22 scoreless innings in a row and counting for the Cubbies.
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.
It was used earlier, but became well known when it was used against Ted Williams in 1946.
Well, Reds pitching seemed to cure that particular ailment.
Watching the Indians and damn, the howling shit gets old quickly.
I think it’s upsetting my dog!
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.
Gaaaa…the Giants just plain suck right now.
In the last 3 games, they’ve been outscored 14-6…by the San Jose Sharks.
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.)
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.
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… 
Hush, you!
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.
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…
breaking news
Cubs bullpen sucks
No, the Reds bullpen sucks. The Cubs whole team sucks.
That my friend is not breaking news. That is well established fact.