# MLB: April 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 2, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594 "2017-04-02T17:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/41 "2017-04-06T16:38:34Z")
If he said even two insightful things, he’s better than a lot of analysts. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/42 "2017-04-06T16:41:11Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Indians are 3-0 (Texas 0-3) after three late-inning comebacks. I don’t know if i can handle 159 more of these white-knucklers. We need a blowout. Let’s start with being grateful for the 3-0 start, shall we. 🙂 Meanwhile, I’m off to Philadelphia this weekend to conquer stadium #17 of 30. Hoping to make Fenway and Citi Field later this year. God, I love baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/43 "2017-04-06T16:53:36Z")
I haven’t seen A.J. on TV but he’s definitely a guy not afraid to speak his mind. Is he an in-studio analyst or is he doing color for games? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/44 "2017-04-06T17:19:42Z")
A.J. was in the broadcast booth yesterday. And it was in color. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/45 "2017-04-06T18:19:50Z")
The First Place Nats. Now we just got to hold on to this one game lead for another 160 games. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/46 "2017-04-06T21:29:54Z")
Welcome to Boston, Chris Sale. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/47 "2017-04-07T01:32:09Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Indians are 3-0 (Texas 0-3) after three late-inning comebacks. I don’t know if i can handle 159 more of these white-knucklers. We need a blowout. The Indians are 3-0, but they never trailed in the second game. It was a white-knuckler, however. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/48 "2017-04-07T02:01:08Z")
I have been watching a lot of the games. So glad baseball is back. Not a scientific observation, but I believe there are much more players wearing the batting helmet with the extra jaw guard this year. Anyone else notice this? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/49 "2017-04-07T14:26:42Z")
I hadn’t noticed but it’s a good idea. My prediction, incidentally, is that in the next ten years an MLB pitcher will actually be killed by a line drive. Matt Shoemaker came pretty close last year. And THEN they’ll start phasing in protective headgear for pitchers. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/50 "2017-04-07T17:54:47Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > …that would be in the running to only finish 20 games under .500. I know it’s just the Phillies and one series, but we’ve got some young guys out there that have good speed on the basepaths and can swing the bat. Coming out of the gate strong is cool and all, but let’s see how the pitching staff is doing come late July. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/51 "2017-04-07T19:11:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I hadn’t noticed but it’s a good idea. > > My prediction, incidentally, is that in the next ten years an MLB pitcher will actually be killed by a line drive. Matt Shoemaker came pretty close last year. And THEN they’ll start phasing in protective headgear for pitchers. Do you mean they’ll start phasing in _mandatory_ protective headgear for pitchers? Because protective headgear for pitchers is already a thing. I had mentioned in another thread there’s only really been one guy, Alex Torres, that has worn it. I saw a little vignette on SportsCenter or OTL or something where most pitcher said they don’t want to wear it because it looks goofy. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/52 "2017-04-07T19:42:54Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Indians are 3-0 (Texas 0-3) after three late-inning comebacks. I don’t know if i can handle 159 more of these white-knucklers. We need a blowout. The Giants have led in each of their games, and are 1-3. I’d gladly take a win right about now, no matter how torturous the process is. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/53 "2017-04-07T20:11:24Z")
Yadier Molina defies physics. [“Ball sticks to Yadier Molina’s chest protector, helping Cubs to big inning”](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19094865/ball-sticks-chest-protector-st-louis-cardinals-catcher-yadier-molina) WTF. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/54 "2017-04-07T20:45:26Z")
The Giants lost three of four games in Arizona after leading in every one of them. ☹ Their pitching staff, in particular the bullpen, is pathetic, despite the millions of dollars they paid out to the new closer. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/55 "2017-04-07T20:52:16Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Giants lost three of four games in Arizona after leading in every one of them. ☹ Their pitching staff, in particular the bullpen, is pathetic, despite the millions of dollars they paid out to the new closer. I saw the opening day game, but nothing of them since then. Has Melancon struggled otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/56 "2017-04-07T22:20:47Z")
The Red Sox have two guys out on bereavement, and at least three or four more with the flu. It’s too early to have patchwork lineups, but there they are. Holt is the DH today, apparently because he can still hold a bat when he’s not puking. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/57 "2017-04-07T22:40:46Z")
For a team with a 199M payroll the Tigers seem to be relying a hell of a lot on no-names to start the season, But today’s game was fun. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/58 "2017-04-08T02:14:00Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I saw the opening day game, but nothing of them since then. Has Melancon struggled otherwise? That’s been his only appearance so far. They haven’t had anything approaching a save situation since, to there’s been no need for a closer. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/59 "2017-04-08T02:40:59Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I saw the opening day game, but nothing of them since then. Has Melancon struggled otherwise? He’s only been in the opening day game (unless he came in today, another Giants’ loss, I don’t know the details of that). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/60 "2017-04-08T03:30:23Z")
The writer goes off track but yeah, [F\*ck The Cubs and F@ck Their Owners](http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ricketts-cubs-wrigley-field-world-series-trump/Content?oid=26115753). There is nothing “Friendly” about the confines, anymore. Not enough for you? Then [eat this](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wrigley-field-bleachers-sneak-peek-20170407-story.html). “Padded seats behind home plate”. Another area in Wrigley Field that _you_ will never be. Freak’in Pr\*cks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594.md?page=4)