# Finally Baseball is here! 2009 Edition, (April thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [April 5, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049 "2009-04-05T13:28:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/281 "2009-04-26T07:20:13Z")
And Silva finally got a win tonight. Barely. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/282 "2009-04-26T14:54:00Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > [Emily Litella] Never mind[/EL] > > They are playing Cards-Cubs. Their online schedule was wrong. > > Sorry about that “Fuckers” Don’t worry, Arizona got Sox/Yankees as well. 2000 miles away from New York? Doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/283 "2009-04-26T15:19:40Z")
We got the Boston/New York game here in Washington as well, though it didn’t interfere with the Mariners. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/284 "2009-04-27T03:44:53Z")
Notes on today: Toronto wins again, still the best record in baseball. Will they keep it up? No, but it’s fun. Jacoby Ellsbury with a straight steal of home today against the Yankees, despite tripping as he approached home. Off Andy Pettite, I believe, who has allowed steals of home before; he tends to forget about runners at third. Albert Pujols remains the greatest player in baseball. Fact 1: He’s not yet 30 and just recently drove in his 1000th career RBI. Fact 2: So far this season he has more RBI, and more runs scored, than his team has played games. Cody Ross, an outfielder, pitched for the Marlins today… and allowed no runs. That’s just after Nick Swisher did the same for the Yankees. I smell a new fad. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/285 "2009-04-27T13:16:17Z")
Tigers have played 18 games. 13 on the road. Yet ,they are in 1st. Yankees in town tomorrow. Leading Tiger in homeruns and rbis…Inge. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/286 "2009-04-27T13:32:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Jacoby Ellsbury with a straight steal of home today against the Yankees, despite tripping as he approached home. Off Andy Pettite, I believe, who has allowed steals of home before; he tends to forget about runners at third. How far off the basepath is the runner allowed to be? Ellsbury was well in the grass when he started. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/287 "2009-04-27T15:13:52Z")
You can’t stray off the baseline only if someone is attempting to tag you. You see baserunners round the bases on parabolic arcs all the time. And guys at third are taught from Little League on to take their lead in foul territory (as being hit by a batted fair ball means you’re out). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/288 "2009-04-27T18:43:24Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > How far off the basepath is the runner allowed to be? Ellsbury was well in the grass when he started. There is no limit to how far off you can go unless 1. You are doing so to avoid a tag, in which case the limit is three feet. Furthermore, the baseline is NOT a straight line between the bases; for the purposes of the rule it is defined as being a line between where the runner is when the tag attempt begins, and the base he is trying to reach. Rule 7.08(a)(1). 2. You are wholly abandoning the effort to run the bases. Rule 7.08(a)(2). Since Pedroia was going right at home, where Posada was, he never left the baseline in the sense the rule intends. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/289 "2009-04-27T19:30:45Z")
Is it May yet? ---
**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:** [April 27, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/290 "2009-04-27T19:44:42Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Is it May yet? Dreadful weekend made worse by the national telecasts making the games unwatchable. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/291 "2009-04-27T20:45:35Z")
AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGG! Jarrod Washburn was pitching so well that I went ahead and added him to my fantasy teams. So of course, he gave up six runs and got the loss in his very next start. Sigh. Oh well, M’s took 2 of 3 in Anaheim. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/292 "2009-04-27T22:20:39Z")
Someone at ESPN is likely to be fired: Tonight’s game doesn’t feature the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, or Cubs. ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/293 "2009-04-28T19:03:35Z")
If you had told me that the Cardinals would be 14-6 at the first furlong of the season, I would have believed that it was Carpenter who had a 4-0 start, not Joel Pineiro! I hope this hot hitting lasts. If Molina isn’t an all star this year, I’ll eat **Bayard’s** hat. And what’s wrong with the Cubs, outside their bullpen? I figured them to run away in first and hide this year. They just haven’t looked very sharp. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/294 "2009-04-28T21:08:57Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Is it May yet? How 'bout them Mariners? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/295 "2009-04-28T22:56:39Z")
> [@cards](#): > > If Molina isn’t an all star this year, I’ll eat **Bayard’s** hat. It looks like he’s got his arm back. Last year, it seemed like he didn’t strike quite as much fear into the hearts of runners as in previous years. But I think he’s already picked off two runners at first, and gunned down a few more trying to steal. I saw something on [stltoday.com](http://stltoday.com) about one component of the Cards’ early success being their ability to shut down their opponents’ running game. And he’s hitting .338 with a .413 OBP. The guy rocks. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/296 "2009-04-29T00:54:58Z")
The Marlins have been in a bad slump lately. This team is certainly a lot better than they’ve played recently. The losses in Pittsburgh, fine, I can blame them on lousy weather. But the crazy losses to the Phillies including blowing two games late and now they’re losing to Mets for the second game in a row? Hanley Ramirez is out. This isn’t good. Hope this is just a minor injury. Nice win for the D-backs last night and Dan Haren was amazing. That’s good since the D-backs are going to be hurting without Webb for a while. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/297 "2009-04-29T03:48:35Z")
Muchas gracias, Javier Lopez and the rest of the bumbly BoSox! I’m going to the game tomorrow. The weather report for tomorrow has slowly changed from rain to sun throughout the day. If we beat these bastards to take the series…well it will be a DAMN good birthday present indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/298 "2009-04-29T11:51:36Z")
Well, Phil Hughes certainly doesn’t solve all the Yankees’ problems, and it was only 1 start, but it’s nice to see a solid pitching performance from someone young in pinstripes. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/299 "2009-04-29T17:19:44Z")
What are the odds of Felix Hernandez starting the All-Star Game? 4-0, 2.38 to start the year, 19 consecutive scoreless innings and counting! ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049/300 "2009-04-29T17:41:31Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > What are the odds of Felix Hernandez starting the All-Star Game? 4-0, 2.38 to start the year, 19 consecutive scoreless innings and counting! Right now, I’d bet on Zack Greinke. 4-0, 0.00 ERA. He starts tonight, so by the time you read this, he might have an earned run this season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-baseball-is-here-2009-edition-april-thread/492049.md?page=16)