# MLB: August 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 1, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950 "2018-08-01T22:42:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/101 "2018-08-15T19:52:12Z")
All of a sudden Oakland’s only one game out of first, too. The playoff race is VERY close; in the NL there are seven teams, at least, fighting for two wild cards, and the Western Division is up for grabs. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/102 "2018-08-16T00:36:23Z")
A little drama tonight as Acuna is hit on the first pitch and leaves the game the next inning. [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180815&content\_id=290497832&vkey=news\_atl&c\_id=atl](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180815&content_id=290497832&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/103 "2018-08-16T01:08:23Z")
Last night Brock Holt pinch hit a homer on his first pitch, then left the game. That has to tie the single-game record for hitting efficiency, as measured by total bases per pitch seen. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/104 "2018-08-16T02:19:55Z")
Now, I’ve seen everything. ESPN just has a spilt screen with the Phillies/Boston game and the Little League Softball World Series!! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/105 "2018-08-16T03:20:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Incredibly, David Bote was pressured into apologizing for his little bat flip. > > No wonder attendance is flatlined. Here’s a minor leaguer trying to stick in the bigs and he comes up on the fifth shuttle service from Des Moines and he hits a goddamn come-from-three-runs-behind walk off grand slam in Wrigley Field for a first place team and 40,000 people are going berzerk. Daaaaaaamn straight he should flip his bat. As far as I’m concerned, he should in fact have attached the bat to a big RC drone and flown it around the stadium, and then he should have been allowed to exchange his helmet for a big top hat and held sparklers in both hands while walking around the bases being flanked by a troupe of circus acrobats doing handsprings and cartwheels. You hit a walk off grand slam, you choose the celebration, and if the other team doesn’t like it, they should pitch better. A-effing-men! And not agreeing just because I’m a Cubs fan. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/106 "2018-08-16T12:44:51Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > A little drama tonight as Acuna is hit on the first pitch and leaves the game the next inning. > [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180815&content\_id=290497832&vkey=news\_atl&c\_id=atl](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180815&content_id=290497832&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl) Urena deserves a lengthy suspension and fine. Hitting Acuna was no accident, and on the elbow to boot - that could’ve put him out for the rest of the season. Jerk move. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/107 "2018-08-16T18:12:15Z")
Read one commentary today. He was saying that Urena should be suspended for the rest of the season. Might be rather drastic. But, a message needs to be sent. Baseball must not tolerate this type of behavior. I would like to see a lengthy suspension and a huge fine. This cheap shot should no longer be a part of baseball. Imagine if it was a career ending injury. How tragic. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/108 "2018-08-16T20:07:19Z")
Urena should be suspended, but you can’t hand out a suspension completely out of line with precedent and the requirements of the Basic Agreement. Don Mattingly, however, should be tossed for a month. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/109 "2018-08-16T21:57:55Z")
Suspended? For hitting a batter? I have no dog in this fight and I don’t know if there’s any history between these guys or these teams, but from I’ve read it looks like people think Urena hit Acuna just because he’s swinging a hot bat. To which I say, if there’s ever a valid reason to throw one high and tight, that’s it. Acuna’s a good, young hitter. I don’t take issue with backing him off the plate and if he gets hit, well that happens in baseball sometimes. I don’t think Urena was trying to hurt Acuna. He probably wanted to get one on the meat of his arm or in the back or maybe the hip, but it just happened to get him on the elbow. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/110 "2018-08-16T23:04:28Z")
You don’t typically throw a fastball with extra mustard on it though as a brushback pitch. And, of course, there’s this guy who is manager of the Marlins who happens to be tied for the consecutive game home run streak. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/111 "2018-08-16T23:16:19Z")
And Urena gets a whopping six-game suspension, which might add up to missing one start. Plus an “undisclosed fine”. Meantime, the Mets just stomped the Phillies 24-4, just days after getting walloped 25-4 by the Nationals. That combination has to be some sort of first. Plus, Roman Quinn is an even lousier pitcher than Jose Reyes. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/112 "2018-08-16T23:22:11Z")
So hey, you guys with the pitchforks, we’re supposed to believe that Mattingly ordered Urena to go out and hit Acuna? Not buying it. Does Mattingly have any history of that? No. Get a grip. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/113 "2018-08-16T23:38:08Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > So hey, you guys with the pitchforks, we’re supposed to believe that Mattingly ordered Urena to go out and hit Acuna? Not buying it. Does Mattingly have any history of that? No. Get a grip. It isn’t an Alex Jones Infowars stretch to think that one of the coholders of the consecutive game HR record may have suggested that it’s time to take Acuna down a notch. ---
**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 16, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/114 "2018-08-16T23:40:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Urena should be suspended, but you can’t hand out a suspension completely out of line with precedent and the requirements of the Basic Agreement. > > Don Mattingly, however, should be tossed **for a month**. At least. He either called it or condoned it. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/115 "2018-08-17T13:45:13Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > You don’t typically throw a fastball with extra mustard on it though as a brushback pitch. > > And, of course, there’s this guy who is manager of the Marlins who happens to be tied for the consecutive game home run streak. To the first point, yes you do. It’s a pitch with meaning. When else would you throw your hardest fastball? To the second point, I didn’t realize that was a factor. But looks like Acuna was still 3 games away from tying Mattingly’s streak. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/116 "2018-08-17T15:38:14Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > To the first point, yes you do. It’s a pitch with meaning. When else would you throw your hardest fastball? You appear to be under the misapprehension that this was just a “high and tight” fastball that got a little too high and tight. Bullshit. It was aimed intentionally to hit the batter. In general, that’s not done with your fastest heat, precisely because of the potential to injure. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/117 "2018-08-17T15:39:16Z")
In other news, the Texas Rangers accomplished something not done for over 100 years: A triple play that did not get the batter out!! see: [http://theweek.com/speedreads/790834/watch-texas-rangers-execute-incredibly-rare-triple-play](http://theweek.com/speedreads/790834/watch-texas-rangers-execute-incredibly-rare-triple-play) ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/118 "2018-08-17T16:46:11Z")
Why did they need to tag the final runner out? Was the 2nd base ump under the misapprehension that it was a caught fly rather than a ground ball? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/119 "2018-08-17T16:50:53Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > … To the second point, I didn’t realize that was a factor. But looks like Acuna was still 3 games away from tying Mattingly’s streak. It’s absurd. Was the plan to drill him every time he came up in order to preserve a record Mattingly _already shares with two other guys_? As a Yankees fan I’ll admit I’m biased towards Donny Baseball, but he’s been managing for quite awhile and he has no history of inciting punitive beanballs. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/120 "2018-08-17T18:04:39Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > You appear to be under the misapprehension that this was just a “high and tight” fastball that got a little too high and tight. Bullshit. It was aimed intentionally to hit the batter. In general, that’s not done with your fastest heat, precisely because of the potential to injure. So you think Urena’s goal was to injure Acuna? I don’t buy that. Maybe he meant to hit him. Maybe. But the elbow is not something you aim for. That pitch, if intentionally thrown that far inside, was meant for Acuna’s backside. And for me, my HBP fastball and my brushback fastball are the same speed. Granted, I never got it up to 97, but the point of the pitch is “don’t get too comfortable up there.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950.md?page=7)