# MLB: April **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 30, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370 "2013-03-30T19:03:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/121 "2013-04-06T20:04:07Z")
This is a really likeable Reds team. My own team won’t win this year, but I could definitely root for the Reds in the NL without feeling ill. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/122 "2013-04-06T20:10:51Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It is a long season though and they just need to stay near .500 until the major reinforcements return so no panic from me. I’m not panicking either- but I’ve considered this season a lost cause since I started hearing the “Yankees are slashing payroll to get under the 2014 luxury tax threshold” rumblings. At this point I’m just gritting my teeth and if things start going well I’ll be pleasantly surprised. ---
**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 6, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/123 "2013-04-06T20:52:50Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > If anyone wants to watch an excellent pitching matchup tomorrow, catch the conclusion to the Reds/Nats series. It’ll be Strasbourg versus Johnny Cueto. Should be a really good one, especially since it’s looking like the rubber match in the series as the Reds trucked the Nats 15-0 yesterday and are on their way to losing today 5-1 in the 8th. Almost spoke too soon! Reds make a go of it but ultimately fall 7-6 in the 11th inning. These teams are really evenly matched and I expect a really tight game tomorrow with runs at an absolute premium. ---
**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 6, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/124 "2013-04-06T20:54:49Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > This is a really likeable Reds team. My own team won’t win this year, but I could definitely root for the Reds in the NL without feeling ill. Sweet! There’s plenty of room on the wagon! The Reds as constructed right now on paper are built for a deep post season run…and they do have likeable players: Votto, Bruce, Todd Frazier (who SHOULD have been NL ROY last season), Aroldis Chapman, the starting five is good… I love me some Reds baseball! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/125 "2013-04-06T23:42:14Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So Yanks are off to a great start. > > It is a long season though and they just need to stay near .500 until the major reinforcements return so no panic from me. And in the postgame, the commentators talked about how amazing the Tigers looked and how crappy the Yankees looked. The Tigers, in three games against Minnesota, got only 8 runs out of that offense. It’s the very beginning to a looooong season, and hyperbole is easy to throw out there. ---
**Author:** ![MentalGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MentalGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MentalGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/126 "2013-04-07T02:19:29Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Almost spoke too soon! Reds make a go of it but ultimately fall 7-6 in the 11th inning. These teams are really evenly matched and I expect a really tight game tomorrow with runs at an absolute premium. I just purchased my tickets this evening for tomorrow’s big pitching matchup. Unbelievably, I was able to get two lower level tickets (first base side, about halfway between first and the outfield wall) and with the Reds usual Sunday special, the second ticket was half price. So, it averaged out to just a little over $30 per ticket with all the taxes and fees. I know Cincinnati’s attendance is usually not great until the summer, but I would have thought tomorrow’s game would have had a bigger presale. Anyway, I am looking forward to a great game tomorrow. Update: Now that I go back to their ticket purchasing site, I notice that there interactive seat map has been turned off “due to crushing onsale”, so I guess a lot of people may have been like me, waiting to see what the weather would be like. Since a lot of Reds fans don’t live that close to the team, I expect that happens quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/127 "2013-04-07T02:41:39Z")
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hitting .127 as a team, with zero home runs or triples. They have scored six runs and have 15 hits on the season. They are losing 1-0 to the Dodgers tonight with one hit through five innings. I know it is very early, but I am shocked that five teams are hitting below the Mendoza Line. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/128 "2013-04-07T05:06:24Z")
I’m not a huge Colby Rasmus fan, but when that guy hits a baseball, my God, he can hit it a long way. If there’s one thing you can say about the Blue Jays, one thing they can do is hit astounding bombs. J.P. Arencibia’s swings are wholly random but his strength is unbelievable; he hits home runs of jaw-dropping distance. Two days ago he actually hit a popup home run - I mean, he literally pulled the ball into the air at an angle higher than 45 degrees, and it landed in the second deck. Arencibia might actually be the strongest man to ever play for the Jays, which is saying a lot on a team that boasted Carlos Delgado. Rasmus hit a 450-foot home run today and he actually hit it at too high an angle to maximize its distance. Encarnacion hits ridiculously hard. Jose Bautista is famed for the ferocity of his swings and hit a second-deck monster a few days ago and I don’t even think he’s the best tape measure artist on the team. They can be frustrating to watch because except for Reyes and Bautista they’re all terrible at getting on base, but when they nail one, wow. ---
**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, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/129 "2013-04-07T16:20:07Z")
Too early to put Kershaw down for the Cy Young? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/130 "2013-04-07T16:25:00Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Too early to put Kershaw down for the Cy Young? Shh, you’ll jinx it! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/131 "2013-04-07T17:45:30Z")
So, 1. R.A. Dickey looks like he’s not much of a better pitcher than I am. I said the guy was old and risky, and everyone said “it doesn’t matter, he’s a knuckleballer.” It does matter, and it’s mattering now. 2. The Blue Jays have gone from saying “oh, Jose Bautista’s okay, he’ll be back tomorrow” to sullenly not really saying anything at all about it. He’s hurt badly and they don’t want to admit it until they’ve gotten ticket sales through the homestand. What a great start. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/132 "2013-04-07T18:14:17Z")
Less than a week into the season, Carlos Marmol has lost his job as the Cubs closer. The Cubs now can’t trade Marmol for a used jockstrap. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/133 "2013-04-07T19:43:22Z")
Sunday day games after a night game often produce some ugly beatdowns and today is no exception. Red Sox 13 Blue Jays 0? Indians 10 Rays 0? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/134 "2013-04-07T20:23:34Z")
Indians’ bats finally came alive after getting blanked the first two games against the Rays. Too bad it only counts as one win. Carlos Santana went 5-5; he’s thriving in the 6th spot like I knew he would. Swisher needs to get in gear, though. And Michael Bourn and Mark Reynolds have proven themselves to be quality signings thus far. Trevor Bauer was sent back to AAA after yesterday’s rough start, though this was expected. He deserved better than Dale Scott’s tiny strike zone. ---
**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, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/135 "2013-04-07T20:25:22Z")
> [@MentalGuy](#): > > I just purchased my tickets this evening for tomorrow’s big pitching matchup. Unbelievably, I was able to get two lower level tickets (first base side, about halfway between first and the outfield wall) and with the Reds usual Sunday special, the second ticket was half price. So, it averaged out to just a little over $30 per ticket with all the taxes and fees. I know Cincinnati’s attendance is usually not great until the summer, but I would have thought tomorrow’s game would have had a bigger presale. > Anyway, I am looking forward to a great game tomorrow. > Update: Now that I go back to their ticket purchasing site, I notice that there interactive seat map has been turned off “due to crushing onsale”, so I guess a lot of people may have been like me, waiting to see what the weather would be like. Since a lot of Reds fans don’t live that close to the team, I expect that happens quite a bit. AND THIS ONE BELONGS TO THE REDS! Freaking sweet ending to the series. Reds are now 4-2 after taking two of three from both the Angels and the Nationals, both likely playoff teams. Aroldis Chapman is DOMINANT. I’m glad he’s remained a closer. He crushes hopes and dreams in the 9th. I don’t think there’s anyone better in that role in either league right now. And this kid Derrick Robinson, man he’s got some wheels. Watch him score from third on Xavier Paul’s (whom had a monster game) RBI single. [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013\_04\_07\_wasmlb\_cinmlb\_1&mode=video](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_07_wasmlb_cinmlb_1&mode=video) Edit: so **MentalGuy** , how was it? Perfect weather for a game, eh? Edit again: to watch the play I am talking about you need to click on the link on the right that says “Paul’s RBI Fielder’s Choice” or something like that. ---
**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 7, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/136 "2013-04-07T21:07:30Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Do you mean “I hope not” as in “not a good preview if that’s the way the Nats are going to play” or that you just don’t want either of those teams in the NLCS? > > They’re both strong teams with a ton of talent. i posted that after the 15-0 ass kicking. My Nats got Friday night. ---
**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, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/137 "2013-04-07T21:28:05Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > i posted that after the 15-0 ass kicking. My Nats got Friday night. That’s what I thought but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know that you were a Nats fan. I thought maybe you were a fan of say…the Mets or something. 😃 By the way, how do you like them apples? 😉 ---
**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 7, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/138 "2013-04-07T22:28:34Z")
That was the game Yankee fans needed to see. CC pitched great and as a bonus the offense put up 7. As a bonus third string SS Jason Nix went 3 for 4 with a pair of runs & RBIs including a homer of Verlander. It would be good to see Cano start hitting. He is being counted on as the big star this season and with Jete, Tex & Grandy out, they could really use him stepping up currently. Youk is off to a hotter start than I was even hoping for, I wonder how long he can keep it up. ---
**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, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/139 "2013-04-07T23:20:45Z")
It will be interesting to see how Dodger pitching stands up against more potent offenses, but after Week One, it looks like they’re getting what they paid for. Also, it’s really early, but Carl Crawford is really looking like a worthwhile acquisition. It’s certainly fun to watch him run. ---
**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, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370/140 "2013-04-07T23:56:47Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > It will be interesting to see how Dodger pitching stands up against more potent offenses, but after Week One, it looks like they’re getting what they paid for. Also, it’s really early, but Carl Crawford is really looking like a worthwhile acquisition. It’s certainly fun to watch him run. I wish the Reds and Dodgers were still in the same division. Those were some hate-filled, fun rivalry days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/654370.md?page=8)