# MLB: April 2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [April 7, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491 "2022-04-07T23:52:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/121 "2022-04-20T03:06:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The St. Louis Cardinals once played **a World Series game** with six switch hitters in the starting lineup. How’d you find that? My Google Fu failed me. The Nats could only scrounge together one run in the nightcap game against the Diamondbacks, but it proved to be enough. Tanner Rainey loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the ninth and managed to pull a Houdini act to pull out the 1-0 victory. Nats sweep the doubleheader. Two more games against Arizona before a three-game weekend against the dangerous San Francisco Giants. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/122 "2022-04-20T03:30:49Z")
i wouldn’t mind if they beat the giants … wouldn’t mind at all lol ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/123 "2022-04-20T13:57:36Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > How’d you find that? My Google Fu failed me. Brute force. The 1980s Cardinals had a huge number of switch hitters, so I looked at the 1982, 85 and 87 World Series. After I posted that I found, on Reddit, references to a Mets game on April 16, 1993 in which they used SEVEN switch hitters; Vince Coleman, Tony Fernandez, Bobby Bonilla, Eddie Murray, Howard Johnson, Jeff McKnight, and Todd Hundley. > **[New York Mets vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: April 16, 1993 |...](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN199304160.shtml)** > > New York Mets beat Cincinnati Reds (3-1). Apr 16, 1993, Attendance: 31341, Time of Game: 2:47. Visit Baseball-Reference.com for the complete box score, play-by-play, and win probability ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/124 "2022-04-20T16:20:39Z")
Is it me or is just way too early in the season to start drawing conclusions? Probably paywalled: > **[Why are home runs down? Is Vlad Jr. the best hitter in the world? Passan...](https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/33766486/why-home-runs-vladimir-guerrero-jr-best-hitter-world-answering-20-early-mlb-questions)** > > What can you tell two weeks into the season? Plenty. Let's separate the small sample size blips from the trends with staying power. I do know that I will be adding the Blue Jays to my list of teams to watch more games of. As much as I get annoyed with all the BS in sports, players like Vladimir Guerrero, JR definitely remind me of why I fell in love with this game. ---
**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 20, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/125 "2022-04-20T16:22:48Z")
Yanks won yesterday despite another short and bad Cole start. This is getting pretty worrisome. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/126 "2022-04-20T20:22:54Z")
Has he had Tommy John yet? He’s probably due. But don’t fret…he’ll be back for the 2024 season. ---
**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 20, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/127 "2022-04-20T20:26:38Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Is it me or is just way too early in the season to start drawing conclusions? Homeruns are down, _and_ the batting averages are still low (.234). Whatever they may be doing, rules-wise, it’s not a good time for offensive baseball. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/128 "2022-04-20T23:07:29Z")
The Nats are 6-1 when their starting pitcher goes 5+ innings. Reliever Sean Doolittle is on the 10-day IL now with a sprained elbow ligament. Which sucks, because he’s been a bright spot. > **[Doolittle hopes elbow sprain doesn't sideline him for long](https://www.masnsports.com/blog/doolittle-hopes-elbow-sprain-doesn-t-sideline-him-for-long)** > > Sean Doolittle first felt something in his elbow during the seventh inning Sunday in Pittsburgh. It was sore, but nothing he hadn’t dealt with before. Then he warmed up Tuesday afternoon in the bullpen at Nationals Park, and it was worse. Still, he... ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/129 "2022-04-21T00:28:31Z")
It is too early for individual player stats to mean much, but you can tell league trends. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/130 "2022-04-21T01:25:22Z")
Looks like I picked a great night to watch AEW Dynamite instead of sticking with the Nats game. We’re down 11-1 in the top of the 7th. I think the Diamondbacks are pissed. The Capitol building was briefly evacuated when the Army Golden Knights parachute plane got a little bit too close prior to the Nats game. I didn’t know the Capitol had surface-to-air missile launchers. > **[Nats pregame demo causes evacuation of Capitol](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33775122/pregame-demonstration-involving-parachutists-nationals-park-causes-brief-evacuation-us-capitol)** > > The U.S. Capitol was briefly evacuated Wednesday evening after police said they were tracking an aircraft "that poses a probable threat,'' but the plane turned out to be a military aircraft with parachutists for a pregame demonstration at Nationals... ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/131 "2022-04-21T12:09:39Z")
Holy crap! Who are these Yankees? Stealing bases? And last night, TWO sacrifice bunts, in the same inning no less? Who would have thought that employing strategy would result in runs? Modern managers, besides wearing hoodies, are supposed to let home runs do all the scoring. Cabrera got 3 hits, now at 2999. This afternoon should be the day. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/132 "2022-04-21T16:48:13Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Is it me or is just way too early in the season to start drawing conclusions? It’s too early to draw conclusions about APRIL. That said, offense is terrible right now. Lowest it’s been since 40, 50 years ago, I think. ---
**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 21, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/133 "2022-04-21T16:59:23Z")
Necessary sample sizes vary by a pretty large degree depending on what you’re trying to measure. I’m absolutely not a statistics expert, but this seems like more than just noise: > **[The baseball is deflated again](https://deadspin.com/the-baseball-is-deflated-again-1848817642)** > > Hitters aren’t getting what they should, and the numbers bear that out ---
**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 21, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/134 "2022-04-21T17:39:36Z")
The Rangers turned a triple play in the first inning of last night’s game against the Mariners. Even with that, and the fact that the Mariners had several coaches and players sidelined due to positive COVID tests, the Rangers still lost, and are now 2-9. > **[Rangers vs. Mariners - MLB Game Recap - April 20, 2022 | ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401354429)** > > Get a recap of the Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners baseball game. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/135 "2022-04-21T17:44:05Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Necessary sample sizes vary by a pretty large degree depending on what you’re trying to measure. I’m absolutely not a statistics expert, but this seems like more than just noise: And strikeouts remain high - not quite as high as the last few years but still incredibly high by historical standards. ---
**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 21, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/136 "2022-04-21T19:31:40Z")
I wonder if it’s also the expanded April rosters diluting the talent a little bit? I doubt it - most of those extras were pitchers. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/137 "2022-04-21T20:26:46Z")
Holy shit. Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman pitched eight innings. It’s rare to even see that. He actually went out for the ninth, too! The first pitch was drilled for a single and Toronto’s manager promptly brought in the closer. ---
**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 21, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/138 "2022-04-21T20:59:59Z")
8 innings in the 2020s, that is indeed rare. Miggy went hitless today, as the Yanks lost to his Tigers. So 3000 waits another game. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/139 "2022-04-21T21:25:10Z")
Another day, another faux MLB controversy. The Yankees, by intentionally walking Cabrera and trying to win a game, are castigated for [thwarting history](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33780346/miguel-cabrera-needing-1-hit-3000-milestone-intentionally-walked-new-york-yankees). Fans at the game wanted to see him get hit #3000, but it’s not like he won’t get more chances. ---
**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 21, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491/140 "2022-04-21T21:26:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The Yankees, by intentionally walking Cabrera and trying to win a game, are castigated for [thwarting history](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33780346/miguel-cabrera-needing-1-hit-3000-milestone-intentionally-walked-new-york-yankees). He went O for 3 in his other at bats. So those complaining are silly. If the Yanks walked him all 4 times, I would actually agree. He’ll have plenty of time to get that hit anyway. Pretty minor delay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2022/962491.md?page=8)