MLB: July 2012

[MOIDALIZE]

Originally Posted by ElvisL1ves

The Red Sox are publicly denying that they're trying to dump Beckett. Which is what they'd have to say whether they were or not, of course.

Oooh, I hope they deal him just for the vicious, anonymously sourced backstabbing that always follows a Red Sox trade. I expect to hear about keggars between innings and gluttonous, Roman-style feasts in the clubhouse, with prostitutes and puke buckets.

[RickJay]

"Voyageurs" would at least have possibly led to a less horrible cap logo.

Actually that would have been a pretty cool name. Voyageurs were extremely badass dudes, and the word is well known in English Canada.

[RTFirefly]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

Can I take this opportunity to complain about the generic and boring name "Nationals"? Why couldn't they come up with something with some personality?

You may, but at least in my case, it will fall on deaf ears.

The moniker 'Nationals' and its abbreviation 'Nats' have a long association with Washington major league baseball. Different 19th century DC clubs were officially called the Nationals, and even the various incarnations of the Washington Senators were informally known as the Nationals or Nats. I'm not old enough to recall the Senators team that moved to Minnesota, but longtime Washington Post sports columnist Shirley Povich referred to the 1961-71 incarnation as "Our Wondrous Nats," and the sports section was never without a box reporting the "Nats' Averages" during baseball season.

No matter what official name the current team had taken on, they would have been informally known as the Nats anyway. I think they made the right decision to go with the flow and call themselves the Nationals.

[RTFirefly]

Originally Posted by Ulf the Unwashed

Or in just about anybody else's. The Senators, version 1.0, made it for the second and final time in 1925.

Close, but no cigar. Their third and final WS appearance as the Senators was in 1933. They lost in 5 games to the New York Giants.

[Acsenray]

None of that matters to me. The name sucks balls the same today as it did a century or more ago. Of course it was even more stupid to call an American League team the Nationals so at least it doesn't bear that burden.

But hey you like the name. There's no arguing with that.

In the other hand I don't but the last part of it. People would have called it by the name that was chosen. It's long past the era when fans cling to names that have been officially rejected. I heard a lot of similar sentimental declarations when the local NBA team chose a new, unpopular name, but the fervent vows to keep calling them the Bullets and to ignore the new name Wizards are long since forgotten.

[madmonk28]

NM. Me no read good.

[Invisible Chimp]

The Angels got off to a bad start, then turned it around. Next, the A's started slow, but then they got hot. Could the M's be better than people think too? They've won five in a row. Sure, the first four were against the Royals, but M's rookie Hisashi Iwakuma just threw a gem against the Jays: 8IP, 4H, 3BB, 1ER, 13K, 109 pitches. This was at home too, where they've struggled this year.

[Asimovian]

The Dodgers just picked up reliever Brandon League (3.63 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 44 2/3 innings) from the Mariners in exchange for a single A center fielder and a Double A pitcher.

Not that bullpen help would have saved them from being thrashed by the D-Backs tonight. Harang wasn't sharp, and the Dodgers let a lot of scoring opportunities get away.

[Invisible Chimp]

Originally Posted by Asimovian

The Dodgers just picked up reliever Brandon League (3.63 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 44 2/3 innings) from the Mariners in exchange for a single A center fielder and a Double A pitcher.

Not that bullpen help would have saved them from being thrashed by the D-Backs tonight. Harang wasn't sharp, and the Dodgers let a lot of scoring opportunities get away.

Is that where he went? Tom Wilhelmson took over League's role as closer earlier this season. Wilhelmson wasn't available to pitch the ninth of Iwakuma's gem because of the impending birth of his first child. I was wondering why they didn't use League in his old role. The M's actually used two pitchers in the ninth, either of whom could have picked up their first career save.

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Invisible Chimp

Could the M's be better than people think too?

Short answer: No.

Slightly longer answer: No way.

[Barkis is Willin']

I would not have cared if the Sox had traded Beckett for crap value in return. I think he's a turd. As it turns out, it looks like they're not making any moves. I'm OK with that, too. No sense dealing away young talent for a slim shot at a playoff run this year. Maybe Beckett can show some like today against Detroit.

[Asimovian]

I have had an automated "Fuck you, Shane Victorino" reaction to the man every time he was on my TV screen. For years and years, now. I don't even remember why, any longer. Doesn't matter. He's a Dodger, now.

As stated in "1984," I have always loved Shane Victorino.

[Acsenray]

Reds' streak ends at 10.

[RTFirefly]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

Reds' streak ends at 10.

And as a result, the Nats have the best record in MLB right now.

Not saying that'll survive tonight's games, but I'm enjoying the moment nonetheless.

[RTFirefly]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

None of that matters to me. The name sucks balls the same today as it did a century or more ago. Of course it was even more stupid to call an American League team the Nationals so at least it doesn't bear that burden.

But hey you like the name. There's no arguing with that.

And you don't. There's no arguing with that either.

In the other hand I don't but the last part of it. People would have called it by the name that was chosen. It's long past the era when fans cling to names that have been officially rejected. I heard a lot of similar sentimental declarations when the local NBA team chose a new, unpopular name, but the fervent vows to keep calling them the Bullets and to ignore the new name Wizards are long since forgotten.

You've got a point, although I don't think the Bullets/Wizards example is a good one to prove it.

Recall that in the years leading up to the change, the 'Bullets' moniker wasn't exactly popular either, so it wasn't like a lot of people had a strong preference for the old crappy name over the new crappy name. Most people who gave a shit to begin with simply wished the new name hadn't been as crappy as the old one, albeit in a different way.

Now if the Redskins changed their name, people would still be calling them the Redskins for decades afterwards, regardless of what name The Danny came up with instead.

A better example would be the Utah Jazz, which had been the New Orleans Jazz a couple of stops previously. Utah has about as much to do with jazz as a fish has to do with a bicycle, but I haven't heard rumors of any mass movement among Utahns to demand a name change.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

Reds' streak ends at 10.

Awful pitching night. The Reds had the lead then Mike Leake gave up 5 runs, then Simon and Bill Bray combined to give up 6 more. There was something like 9 walks issued by Reds pitchers.

11 runs is the most the Padres have scored since MAY 24th!!!!

Ugh. Ah well. Homer Bailey should right the ship tonight. He's 4-0 with a 1.43 ERA in 5 starts in July.

[Marley23]

On the name question: I looked on Wikipedia and I read that the Rangers still own the rights to the Senators name, so they may have wanted money in return for giving that up. For that matter since Washington lost the Senators twice, they may have seen the name as bad luck.

Originally Posted by RTFirefly

A better example would be the Utah Jazz, which had been the New Orleans Jazz a couple of stops previously. Utah has about as much to do with jazz as a fish has to do with a bicycle

Of course there is something kind of avant garde jazz about that, which is why I like it. If it bugs you that much, there's this solution: the Jazz could trade their name to New Orleans and become the Hornets (Utah is the beehive state) and both names would make sense. The Lakers could maybe trade their name to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

[Colibri]

Originally Posted by RTFirefly

A better example would be the Utah Jazz, which had been the New Orleans Jazz a couple of stops previously. Utah has about as much to do with jazz as a fish has to do with a bicycle, but I haven't heard rumors of any mass movement among Utahns to demand a name change.

Lakers fans don't seem to care that there aren't many lakes in southern California either.

[Acsenray]

Originally Posted by Marley23

Of course there is something kind of avant garde jazz about that, which is why I like it. If it bugs you that much, there's this solution: the Jazz could trade their name to New Orleans and become the Hornets (Utah is the beehive state) and both names would make sense. The Lakers could maybe trade their name to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

I like both ideas.

[jsc1953]

Originally Posted by Asimovian

I have had an automated "Fuck you, Shane Victorino" reaction to the man every time he was on my TV screen. For years and years, now. I don't even remember why, any longer. Doesn't matter. He's a Dodger, now.

As stated in "1984," I have always loved Shane Victorino.

Perhaps the images in this blog post will refresh your memory. I'd totally forgotten about him; now, the fact that he's on the Dodgers is just perfect.

[Asimovian]

Originally Posted by jsc1953

Perhaps the images in this blog post will refresh your memory. I'd totally forgotten about him; now, the fact that he's on the Dodgers is just perfect.

Oh, please. I've had to cheer for Jeff Fucking Kent and Gary Sheffield in my day. Victorino's antics barely register.

I will say, though, that the video of Victorino getting nailed in the side of the head by the return throw made me laugh out loud the day it happened, made me laugh again just now, and I will probably continue to cherish it long after he's out of a Dodger uniform.

[Asimovian]

In other news, the Reds just picked up Jonathan Broxton, essentially handing the NL Central to the Pirates!

[Asimovian]

And after all the Dodger-Cub talks, the Rangers end up walking away with Ryan Dempster.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

Originally Posted by Asimovian

In other news, the Reds just picked up Jonathan Broxton, essentially handing the NL Central to the Pirates!

What a weird move. The Reds already have a strong bullpen and a dominant closer. What, no left-handed bat could be had? That's what we needed.

[Ichbin Dubist]

Originally Posted by jsc1953

I'd totally forgotten about him; now, the fact that he's on the Dodgers is just perfect.

In addition to his behavior on the basepaths, Victorino is (or was) a very good defensive CF with a tendency toward the remarkably dumb play. My favorite is from 2009 at Citi Field, when he let Angel Pagan circle the bases on a ball that was playable but slightly wedged under the outfield wall's padding, deciding it was a better play to gesture toward the umpire over and over (who stood stonefaced, as I recall) than pick the damn thing up.

[etv78]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

I like both ideas.

Hopefully he can fill 2 subscriptions to his newsletter.

[mhendo]

Anyone watching the Pirates/Cubs game? A.J. Burnett has a no-hitter through 7.

[mhendo]

Well, he lost the no-hitter in the 8th, but not before plunking Darwin Barney right on the helmet.

The Orioles had a wild one in New York today. The Yankees jumped out to a 5-run lead in the bottom of the first, but the Birds came right back with 7, including a Chris Davis grand slam, in the top of the second. The Yankees didn't score another run, while Baltimore added 4 more, to win 11-5.

Former Twin Lew Ford, called up by the Orioles a few days ago, got his first major league hit since 2007.

[Invisible Chimp]

*Cue Twilight Zone theme* The Mariners have won six games in a row! I can't remember the last time they did this.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

**whew**

Reds win a close one. Not enamored with the pitching lately....

[RTFirefly]

Originally Posted by Colibri

Lakers fans don't seem to care that there aren't many lakes in southern California either.

That reminds me of something I hadn't thought about in years. When I first became aware of the existence of pro basketball, I asked my dad, who was born and raised in L.A., where the lakes were in Los Angeles. That's how I found out the franchise came to L.A. from Minneapolis.

[RTFirefly]

Originally Posted by mhendo

The Orioles had a wild one in New York today. The Yankees jumped out to a 5-run lead in the bottom of the first, but the Birds came right back with 7, including a Chris Davis grand slam, in the top of the second. The Yankees didn't score another run, while Baltimore added 4 more, to win 11-5.

Former Twin Lew Ford, called up by the Orioles a few days ago, got his first major league hit since 2007.

The Orioles continue to amaze me. They've scored 436 runs, and allowed 487, yet they're 6 games over .500 instead of 10 games under - and they've sustained this ~8-game differential of actual record > Pythagorean for awhile now. I keep on waiting for the losing streak that will take them under .500 and keep them there, but it never happens.

It's like watching an antigravity machine, wondering when the hell it will come crashing down, and not quite being able to believe it's flying at all. I'm in awe.

[MOIDALIZE]

August thread.