# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/121 "2017-04-17T18:22:46Z")
You know, they say that a team’s playoff chances can’t be sunk in April, but by God the Jays are doing their level best to disprove that. :smack: ---
**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 17, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/122 "2017-04-17T19:11:34Z")
The Cubs moved the bullpens along the left and right field foul lines and stuck 'em under the bleachers. [Here is a slide bar](http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/4/17/15324458/wrigley-field-bullpen-move-foul-territory) that shows the reduction in foul territory down the left field line after seats were added. ---
**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 17, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/123 "2017-04-17T20:03:27Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > You know, they say that a team’s playoff chances can’t be sunk in April, but by God the Jays are doing their level best to disprove that. :smack: Worry not, the Jays will probably get back on track with Boston coming to town tomorrow. On the bump for the Sox will be AC/DC frontman, moonlighting as a starting pitcher, BRIAN JOHNSON! (You have to read that in the voice of Jim Breuer doing his BRIAN JOHNSON! impression.) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/124 "2017-04-17T20:26:02Z")
That slide bar thing is cool. This will bump batting averages in Wrigley up a point or two. It doesn’t make an enormous difference, but it makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/125 "2017-04-17T20:27:41Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Worry not, the Jays will probably get back on track with Boston coming to town tomorrow. On the bump for the Sox will be AC/DC frontman, moonlighting as a starting pitcher, BRIAN JOHNSON! (You have to read that in the voice of Jim Breuer doing his BRIAN JOHNSON! impression.) The jokes write themselves (Johnson will go 7 and strike out ten men. You have no idea how badly the Jays are hitting.) JAYS THUNDERSTRUCK BLUE JAYS SHAKEN ALL NIGHT LONG JAYS DON’T HAVE THE BIGGEST BALLS SOX SEND JAYS ON HIGHWAY TO HELL ---
**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 17, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/126 "2017-04-17T20:44:48Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That slide bar thing is cool. > > This will bump batting averages in Wrigley up a point or two. It doesn’t make an enormous difference, but it makes a difference. Only two teams left who have bullpens along the foul lines, Oakland A’s (Coliseum) and right across town, Giants (AT&T Park). ---
**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 17, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/127 "2017-04-17T21:02:17Z")
The A’s should follow suit and shrink their foul territory. Not like they’ll have to share the facilities with the Raiders anymore. ---
**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 17, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/128 "2017-04-17T21:57:37Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > The A’s should follow suit and shrink their foul territory. Not like they’ll have to share the facilities with the Raiders anymore. Two more years, **Barkis is Willin** , two more years. ---
**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 18, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/129 "2017-04-18T18:26:41Z")
[The Perfect Bunt](http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kyle-schwarber-executes-perfect-bunt-youll-ever-see-005813465.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/130 "2017-04-18T19:09:05Z")
Oh boy… Starling Marte suspended for half the season because of drugs. ---
**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 18, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/131 "2017-04-18T20:46:07Z")
Aw, that sucks. Marte made his first all star game last year. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/132 "2017-04-18T21:49:19Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Oh boy… > > Starling Marte suspended for half the season because of drugs. They should release him and Kang, and take a look at Hurdle. This reminds me of the 1980s when cocaine was being sold out of the locker room. A manager needs to be all over his guys for acting this way. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/133 "2017-04-18T21:58:01Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Aw, that sucks. Marte made his first all star game last year. Didn’t really need the drugs then, did he? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/134 "2017-04-19T00:22:58Z")
Maybe that’s how he did it? > [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Two more years, **Barkis is Willin** , two more years. Off topic, but ISTM the Raiders would draw best in Las Vegas, playing at UNLV. Two years of hate and then nothing is what was facing Cleveland when the first Browns moved, and it won’t be any better in Oakland. Just take the buyout and let the door hit 'em, Alameda County. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/135 "2017-04-19T13:09:22Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > They should release him and Kang, and take a look at Hurdle. This reminds me of the 1980s when cocaine was being sold out of the locker room. A manager needs to be all over his guys for acting this way. They can, but they would still have to pay Marte the 20+ million he is owed through 2019, and he’d be able to go play somewhere else for the minimum, so that seems like a colossal waste to me. ---
**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 19, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/136 "2017-04-19T14:08:03Z")
Hey, Bronson Arroyo won a game! And Adam Duvall hid a grand salami! The Reds are becoming fun to watch. Good pitching matchup tonight too, the Reds budding ace Amir Garrett versus Ubaldo Jimenez. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/137 "2017-04-19T16:07:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Maybe that’s how he did it? > > Off topic, but ISTM the Raiders would draw best in Las Vegas, playing at UNLV. Two years of hate and then nothing is what was facing Cleveland when the first Browns moved, and it won’t be any better in Oakland. Just take the buyout and let the door hit 'em, Alameda County. I’m not sure if that could be arranged, but even if it’s expensive it seems insane to NOT do it. Surely to God it’s going to be damn ugly in Oakland for two seasons? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/138 "2017-04-19T17:58:36Z")
Incidentally, I don’t know how I missed this, but in regular season play Mookie Betts has not struck out in 128 plate appearances. That’s… I mean, that is amazing. That’s the longest streak since 2004 (Juan Pierre got to 147 that year) and quite honestly I’m amazed it was done that recently. 128 plate appearances is basically a full schedule month; it’s about the same as striking out six times in an entire season, and this at a time when strikeouts have never been higher. In the case you’re wondering, ESPN says the record “in the expansion era” is 223 straight times up without striking out, by Dave Cash, who was a slap hitter all the way. Betts did strike out 80 times last year so it’s not like he’s a slap hitting type, but apparently he’s recently decided he’s not going to strike out at all. It’s an amazing run. I love Mookie Betts and this just adds to my love of him. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/139 "2017-04-19T18:25:28Z")
Brewers first baseman / outfielder Eric Thames had underachieved in three seasons with Toronto and Seattle, then spent several years in Korea, where he became a star, before returning to the majors this year. ([SI.com](https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/04/05/eric-thames-milwaukee-brewers-korean-baseball) story on him from before the season started.) Thames is off to a smoking-hot start. He’s currently hitting .426, he’s hit safely in his first 12 starts, and he homered in five straight games (yesterday, he _only_ had two doubles and a single). ---
**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 19, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594/140 "2017-04-19T19:53:13Z")
Betts was also homer-less until yesterday. Wonder if it’s related to not striking out? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2017/783594.md?page=8)