MLB: April 2017

And Otis Nixon was found.

So, there’s that.

ESPN has a survey for baseball fans on their opinions of the state of the game and possible improvements.

There are half a dozen or so choices under the question of what should be done to improve MLB. Only 3% thought putting a runner on second base in extra innings was a good idea. On the other hand, 22% were in favor of limiting pitching changes and mound visits and instituting a pitch clock (my top choice as well)*. 16% were for shortening the season to 154 games or less.

*I’d also eliminate warmup pitches for relievers. That’s what the bullpen should be for.

Is the 15 day disabled list now 10 days across the board, not just for concussions? I’ve come across a number of references to it in the media, but I don’t remember an announcement.

Thanks** Jackmannii**.

It was a rule change for this season, as I recall.

My Orioles are down 5-1 to Boston, but my Fantasy team is having a hell of a day.

I have Boston SP Drew Pomeranz, who gave up one run over 6 innnings with 6 Ks, and is in line for a W.

Daniel Murphy is 4/5 with a HR and 5 RBI, and Yoenis Cespedes is 4/5 with 3 (!!!) homers as 5 RBI.

7 days for concussions. 10 for regular dl.

I especially like the last question.

I’m surprised how much optimism there is across all fans.

That seems reasonable. Most teams COULD win a World Series within five years. At least half the teams in MLB could win the 2017 World Series, and a few years is all it takes to be good enough to make the playoffs.

Philly is where Mets bats go to live again!

Reds are off to a great start. Got some good young arms, great bullpen production and where did this offense come from? Duvall, Votto, Suarez and company are playing really well right now.

And then Bronson Arroyo pitches tonight. As much of an innings eater as he was for the Reds the last time he played here, if he has another start like he did last time it’ll be the last time Arroyo ever starts a MLB game. He’ll become a long reliever or perhaps cut depending on how bad he becomes.

I feel bad for the guy, he was never a lights out guy but steady, and never went on the DL. I think age has finally caught up with him.

What was the radar showing on Arroyo’s first start? I mentioned earlier in the thread I heard his fastball was consistently around 83-84mph during spring. That’s getting into Jamie Moyer levels of slow.

I do not believe the Blue Jays have ever started a season 1-7 before.

As a team they now have the rough equivalent of half a player’s season of at bats. They’re hitting .190 with four home runs.

Jackmanii:

For basic loosening up, that should be sufficient, but I think it’s fair that the relief pitcher should be given some “practice” pitches to properly get the measure of the catcher he’ll actually be throwing to, as opposed to the bullpen practice catcher.

Also the mound, possibly the wind.

Eliminating eight warmup pitches for a relief pitcher isn’t going to save much time.

In close games, especially in the era of one and done situational “specialists”, it might.

Don’t most (if not all) bullpens have mounds?

Unless it’s blowing a gale out there, I have difficulty believing a new pitcher is going to be caught by surprise when entering the game.

The team’s regular catcher must be a man of great mystery. :dubious:

How much time do eight pitches take?

It’s not like there’s THAT many mid inning pitching changes. What’s the average per game… two, if that?

From here.PDF pg 9