Ks. Tulo was not on purpose - hit his back elbow and he turned into it. He stands on the inside line of the batters box. Madson throwing inside at JD in the 7th was likely on purpose as well - he was jawing pretty hard after the Tulo HPB.

Royals have been hit by many more pitches this season than they have thrown.

KC has hit 29 batters - 13th in the AL

KC has been hit 57 times - 1st in the AL

Our All Star third baseman gets hit by a pitch Saturday and had to sit out on Sunday.

Yeah, it wasn't the Royals. Just like it wasn't them vs Oakland, Chicago or Cleveland. Or when they spent a game throwing at Houston players when they were getting swept before the all-star break. Bunch of clowns.

What happened with Cleveland? I don't recall any issues with the Royals off the top of my head in May, June, or July. Was there any bad blood with the Astros? It seemed similar to when Rios broke his hand against the Twins.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Price got to 119 pitches, while Toronto was up 4. Prudent.

 

[Grahamburn]

Can someone link me to the head shots?

http://hockeybydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tobias-funke-headshot.jpg

(No Reality)

 

[Northern Voice]

Price got to 119 pitches, while Toronto was up 4. Prudent.

Pretty awesome. He's a rental, #### it.

 

[fdas2]

Also, I thought the Royals were supposed to have a good bullpen

Settle down. Your team is 2 games over.

Every single Royals player is a #####. And their bullpen sucks. It's why their record this season is so ####ty.

Well let's be fair, the Royals being massive c###s and how good they are are two separate questions.

Based on FG's "BaseRuns", which basically attempts to strip away all luck, the Royals "should" be 54-50. That's behind NYY, TOR, OAK, HOU, and basically tied with LAA. http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=BaseRuns

BP's 3rd order standings, pretty much the same thing but probably with different formulas, are: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/

They're good. Zobrist and Cueto help a whole lot, as will Gordon if he gets back, but they're not remarkable.

I can't wait until Bruce throws at your head for this.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Price got to 119 pitches, while Toronto was up 4. Prudent.

Pretty awesome. He's a rental, #### it.

Right because you can't fry a pitcher this year, and it's not like Toronto would be leaning on Price to -- if all goes well -- get up into the 250-260 IP range this year.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Also, I thought the Royals were supposed to have a good bullpen

Settle down. Your team is 2 games over.

Every single Royals player is a #####. And their bullpen sucks. It's why their record this season is so ####ty.

Well let's be fair, the Royals being massive c###s and how good they are are two separate questions.

Based on FG's "BaseRuns", which basically attempts to strip away all luck, the Royals "should" be 54-50. That's behind NYY, TOR, OAK, HOU, and basically tied with LAA. http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=BaseRuns

BP's 3rd order standings, pretty much the same thing but probably with different formulas, are: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/

They're good. Zobrist and Cueto help a whole lot, as will Gordon if he gets back, but they're not remarkable.

Choose from the following responses:1) So the Royals should be 54-40 but are actually 64-42. Ned Yost must be a lock for Manager Of The Year for the awesome job he's doing getting these guys to play so far above their ceiling.

2) Video Daily Double (the play might have officially been scored a single)

3) When the Associated Press declares the Dodgers and Astros League Champions for having the best Third-Order Winning Percentage and BaseRuns record, so you think those teams will hang one banner for the AP Title, or two separate banners for 3rd-Order and BaseRuns?

4) The consensus was the Royals would regress to at best a .500 team, so I find it remarkable that when you strip away all the luck, they are still way above their preseason projections.

5) Could you tell us some more about how hard Edinson Volquez is going to suck this season?

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Royals have been hit by many more pitches this season than they have thrown.

KC has hit 29 batters - 13th in the AL

KC has been hit 57 times - 1st in the AL

Sorry, but we can't let facts get in the way of a good narrative. Disregard.

The two have very little do to with each other. There's a huge difference between HBPs and throwing at someone's head- thankfully the latter usually misses so it doesn't show up in the HBP tally.

You argued the opposite last season, but NBD.

In fact that stat kind of feeds the narrative- KC stands close to the plate enough to get plunked all the time and yet they throw a hissy fit and go headhunting when someone else does the same.

How often has that chain of events occurred in Royals games this season?

I didn't say that exact chain of events happens a lot. I said they stand close enough to get plunked all the time (57) and that they also threw a hissy fit and went headhunting when someone else did the same (yesterday). Sorry if the phrasing wasn't clear. I can correct the verb tenses if you'd like.

The 2015 Royals remind me of my favorite quote in TV history: "If you run into an ###hole in the morning, you ran into an ###hole. If you run into ###holes all day, you're the ###hole."

So it doesn't happen a lot, except when it does.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Also, I thought the Royals were supposed to have a good bullpen

Settle down. Your team is 2 games over.

Every single Royals player is a #####. And their bullpen sucks. It's why their record this season is so ####ty.

Well let's be fair, the Royals being massive c###s and how good they are are two separate questions.

Based on FG's "BaseRuns", which basically attempts to strip away all luck, the Royals "should" be 54-50. That's behind NYY, TOR, OAK, HOU, and basically tied with LAA. http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=BaseRuns

BP's 3rd order standings, pretty much the same thing but probably with different formulas, are: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/

They're good. Zobrist and Cueto help a whole lot, as will Gordon if he gets back, but they're not remarkable.

Choose from the following responses:

1) So the Royals should be 54-40 but are actually 64-42. Ned Yost must be a lock for Manager Of The Year for the awesome job he's doing getting these guys to play so far above their ceiling.

2) Video Daily Double (the play might have officially been scored a single)

3) When the Associated Press declares the Dodgers and Astros League Champions for having the best Third-Order Winning Percentage and BaseRuns record, so you think those teams will hang one banner for the AP Title, or two separate banners for 3rd-Order and BaseRuns?

4) The consensus was the Royals would regress to at best a .500 team, so I find it remarkable that when you strip away all the luck, they are still way above their preseason projections.

5) Could you tell us some more about how hard Edinson Volquez is going to suck this season?

1)

2) No clue.

3) I never said the Royals wouldn't/can't win the WS, so your pre-emptive "RINGZ DOOD" argument doesn't apply here. I didn't say they were terrible either, I just said they were merely good.

4) Not "way above."

5) xFIP of 4.22? Sub-2.0 K/BB ratio? This must be Yost's magical hand at work.

 

[Bobcat10]

Saw something on espn today that said Reds/Pirates over the last 3 seasons have more batters hit by pitch than games played. That's some beanball.

 

[cheese]

Saw something on espn today that said Reds/Pirates over the last 3 seasons have more batters hit by pitch than games played. That's some beanball.

Ya. The Reds have bigger rivalries from the fans side, but the Pirates are the one team where Reds players actually hate the guys on the Pirates roster. Makes it interesting.

Funny part this weekend was Melancon being the pitcher tossed. Pretty much the only guy on their staff who usually stays out of it.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Don't bean me, bro.

.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Don't Beane me, bro.

.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Change of subject, who does Brandon Crawford have to #### to hit higher than sixth?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Aaand, another HR. But GeniusManager needs to make sure Angel Pagan gets more AB's.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Aaand, another HR. But GeniusManager needs to make sure Angel Pagan gets more AB's.

 

[Capella]

Rays called up Richie Shaffer to swing and miss at some curveballs.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Saw something on espn today that said Reds/Pirates over the last 3 seasons have more batters hit by pitch than games played. That's some beanball.

Ya. The Reds have bigger rivalries from the fans side, but the Pirates are the one team where Reds players actually hate the guys on the Pirates roster. Makes it interesting. Funny part this weekend was Melancon being the pitcher tossed. Pretty much the only guy on their staff who usually stays out of it.

What scares me is that they close out the season with the Pirates possibly fighting for a playoff berth. Last thing they can afford is losing Cutch (or someone else) courtesy of Chapman throwing a 100 MPH fastball deliberately at someone's head (which is not unprecedented for him).

 

[Swing 51]

What's up with the rotation in Hou? McCullers started (43 PC, 0.1 INN, 7 HA, BBI, K, 6 ER), Fields comes in (1.2 INN, 1 HA, K) and then tomorrow's starter (on paper) Mike Fiers comes in and is getting blowed up (39 PC, 0.2 INN, 6 HA, 2 BBI, K, 5 ER).

 

[Swing 51]

And Beltre is a HR away from the cycle.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

What's up with the rotation in Hou? McCullers started (43 PC, 0.1 INN, 7 HA, BBI, K, 6 ER), Fields comes in (1.2 INN, 1 HA, K) and then tomorrow's starter (on paper) Mike Fiers comes in and is getting blowed up (39 PC, 0.2 INN, 6 HA, 2 BBI, K, 5 ER).

Not sure but I wish I had never picked up Fiers the other day.

They are supposed to have a six man rotation but I guess McCullers terrible 1st made them change their plans and put in Fiers tonight.

 

[Limp Ditka]

And Beltre is a HR away from the cycle.

Now the 4th player in MLB history to have 3 cycles

Babe Herman 1932 (2), 1933

Bob Meusel 1921, 1922, 1928

Long John Reilly 1883 (2), 1890

Something tells me that will actually be enough to impress Old Hoss Radbourn

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Tonight was the first time since 1977 that the Cubs and Pirates faced each other with both teams at least 10 games over .500.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Break up the Pads?

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Tonight was the first time since 1977 that the Cubs and Pirates faced each other with both teams at least 10 games over .500.

Those Rick Reuschel/Bruce Kison battles were epic. Who can forget Manny Trillo's hair and Phil Garner's mustache?

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Don't bean me, bro.

.

Don't worry about it.Unless Ventura is pitching. That mother####er crazy.

Or maybe Herrera if you're due to bat in the 7th.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Obviously the Royals did nothing wrong yesterday

 

[The Man With No Name]

On this date in 1993:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdyeWgsa_R8

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Obviously the Royals did nothing wrong yesterday

They should consider suing for damages.

 

[shadyridr]

Wtf happened to Chris Sale?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Nice job Chris Sale, showing your true black and white stripes I suppose. Ooooooof

 

[gump]

Shaffers reaction to his first HR cold shoulder is pretty good: http://www.draysbay.com/2015/8/4/9098575/richie-shaffer-home-run-silent-treatment

 

[Limp Ditka]

Nice job Chris Sale, showing your true black and white stripes I suppose. Ooooooof

:finger:

 

[Limp Ditka]

I'll look back at those 2 outings and realize why I finished 3rd and not 2nd

 

[Capella]

Nice job Chris Sale, showing your true black and white stripes I suppose. Ooooooof

Can't stop the Rays.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

I don't think the sample size is large enough to make that determination.Arbitrary. Schadenfreude.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

I don't think the sample size is large enough to make that determination.Arbitrary. Schadenfreude.

It kind of seems that I'm not alone in thinking the Royals are ####y. And I loathe the Giants way more than I do the Royals, but they aren't a ####y team by and large.

 

[Nugget]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

I don't think the sample size is large enough to make that determination.Arbitrary. Schadenfreude.

It kind of seems that I'm not alone in thinking the Royals are ####y. And I loathe the Giants way more than I do the Royals, but they aren't a ####y team by and large.

How do the Royals compare against the rest of the AL Central in you ####ty rankings?

 

[RUSF18]

I admittedly had zero idea about the depth and success of MLB Advanced Media until this NHL deal was announced a few days ago. Really good article here.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9090897/mlb-bam-live-streaming-internet-tv-nhl-hbo-now-espn

Ridiculous that these teams each kicked in $4MM and have equal shares in a company now valued over $5 BILLION according to the article.

 

[gump]

I admittedly had zero idea about the depth and success of MLB Advanced Media until this NHL deal was announced a few days ago. Really good article here.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9090897/mlb-bam-live-streaming-internet-tv-nhl-hbo-now-espn

Ridiculous that these teams each kicked in $4MM and have equal shares in a company now valued over $5 BILLION according to the article.

Yea...BAM has done an incredible job. The Grateful Dead last shows is another example of what they are involved in on the back end.

Consumer Products leadership recently shifted from an old-school retail guy to someone from MLB.com. BAM runs the show.

They are also considering going public.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

I don't think the sample size is large enough to make that determination.Arbitrary. Schadenfreude.

It kind of seems that I'm not alone in thinking the Royals are ####y. And I loathe the Giants way more than I do the Royals, but they aren't a ####y team by and large.

How do the Royals compare against the rest of the AL Central in you ####ty rankings?

CHW, DET, MIN, CLE, in descending order. But KC seems to be up by a large margin.

 

[fdas2]

White Sox get a ####ty bump ranking due to Hawk being a ##### when calling games.

 

[Frostillicus]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

I don't think the sample size is large enough to make that determination.Arbitrary. Schadenfreude.

It kind of seems that I'm not alone in thinking the Royals are ####y. And I loathe the Giants way more than I do the Royals, but they aren't a ####y team by and large.

How do the Royals compare against the rest of the AL Central in you ####ty rankings?

CHW, DET, MIN, CLE, in descending order. But KC seems to be up by a large margin.

Minnesota's too high. Should be last, imo.

 

[fdas2]

Tighten your grip. You're not taking me seriously enough.

You seem to have this idea stuck in your head that I don't think luck happens in sports, because you go after me with posts like these often and without cause. I'm fully aware of variance. Geez, how could you read Tobias bully other posters here with tens of thousands of words crushing other users for hastily drawing conclusions over much larger sample sizes than the one he's using to make Sweeping Declarations about the Royals today? It's not going to prevent me from rooting for or against particular teams.

I'm sorry your favorite team has been so unlucky.

He should just pick another one that's been luckier. You know, like you do.

I don't think the sample size is large enough to make that determination.Arbitrary. Schadenfreude.

It kind of seems that I'm not alone in thinking the Royals are ####y. And I loathe the Giants way more than I do the Royals, but they aren't a ####y team by and large.

How do the Royals compare against the rest of the AL Central in you ####ty rankings?

CHW, DET, MIN, CLE, in descending order. But KC seems to be up by a large margin.

Minnesota's too high. Should be last, imo.

Why does a Cubs fan care?

 

[urbanhack]

White Sox get a ####ty bump ranking due to Hawk being a ##### when calling games.

#### YOU!!!