# MLB: August 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 1, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071 "2012-08-01T16:49:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/221 "2012-08-22T02:50:32Z")
Another rain delay and another curly W for the Nats. I hope they can win tomorrow without me. During the delay I was walking around the stadium, reading about the history of baseball in DC. I didn’t realize that there was a Washington Nationals team in the 1870s ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/222 "2012-08-22T06:04:37Z")
The Giants are now guaranteed to come home in first place thanks to two stellar pitching performances in LA, with Cain going tomorrow. And in other Northern California related baseball news, the Petaluma team has made it to the semi finals of the Little League World Series! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/223 "2012-08-22T08:23:13Z")
It’s late August and the Orioles are _still_ hanging onto a Wild Card slot. Nice [5-4-3 triple play](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=24107935&topic_id=17807232) in Oakland tonight, with an excellent turn at second base. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/224 "2012-08-22T14:50:26Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > During the delay I was walking around the stadium, reading about the history of baseball in DC. I didn’t realize that there was a Washington Nationals team in the 1870s The team that is now in Minnesota was the Washington Nationals through the 1950’s, although everyone called them the Senators. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/225 "2012-08-22T16:25:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Well, mired as they are in the depths of a one-game losing streak, they clearly have no chance tonight. 😛 I want to win them ALL!!! 🙂 ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/226 "2012-08-22T17:06:34Z")
> [@bup](#): > > The team that is now in Minnesota was the Washington Nationals through the 1950’s, although everyone called them the Senators. I know about the Senators, I didn’t know there was actually a DC team called the Nationals in the 19th century (actually two different teams with that name in the late 1800s). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/227 "2012-08-22T17:11:24Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Another rain delay and another curly W for the Nats. I hope they can win tomorrow without me. Me too, since I’m going to the game tonight with my wife and son. A sweep would be sweet, especially with my wife being a Braves fan and all. 😃 > [@](#): > > During the delay I was walking around the stadium, reading about the history of baseball in DC. I didn’t realize that there was a Washington Nationals team in the 1870s Yep, the ‘Nats’ moniker goes way back. I think every DC MLB team has had ‘Nats’ as a nickname, whether their name was the Nationals or not. > [@mhendo](#): > > It’s late August and the Orioles are _still_ hanging onto a Wild Card slot. I’m still amazed that they’re over .500, let alone in the thick of the AL wild card race. They’d have to go 13-26 or worse, the rest of the way, to extend their streak of under-.500 seasons. While that’s hardly impossible (see: Orioles, 1986), I don’t get the feeling that that’s going to happen here. And there’s no reason they can’t be the second AL wildcard. It’s not like their competition is especially formidable - if they can stay ahead of the Tigers and the A’s, they can play in the postseason for the first time since 1997. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/228 "2012-08-22T17:23:09Z")
That makes me like the name Nationals even more, but I was always opposed to them being called the Senators, I agreed with Tony Williams on that one. When you go tonight: check the weather, don’t believe whatever it says and bring some rain gear. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/229 "2012-08-22T18:04:23Z")
Looks like Jerry Hairston is out for the rest of the season due to a [hip injury](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/22/jerry-hairston-jr-may-need-season-ending-hip-surgery/). On the upside, Luiz Cruz is playing like a man possessed in his place. The A’s turn a nice triple play, but Bartolo Colon draws a [50 game suspension](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/22/report-bartolo-colon-to-be-suspended-50-games-for-failed-drug-test/) for PED. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/230 "2012-08-22T18:51:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The A’s turn a nice triple play, but Bartolo Colon draws a [50 game suspension](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/22/report-bartolo-colon-to-be-suspended-50-games-for-failed-drug-test/) for PED. Obviously the entire water supply for the greater Bay Area is tainted with synthetic testosterone. It’s the only possible explanation 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/231 "2012-08-22T20:11:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The A’s turn a nice triple play, but Bartolo Colon draws a [50 game suspension](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/22/report-bartolo-colon-to-be-suspended-50-games-for-failed-drug-test/) for PED. I guess the stem cell miracle thing was a bunch of horseshit. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/232 "2012-08-22T20:53:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I guess the stem cell miracle thing was a bunch of horseshit. Ya think? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/233 "2012-08-23T01:03:26Z")
Mariners win again - 8 in a row now! ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/234 "2012-08-23T01:49:43Z")
Is Ichiro a Ewing Theory candidate? ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/235 "2012-08-23T03:11:02Z")
I’ve never heard of the Ewing Theory before. Now, having read the article that spawned it I think it’s just a joke and not really a theory of much merit. Let’s call it the confirmation bias theory. Sometimes, when a star player leaves the team happens to play better, other times they play worse, and even other times they play the same. But, hey let’s write it down when the team plays better! He lists the 2000 and 2001 Mariners as prime examples of the theory, yet after 2001’s playoff berth they haven’t been back to the post season. The improvement must have a limited shelf date. He calls Trent Green a star. Was he one? I don’t remember that. He might have been a great player, but if you are basing a theory on a hall of fame player like Ewing, you can’t have average guys go out and use it as proof. And, he got replaced by Kurt Warner - who went on to have a pretty good career. Anyway. The Mariners have had a really good second half. They’re 19-10 (Or thereabouts, I might have counted wrong) since Ichiro left and 24-13 for the entire second half. Is it because Ichiro left? I doubt it. Been a tough season in parts as a Phillies fan. I’ve still had fun following them this year, even if a playoff berth isn’t in the cards. In a way these years are a bit more enjoyable. Those playoff games are so stressful when you are used to winning! I don’t know how Yankee fans do it. There is something to be said for a low stress year like this. Having said that, I’m hoping they can come roaring back next year and make a run for the playoffs again. Tough division, but doable. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/236 "2012-08-23T04:17:41Z")
The Padres put a bit of a dent in Pittsburgh’s division standings with a 3-game sweep of the Pirates. The Orioles dropped the series at Texas 2-1 and, like the Pirates, are now a half-game back in the Wild Card race. In the Texas/Baltimore game, Adrian Beltre hit three homers, including two in one inning. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/237 "2012-08-23T04:39:26Z")
Oh. Speaking of the Orioles. Here’s an interesting article from Fangraphs talking about teams who overperform their Pythagorean expectation late into seasons. > **[Slowly Back Away from the Pythag Expectation](https://blogs.fangraphs.com/slowly-back-away-from-the-pythag-expectation/)** > > Updated: Thanks to the commentors, especially Evan, for double checking my work. I had an issue in Excel that messed up the results for May and June. Charts have been updated. For most of 2012… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/238 "2012-08-23T04:57:14Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > Oh. Speaking of the Orioles. Here’s an interesting article from Fangraphs talking about teams who overperform their Pythagorean expectation late into seasons. > > [Slowly Back Away from the Pythag Expectation | FanGraphs Baseball](http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/slowly-back-away-from-the-pythag-expectation/) Thanks. That’s interesting. As an Orioles fan, i hope he’s right, and that actual performance is a better predictor of Baltimore’s September than pythagorean performance. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/239 "2012-08-23T05:32:58Z")
Three Giants-Dodgers series this season, three sweeps…and all by the visiting team. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/240 "2012-08-23T05:51:36Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Three Giants-Dodgers series this season, three sweeps…and **all by the visiting team**. I don’t think that’s right. I went to a Giants/Dodgers game in San Francisco in June, and the Giants won the game and swept the series. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071.md?page=13)