# MLB: April **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 31, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986 "2014-03-31T14:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/201 "2014-04-18T19:34:58Z")
22 scoreless innings in a row and counting for the Cubbies. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/202 "2014-04-18T20:59:37Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I’m pretty sure that’s what Junior did for basically his entire career with the Reds (ignore the idea of bunting against the shift) and he was one of (if not THE) guys that the shift was _created_ for. I seem to recall that the shift was invented to counter Ted Williams. I \*know \*it was used against Willie McCovey in the '60s. ---
**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 18, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/203 "2014-04-18T21:05:03Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I seem to recall that the shift was invented to counter Ted Williams. I \*know \*it was used against Willie McCovey in the '60s. You could be right. I’ve only followed baseball since about 1995 or so, and then only the Reds. I just remember that opposing pitchers used to do this to Griffey every single at bat it seemed. And were announcers constantly commenting on it, which led me to believe it was a recent thing to combat Junior’s power. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/204 "2014-04-18T21:32:42Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I seem to recall that the shift was invented to counter Ted Williams. It was used earlier, but became well known [when it was used against Ted Williams in 1946.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infield_shift) ---
**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 20, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/205 "2014-04-20T04:50:38Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > 22 scoreless innings in a row and counting for the Cubbies. Well, Reds pitching seemed to cure that particular ailment. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/206 "2014-04-23T00:50:25Z")
Watching the Indians and damn, the howling shit gets old quickly. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/207 "2014-04-23T02:18:27Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Watching the Indians and damn, the howling shit gets old quickly. I think it’s upsetting my dog! ---
**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 23, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/208 "2014-04-23T03:07:33Z")
The Reds have both the worst bullpen ERA in the majors and are also the least used…which may explain why Johnny Cueto pitched a complete game tonight, and was only a solo homer in the 9th by McCutcheon away from a shutout. Reds starting pitching is really good, despite Homer Bailey’s struggles, and we still have to get Latos back. And Chapman. Keep an eye on Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco. Dude has been _on fire_ since joining the team this season after starting on the DL. It’s a beach ball to him right now. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/209 "2014-04-23T03:24:06Z")
Gaaaa…the Giants just plain suck right now. In the last 3 games, they’ve been outscored 14-6…by the San Jose Sharks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/210 "2014-04-23T04:22:51Z")
Emergency call-up Colin McHugh, 26 years old with a career ERA of 8.94 in 48 innings, goes 6 2/3 innings for the Astros vs. the Mariners, strikes out 12, allows 3 hits and 0 runs. (And as I was composing that the bullpen gave up 2 runs in 2 batters; still pretty impressive even if they blow the lead.) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/211 "2014-04-23T14:48:55Z")
Kirk Gibson will be the first manager fired this year, could come as early as May 1. The Dbacks have too much talent to suck this bad. ---
**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 23, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/212 "2014-04-23T16:08:01Z")
The Dodgers are now 0-4 in games I’ve attended this year, including two extra-innings losses. If only there were some common theme among those games that I could point to as being the cause… ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/213 "2014-04-23T18:09:03Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > The Dodgers are now 0-4 in games I’ve attended this year, including two extra-innings losses. If only there were some common theme among those games that I could point to as being the cause… If it helps, I could put together a collection to get you a season ticket so you can do further research… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/214 "2014-04-23T18:19:29Z")
Hush, you! I was thinking more along the lines of a hit man. ---
**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 23, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/215 "2014-04-23T18:59:28Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > If it helps, I could put together a collection to get you a season ticket so you can do further research… 😃 > [@silenus](#): > > I was thinking more along the lines of a hit man. Sadly typical. A Dodger fan who would rather curse one of his own than show support. I hope, **silenus** , that you can sense my hurt all the way from my distant, well-fortified bunker. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/216 "2014-04-23T19:44:30Z")
Just a flesh wound. You’ll hardly notice it, and you can still watch the games on TV. Quit being such a whiner! It’s for the Greater Good, really. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/217 "2014-04-23T20:05:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Just a flesh wound. You’ll hardly notice it, and you can still watch the games on TV. Quit being such a whiner! It’s for the Greater Good, really. While I admire your spirit, I can’t in good conscience condone physical injury…even of a Dodger fan. We’ve been down that road a bit too often in recent memory. But if you wanted to give that flesh wound to Clayton Kershaw, we can talk… ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/218 "2014-04-23T22:23:47Z")
breaking news Cubs bullpen sucks ---
**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 23, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/219 "2014-04-23T22:53:16Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > breaking news > > Cubs bullpen sucks No, the Reds bullpen sucks. The Cubs whole team sucks. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986/220 "2014-04-24T00:26:19Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > snip The Cubs whole team sucks. That my friend is not breaking news. That is well established fact. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april/684986.md?page=12)