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

[Limp Ditka]

Oh! And speaking of clowns....

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that the Marlins "have already engaged in discussions" with Dusty Baker about their manager position.

Frisaro is unsure when the discussions took place but says "this process has been ongoing." He reported previously that the former Giants, Cubs and Reds skipper is a "very strong candidate" for the gig. Former Nationals and Indians manager Manny Acta has also interviewed for the job, but it appears Baker might be the favorite at the moment.

Source: Joe Frisaro on Twitter

 

[shadyridr]

Isn't he also still the GM?

imagine he did the interview but forgot to tell himself.

 

[shadyridr]

Oh! And speaking of clowns....

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that the Marlins "have already engaged in discussions" with Dusty Baker about their manager position.

Frisaro is unsure when the discussions took place but says "this process has been ongoing." He reported previously that the former Giants, Cubs and Reds skipper is a "very strong candidate" for the gig. Former Nationals and Indians manager Manny Acta has also interviewed for the job, but it appears Baker might be the favorite at the moment.

Source: Joe Frisaro on Twitter

Jose fernandez weeps

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Oh! And speaking of clowns....

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that the Marlins "have already engaged in discussions" with Dusty Baker about their manager position.

Frisaro is unsure when the discussions took place but says "this process has been ongoing." He reported previously that the former Giants, Cubs and Reds skipper is a "very strong candidate" for the gig. Former Nationals and Indians manager Manny Acta has also interviewed for the job, but it appears Baker might be the favorite at the moment.

Source: Joe Frisaro on Twitter

Jose fernandez weeps

Baker is notorious, but I've continuously seen pitchers left in and go past 110 late in a game when it's all but decided. Mattingly let Kershaw hit 130 with a 4 run lead the other day in the 9th.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Bay Area Old Man Baseball confirmed for Saturday! Dust off those split-hats!

 

[Eephus]

here.

but I'd like to see Dusty back in the dugout. He does lots of odd things but he's never boring which is more than you say about the Marlins. His hunches, overuse, pet players and ignorance of analytics aren't a problem when he's winning.

I doubt Loria is willing to pay top dollar so if Dusty ends up in Miami it's because he's really burning for another shot at managing.

 

[Eephus]

Bay Area Old Man Baseball confirmed for Saturday! Dust off those split-hats!

Nice story. Terrible hats.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Mike Napoli in LF is such great shtick

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Mike Napoli in LF is such great shtick

Might as well put a slip and slide and a midget for the relay out there for max shticknesses.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

His hunches, overuse, pet players and ignorance of analytics aren't a problem when he's winning.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

BTW:

1) The Giants 2002 was at least two notches better than any of the Giants teams of the last 5 years.

2) Pulling Ortiz in the 7th was completely defensible.

3) Can a manager really "win" a game, or is it a matter of them either just staying out of the way or screwing something up.

 

[cheese]

I have to say watching the Baker and Price era Reds teams has made me reconsider that players manager/clubhouse/chemistry may actually be a thing. I used to roll my eyes at it, but you do notice the difference.

Baker breeds confidence somehow. When he talks to the press, he speaks firmly and self-assured even when he's saying dumb stuff. His players all seem to think they're better than they are. There is some value in that.

I do think he's pretty smart about hitting even in his old man way.

 

[pantagrapher]

Oh! And speaking of clowns....

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that the Marlins "have already engaged in discussions" with Dusty Baker about their manager position.

Frisaro is unsure when the discussions took place but says "this process has been ongoing." He reported previously that the former Giants, Cubs and Reds skipper is a "very strong candidate" for the gig. Former Nationals and Indians manager Manny Acta has also interviewed for the job, but it appears Baker might be the favorite at the moment.

Source: Joe Frisaro on Twitter

Jose fernandez weeps

Baker is notorious, but I've continuously seen pitchers left in and go past 110 late in a game when it's all but decided. Mattingly let Kershaw hit 130 with a 4 run lead the other day in the 9th.

123 last night for Arrieta.

 

[Eephus]

BTW:

1) The Giants 2002 was at least two notches better than any of the Giants teams of the last 5 years.

2) Pulling Ortiz in the 7th was completely defensible.

3) Can a manager really "win" a game, or is it a matter of them either just staying out of the way or screwing something up.

I've gotten over 2002.

Of course managers matter but I think their impact can be measured better over the course of a season or career than a single game or playoff series. Sometimes the percentage move just doesn't work out.

 

[Harris]

Grienke out tonight with calf soreness....anyone think this is a ploy to potentially avoid a lousy start and lose ground in the cy young race with Arrieta?

 

[Wrigley]

Grienke out tonight with calf soreness....anyone think this is a ploy to potentially avoid a lousy start and lose ground in the cy young race with Arrieta?

Obviously

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Grienke out tonight with calf soreness....anyone think this is a ploy to potentially avoid a lousy start and lose ground in the cy young race with Arrieta?

Arrieta's ahead by two wins, and not behind in ERA by much. Unsophisticated voters will look at wins and ERA primarily, "did they make the playoffs?" and how they did down the stretch, secondarily. By that measure, Arrieta could get the lion's share of the "unsophisticated" votes.

More sophisticated voters -- of which I think there are fewer -- might pull the trigger on Kershaw, who's a full win ahead of Arrieta currently, at 7.8 to 6.7. Greinke trails both with 5.5.

Which is to say that I think Arrieta might be the slight favorite to take it now. But he could melt down or Greinke might come back and pitch brilliantly (seems unlikely two weeks away from the playoffs), who knows. Or I might be wrong on everything.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Sometimes the percentage move just doesn't work out.

Oh yeah. "Percentage move" is never 100%, it's what one figures is the best course of action. And all of the research about the third time through the order, pitch counts, etc. aside, a manager -- even one who's considered fairly unsophisticated, like Dusty -- can probably tell when his pitcher's gassed. He has a good idea of what that looks like.

A lot of people who like sports are results-oriented. And dumb. What?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

WTF happened to Kluber?

 

[Hilts]

WTF happened to Kluber?

Dude is tanking my team when it counts. Brutal.

 

[Eephus]

WTF happened to Kluber?

Dude is tanking my team when it counts. Brutal.

At least he's doing his part to keep me under the IP limit

 

[Donkey Derp]

BTW:

1) The Giants 2002 was at least two notches better than any of the Giants teams of the last 5 years.

2) Pulling Ortiz in the 7th was completely defensible.

3) Can a manager really "win" a game, or is it a matter of them either just staying out of the way or screwing something up.

#2?

Giants had no pen that year. Horrible, horrible managerial decision.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

BTW:

1) The Giants 2002 was at least two notches better than any of the Giants teams of the last 5 years.

2) Pulling Ortiz in the 7th was completely defensible.

3) Can a manager really "win" a game, or is it a matter of them either just staying out of the way or screwing something up.

#2? Giants had no pen that year. Horrible, horrible managerial decision.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2002&month=0&season1=2002&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=14,d

 

[Eephus]

BTW:

1) The Giants 2002 was at least two notches better than any of the Giants teams of the last 5 years.

2) Pulling Ortiz in the 7th was completely defensible.

3) Can a manager really "win" a game, or is it a matter of them either just staying out of the way or screwing something up.

#2? Giants had no pen that year. Horrible, horrible managerial decision.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2002&month=0&season1=2002&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=14,d

Dusty rode the bullpen hard in 2002. Nen had an unusually heavy workload for a closer with 73 IP (and never appeared in a big league game after the WS) Tim Worrell, F-Wad and Witasick each pitched almost as many innings at Nen. But they were effective throughout the season and the playoffs up until game 6.

It's funny that Baker has been criticized so much for overusing his SP but the most second guessed move of his career was lifting Ortiz after only 98 pitches. Ortiz had been a horse all year throwing more than 98 pitches in 26 of his 33 regular season appearances.

But I'm over it.

 

[pantagrapher]

Arrieta would be a better story. Right now I think Grienke wins it.

But Maddon intends to give Jake two more starts. If he keeps doing what he's been doing and there's a perception that Grienke coasted at the end, Arrieta will win it and will deserve it. A strong finish definitely influences the vote, as we saw with Kluber v. Felix last season.

 

[gump]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

 

[Limp Ditka]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

 

[gump]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

 

[Eephus]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

BTW:

1) The Giants 2002 was at least two notches better than any of the Giants teams of the last 5 years.

2) Pulling Ortiz in the 7th was completely defensible.

3) Can a manager really "win" a game, or is it a matter of them either just staying out of the way or screwing something up.

#2? Giants had no pen that year. Horrible, horrible managerial decision.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2002&month=0&season1=2002&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=14,d

Dusty rode the bullpen hard in 2002. Nen had an unusually heavy workload for a closer with 73 IP (and never appeared in a big league game after the WS) Tim Worrell, F-Wad and Witasick each pitched almost as many innings at Nen. But they were effective throughout the season and the playoffs up until game 6.

It's funny that Baker has been criticized so much for overusing his SP but the most second guessed move of his career was lifting Ortiz after only 98 pitches. Ortiz had been a horse all year throwing more than 98 pitches in 26 of his 33 regular season appearances.

But I'm over it.

A five-run lead in 2002 was like a two-run lead in 2015. It was a nutty time.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

Toronto fans would #22years... luckily we should have other shirts to buy.

The Curse of Drake is strong.

 

[Bogart]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

Toronto fans would #22years... luckily we should have other shirts to buy.

The Curse of Drake is strong.

Thank you for changing your avatar.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Not a big fan of beautiful freedom fighters? OK I get it.

 

[Zigg]

Why is Alexei Ramirez wearing a 15lb chain around his neck?

 

[Limp Ditka]

@philgrogers: Per @ckamka: Chris Sale had 214 career BBs when he reached 1,000 Ks tonight. King Felix had 342 BBs when he got 1000th K; Kershaw, 345.

@philgrogers: Going further back, Koufax walked 515 en route to 1,000th K; Nolan Ryan, 580 and Randy Johnson 584. Sale's low walk total sets him apart.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Pitcher K/BB ratios have gotten a lot higher over the last decade. You can throw a rock and hit a guy who has 3/1 k:bb these days.

 

[shadyridr]

Pitcher K/BB ratios have gotten a lot higher over the last decade. You can throw a rock and hit a guy who has 3/1 k:bb these days.

yeah and every pitcher that comes out of the bullpen throws 97mph nowadays. It used to be you were lucky if your team had one guy who threw that hard and we used to ooh and ahh at his fastball.

 

[gump]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

A hell of a lot of people. We set up shop around Wrigleyville for example and will be printing daily for local retail over the next 2 weeks (as soon as they clinch).

 

[Eephus]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

A hell of a lot of people. We set up shop around Wrigleyville for example and will be printing daily for local retail over the next 2 weeks (as soon as they clinch).

Yeah but those t-shirts from 1908 must be getting pretty raggedy by now

 

[Wrigley]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

A hell of a lot of people. We set up shop around Wrigleyville for example and will be printing daily for local retail over the next 2 weeks (as soon as they clinch).

Yeah but those t-shirts from 1908 must be getting pretty raggedy by now

Do you still have yours?

 

[Eephus]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

A hell of a lot of people. We set up shop around Wrigleyville for example and will be printing daily for local retail over the next 2 weeks (as soon as they clinch).

Yeah but those t-shirts from 1908 must be getting pretty raggedy by now

Do you still have yours?

Merkle was safe

 

[Riversco]

Carlos Martinez got injured on one of his first pitches. Taken out of game.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13740781/carlos-martinez-st-louis-cardinals-lifted-throwing-7-pitches-right-shoulder-tightness

Cardinals' Carlos Martinez lifted after 7 pitches with right shoulder tightnessST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez was removed with right shoulder tightness after throwing seven pitches in the first inning against theMilwaukee Brewers.

The 14-game winner flinched after making the first pitch to Adam Lind, the Brewers' third hitter.

After meeting with trainers and manager Mike Matheny on the mound, Martinez left the field with his glove covering his face and in apparent pain.

The team said the 24-year-old Martinez would be evaluated Saturday.

Martinez entered with a 3.01 ERA in 31 appearances (29 starts) this year for the Cardinals, who have already clinched a postseason berth.

Tyler Lyons replaced Martinez. Lyons has made seven starts.

 

[Riversco]

Video of Martinez injury:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0edBjypknU

 

[MAC_32]

Mookie. Wow.

 

[the moops]

That was pretty damn slick. Stupid bullpen catcher almost grabbed him though.

 

[Raider Nation]

This is pretty cool. 1982, Brewers at Red Sox, game of the week. NBC lost all but one camera. Watch director Harry Coyle playing traffic cop.

 

[Northern Voice]

What's everyone think of the clinch tees for Pirates:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/151259758/walker-has-6-rbis-as-pirates-clinch-postseason

Should have used the logo P for the P in Postseason. Otherwise, solid

Good idea, but 'Postseason' can't be manipulated. I love the 'local' feel with the city skyline.

Who would buy a shirt commemorating qualification for a one game play-in?

Toronto fans would #22years... luckily we should have other shirts to buy.

The Curse of Drake is strong.

So, there are Jays postseason hats now and #### it I want one.

 

[Northern Voice]

Geddy Lee just interviewed at Jays game. He's been a season ticket holder since 1979 apparently and is into sabermetrics and fantasy baseball. I did not know this. Still hate Rush.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/26/rush-singer-geddy-lee-baseball-fan-blue-jays/1949323/

 

[Eephus]

Geddy Lee just interviewed at Jays game. He's been a season ticket holder since 1979 apparently and is into sabermetrics and fantasy baseball. I did not know this. Still hate Rush.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/26/rush-singer-geddy-lee-baseball-fan-blue-jays/1949323/

His face looks like it's into sabermetrics

 

[fdas2]

Geddy Lee just interviewed at Jays game. He's been a season ticket holder since 1979 apparently and is into sabermetrics and fantasy baseball. I did not know this. Still hate Rush.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/26/rush-singer-geddy-lee-baseball-fan-blue-jays/1949323/

I didn't know Canadian's were allowed to admit this.