# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/61 "2012-08-07T17:21:29Z")
_Ruben_ Rivera. I guess that qualifies as something close to libel. > [@RickJay](#): > > The Astros play was a team effort, though. the third baseman looked like a Secret Service agent hurling himself into the path of an assassin’s bullet, except in this case the bullet got by, went by another agent, and then it somehow came back and missed another agent. Someone should go back and overdub one of those slow-motion "NOOOOO"s over that lunge. And yes, this one was a team effort. Perhaps the worst fielding in the history of the game. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/62 "2012-08-07T17:27:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Perhaps the worst fielding in the history of the game. I just watched the video. Holy cow. How does that even happen at a major league level. We need to see that with yakkity sax instead of announcers. It was awesome in the most literal sense of the word. ---
**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 7, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/63 "2012-08-07T17:34:40Z")
Good Lord, both those videos were all kinds of awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/64 "2012-08-07T17:35:03Z")
So the Angels have the frontrunner in the AL MVP, AL ROY (Same guy), and CY young. Not to mention possibly the guy in the runner-up spot for ROY, and yet they are on the borderline to make the playoffs. Ugh, so frustrating. ---
**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 7, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/65 "2012-08-07T18:48:24Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > And this is a contract year for Hamilton, right? It wold be awfully hard to justify Pujols money on him. Too hot/cold with the bat and some off-the-field concerns. Speaking of Hamilton and Pujols, i have a theory: that there is only enough baseball awesomeness in the world for one of these guys at a time. Josh Hamilton: Through May 11: .407/.463/.873 with 17 HR. Since May 11: .226/.296/.428 with 12 HR Albert Pujols: Through May 11: .192/.228/.277 with 1 HR Since May 11: .329/.402/.644 with 23 HR Hamilton started his season decline on basically exactly the same day that Pujols started his season rise. Hamilton’s season-high OPS came on the same day as Pujols’ season low (apart from opening day) OPS. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/66 "2012-08-07T20:10:15Z")
Damn, that play was hilarious. Thank you, Astros! > [@Marley23](#): > > I guarantee the Nats will not repeat that feat. Well, not this year! But you never know - if Bud Selig lives long enough (and he kinda looks like he could be one of the undead), he might move the Nats into the AL… ---
**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 7, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/67 "2012-08-07T20:13:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Looking at [this play](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/07/behold-the-worst-play-of-the-season-sorry-astros-fans/) (which is _hilarious_), I don’t think the Nats “pulled it back from the edge”; I think the Astros handed the Nats the game, saying “Here, we insist!” Dang, that was even better than Luis Sojo’s “grand slam double” in the Mariners’ 1995 one-game playoff against the Angels — Bottom of the 7th, Mariners lead 1-0: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/63YWIMvD5qo/hqdefault.jpg "1995 Season End Highlights") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63YWIMvD5qo) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/68 "2012-08-07T21:10:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I particularly love the third baseman’s random flying leap into the play. I am not sure what he was trying to do, but he forced the throw into rightfield. > [@RickJay](#): > > The Astros play was a team effort, though. the third baseman looked like a Secret Service agent hurling himself into the path of an assassin’s bullet I had to watch this again. What happened is that the third baseman (Downs) was also coming in for the ball but slowed down when he saw it was going to the right side of the infield. After the pitcher (Lopez) and first baseman (Pearce) ran into each other and the ball got away, Downs sprinted over. Pearce got there first and picked it up, and as Pearce turns to throw the ball, Downs does that weird jump/lunge move to avoid him but it looks like he only managed to interfere even more. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/69 "2012-08-07T23:42:06Z")
The only good thing about that play (from an Astros fan perspective) is that pretty much nobody involved in it is going to be on the team in two years when they might possible start to be good again. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/70 "2012-08-08T04:09:25Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It’s over, **MODALIZE**. I was at tonight’s game. A cold calm came over me. It’s time to stop worrying about playoff chances and start just enjoying baseball. Yup. Tribe loses again, their 11th straight. One more loss will tie the team record for consecutive losses. Chris Perez blew his second consecutive save. 6 of the Twins’ runs came in the last three innings, with 3 errors by the Indians. 14,000 fans, the city officially hates this team. What a debacle. ---
**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 8, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/71 "2012-08-08T04:11:09Z")
Go the Birds! The Orioles win yet _another_ close game, 8-7 over the Mariners in 14 innings. ---
**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 8, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/72 "2012-08-08T05:28:58Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > The only good thing about that play (from an Astros fan perspective) is that pretty much nobody involved in it is going to be on the team in two years when they **might possible** start to be good again. Key phrase… ---
**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 8, 2012, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/73 "2012-08-08T10:42:16Z")
The Yankees are losing ground at an alarming rate. The O’s continue to defy the odds and look like they might be having one of those charmed seasons. They still have 7 games against each other too. ---
**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 8, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/74 "2012-08-08T12:28:39Z")
Reds drop three in a row for the first time since…June? Damn you Brewers! You always give the Reds problems! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/75 "2012-08-08T17:10:01Z")
Nats win again, Braves lose again, Nats now 4 up in the East. And have the best record in MLB, at least for the moment. Ever since the Nats started their season with a 14-4 bang, they’ve been possibly the un-streakiest team in baseball. Ever since that fast start, it’s seemed like they can’t win 4 games without losing 3 to mostly balance it out. But I couldn’t help but notice this morning that, over the last 18 games, they’ve gone…14-4. Sweet. > [@mhendo](#): > > The Orioles win yet _another_ close game, 8-7 over the Mariners in 14 innings. The anti-gravity machine stays aloft! Once I saw that it was going into extra innings, I mentally chalked it up as an O’s win. They _own_ extra innings. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/76 "2012-08-08T18:06:10Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > The O’s continue to defy the odds and look like they might be having one of those charmed seasons. It’s about time Buck Showalter got some props for his mad managing skillz. He’s turned every sucky team he’s inherited into a winner in about the same short time. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/77 "2012-08-08T18:32:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It’s about time Buck Showalter got some props for his mad managing skillz. He’s turned every sucky team he’s inherited into a winner in about the same short time. Not having followed Showalter’s career, is it mostly that he’s a very good in-game manager, or is there something else going on? His performance with the Orioles suggests just the in-game part: their current Pythagorean extrapolates to 72-90 for the season, which isn’t much different from their 69-93 Pythagorean in 2009, their last full season before Buck. I haven’t looked up what he’s done before Baltimore, but his success this season has been in squeezing out the maximum results from a limited team, rather than making it into a fundamentally stronger team. FWIW, they’re now 10 games above their Pythagorean! ---
**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 8, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/78 "2012-08-08T21:28:57Z")
Damn, the Reds drop four in a row now, getting swept by the Brewers, despite another really strong outing by Matt Latos, who is turning into a pitching machine. This matches their longest loss streak of the season. C’mon back Joey Votto! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/79 "2012-08-08T21:39:11Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I haven’t looked up what he’s done before Baltimore, but his success this season has been in squeezing out the maximum results from a limited team, rather than making it into a fundamentally stronger team. > > FWIW, they’re now 10 games above their Pythagorean! Showalter’s previous teams all won about as many games as their runs scored and allowed would suggest they should have. The biggest difference in a Showalter team was in 2006, when the Rangers were actually six games worse than expected. The Orioles are just lucky so far. It happens; that’s sports. You get the breaks, you win. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071/80 "2012-08-09T00:15:04Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Damn, the Reds drop four in a row now, getting swept by the Brewers, despite another really strong outing by Matt Latos, who is turning into a pitching machine. > > This matches their longest loss streak of the season. C’mon back Joey Votto! The Bucs can get to within 2 1/2 tonight with a win. Not bad at all after weathering Cincy’s 17-1 streak or whatever it was. Game on. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2012/630071.md?page=5)