# Baseball Thread May 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [May 1, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618 "2008-05-01T15:50:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/201 "2008-05-15T22:41:27Z")
I’ve been watching the Astros/Giants game this afternoon as well. The Giants managed to choke away a 6 run lead? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/202 "2008-05-15T23:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] I’ve been watching the Astros/Giants game this afternoon as well. The Giants managed to choke away a 6 run lead? [/QUOTE] What? Did they bring Barry Zito out of the bullpen or something? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/203 "2008-05-15T23:16:44Z")
[QUOTE=cmkeller] There’s no joy in MoTown - mighty KC has struck out…the Tigers! [/QUOTE] Just join the crowd. The Tigers can not be that bad. Can They? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/204 "2008-05-16T00:46:20Z")
I really don’t know what to think. On the one hand, Tampa Bay is on top of the AL East…that’s no good, it just doesn’t feel _right_. On the other hand, the Yanks are at the bottom of the AL East…and that gives me warm, fuzzy feelings. Seriously, though, are we in bizarro land? Should I start feeling my face to see if it’s all bumpy? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/205 "2008-05-16T01:13:28Z")
The entire AL East is separated by 4.5 games, so I wouldn’t really make anything of what’s happened so far. The Yankees have done this before, [and they always come back.](http://www.theonion.com/content/news/fucking_yankees_reports_nation) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/206 "2008-05-16T03:27:26Z")
The Tigers know how to hit pitches, right? We’re fielding a major league lineup, right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/207 "2008-05-16T12:20:48Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] What? Did they bring Barry Zito out of the bullpen or something? [/QUOTE] Somehow, I thought they’d managed to trade for Eric Gagne, Jason Isringhausen, and Kerry Wood right in the middle of the game! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/208 "2008-05-16T12:23:17Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] The Tigers know how to hit pitches, right? We’re fielding a major league lineup, right? Right? [/QUOTE] Not against the D-backs! Although you’ll probably get some hits against Randy Johnson on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/209 "2008-05-16T12:44:11Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] The entire AL East is separated by 4.5 games, so I wouldn’t really make anything of what’s happened so far. The Yankees have done this before, [and they always come back.](http://www.theonion.com/content/news/fucking_yankees_reports_nation) [/QUOTE] I keep looking at it from the other side, The Yanks are not doing too bad considering both Rookie starters bombed out and A-Rod and Posada are both injured at the same time that Cano & Giambi are not hitting. Now it looks like Cano is finally waking up and A-Rod may be back sometime next week. I would be a lot more worried if Boston had got off to a great start or even the Jays. If our target is the Rays and no outstanding Wild Card team is showing itself yet, it is too soon for Yankee fans to worry. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/210 "2008-05-16T12:48:34Z")
Boston was up 3.5 just a week ago or so. Then the injury bug came back for the position players, and the sucking bug came back for the bullpen. Long season coming, sure - but they’re still the most solid team in the league. I’ll still go with the WC coming from the Central, with the Sons of Steinbrenner 2.0 spending October on the golf course. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/211 "2008-05-17T01:05:49Z")
The Blue Jays have already surrendered three home runs to Jayson Werth tonight - and they were a slam, a 3-run jack, and a solo shot. If he can belt a two-run homer he’ll not only be (IIRC) the 16th player to hit four home runs in a game, but would be the first to ever homer for the cycle. He’s due up in the 7th, but since it’s a home game it may be his last chance to hit it, unless the Phillies pour it on a little more… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/212 "2008-05-17T01:14:59Z")
Is this the beginning of a dead ball era or has steroid use stopped. Home runs are getting scarce. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/213 "2008-05-17T03:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Is this the beginning of a dead ball era or has steroid use stopped. Home runs are getting scarce. [/QUOTE] Come, Danielsan, play against the Reds in Great American Ballpark, and ye shall be granted your homerun wish… YAY! the Reds win four in a row, defeating the previously best-recod in the bigs holder Florida, and now owners of a four-game win streak starting with an 4-3 win over the stinky Indians! YAY! I know it won’t last, this is Cincinnati we’re talking about here, let an old man have his 4 games in a row… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/214 "2008-05-17T03:07:13Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Is this the beginning of a dead ball era or has steroid use stopped. Home runs are getting scarce. [/QUOTE] **Pitching has gotten remarkably better**. Don’t kid yourself, this is America’s game…it’s as pure as the driven snow! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/215 "2008-05-17T03:25:49Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Is this the beginning of a dead ball era or has steroid use stopped. Home runs are getting scarce. [/QUOTE] Only in the AL. Home runs and scoring in the NL have declined only a very small amount. If there was some massive dropoff due to steroids, why would it be limited only to the AL? Fewer 'roids might have something to do with it, but there’s probably other factors at play as well. As was suggested upthread (or in something linked upthread) the bizarre AL dropoff may be due to teams deliberately choosing to play glove men at key positions, and dropping offense to do so. It doesn’t take a lot of bad hitters to make a big difference. But steroid usage may well be a factor. I don’t think it’s possible pitching suddenly got a lot better. For one thing, walks and strikeouts - the two things pitchers control most - aren’t any different. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/216 "2008-05-17T03:52:45Z")
I seriously can’t think of a reason that the hitting blight would hit the AL only. If ANYTHING, you’d think that the AL would always be the hitting king. Bah. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/217 "2008-05-17T14:39:26Z")
For fuck’s sake. Come on bullpen. Keep a lead. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/218 "2008-05-18T03:32:32Z")
Thanks for trying to blow this game as well for us, Tigers bullpen. God, why am I typing this now? Todd “Roller Coaster” Jones is in for the save and he hit the first batter. ---
**Author:** ![Kerrigan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/49beb7/32.png) [@Kerrigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerrigan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/219 "2008-05-18T05:27:37Z")
My Rangers are at .500!! Who didn’t see this one coming?? _raises hand_ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618/220 "2008-05-18T13:10:07Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I seriously can’t think of a reason that the hitting blight would hit the AL only. If ANYTHING, you’d think that the AL would always be the hitting king. [/QUOTE] If the AL had been more dependent on juicing than the NL, then it \*ought \* to show more of a dropoff without it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-thread-may-2008/447618.md?page=12)