Surely you don’t think stats outweigh one great moment?
The fact that pitchers tend to be terrible hitters is what makes those moments great.
NL fans seem to like it, so I’d be happy if they kept it as long as AL pitchers were never forced to hit. Even in NL parks.
Especially to Bartolo Colon
deGrom is at this point arguably the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball. Since 2018 he’s been as dominant, inning for inning, as anyone, ever.
Were he to pitch the rest of 2021 the way he has so far obviously he’d be the best pitcher ever. So far he’s faced 101 men and struck out 50 of them. I do not believe it possible to continue that, but it’s a hell of a run.
Oh, I guess I should brag that I’m finally going to a game in late May at Wrigley Field. August 2019 was the last time. I feel like a little kid waiting in anticipation.
Just attended my first MLB game since Game 3 of the 2019 NLDS in DC. Last night I saw the Orioles v. A’s.
Let me be 100% clear when I say fuck COVID sideways. That aside, I could get really, really used to socially distanced ballgame attendance. Granted, there are plenty of reasons that isn’t desirable or sustainable, but it sure is nice to have guaranteed leg/knee/elbow room, no one obstructing your view, and no need to crawl over anybody when you want to get up for food or the bathroom.
You can easily have that same spacious experience even absent COVID. Just attend any Marlins home game. 
Just got my second shot a couple days ago, so haven’t been to a game this season yet, but the only way I can describe the games of 2019 & 2018 I did attend was “socially distanced”.
The only real downside to attending Marlins games is that no matter who else may be competing, you’re still stuck watching the Marlins try to find their ass with both hands. It usually ain’t pretty. 
How strict are the Marlins as far as seat jumping? They used to be super strict at the old ballpark, even when it was empty
YMMV, of course, but I also just had my second shot mid-week. Even without being fully vaccinated, we were comfortable with the level of distancing, the mask requirements, and the very limited seating availability in place at the stadium (they are either at 20% or 25% capacity—I can’t recall which). Not to say that there weren’t still people around who wanted to avoid or disregard the mask requirements, but ushers were being pretty consistent and persistent about enforcement, and we just weren’t ever close enough to anyone to be particularly concerned at any time.
I am definitely looking forward to going to more games this year, although we’ll see how much my enthusiasm wanes as capacity increases.
I’m OK w attending now as a matter of safety/immunity. But if the CDC recommendations are to wait 2 more weeks, I can’t get up on my high horse and snipe at maskholes and covidiots while I’m also cheating.
Do teams take batting practice before a Sunday day game? I always thought it was really uncommon and that goes double if they played a Saturday night game.
I’ve been at Sunday games where the teams take BP. As far as I know the take BP every game weather permitting. (Excepting before the 2nd game of a double header)
Victor Robles is really struggling and he’s trying to force things, got thrown out at 3rd on a base running blunder. He seriously needs to sit or even be sent down.
The Blue Jays beat the Rays 1-0. Only sixteen men reached base safely.
It took three hours, thirteen minutes to play the game.
Yes, games are too long.
Madison Bumgarner with a 7 inning no hitter, doesn’t count. Madison Bumgarner throws 7-inning no-hitter
He should come out and pitch for the first 2 innings of the 2nd game.
Discussion about counting the Bumgarner as a no hitter at MLB
After seeing some discussion on this, I think it should count.
MLB has a problem, and we’ve been talking about it for the last several seasons. The product is, for a bevy of reasons, less compelling than it used to be. Posters in these MLB threads have put forward a lot of really good possible solutions, for varying levels of “solution”. They all would certainly move the needle, at the very least.
I’m in the camp that gives MLB a lot of leeway to make changes to make the game more interesting. Universal DH, man on 2nd, quicker pace of play, robo umps, eliminating bullshit “unwritten rules” nonsense (i.e. “let them play”), etc. Just let the game set itself up for big moments, and let the drama unfold without interference from shitty calls, shitty self-enforcement crap, shitty mismatches, etc.
Not allowing a hit within the confines of the complete game as defined by MLB itself should count as a no-hitter. It is an exciting outcome - MLB shouldn’t throw a wet blanket on it because they made it impossible to go 9 innings in regulation. Let the exciting thing BE exciting. The record book isn’t a vacuum - it will no doubt indicate it was a 7 inning effort. I don’t think Nolan Ryan will be personally insulted that this game will be in the same column as his 7 nine-inning no-nos. We’re all capable of digesting the context of the achievement.
Of course it should count. He pitched the entirety of a scheduled game, to its completion, and didn’t allow a hit. That is a no-hitter. If games are sometimes only 7 innings now, well, that’s just how it is.