# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/141 "2018-08-19T22:17:22Z")
Not really good, but apparently the Cubs are the first team ever to have 4 consecutive games with just one run that came via a solo HR. [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180819&content\_id=291025372&vkey=news\_chc&c\_id=chc](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180819&content_id=291025372&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc) ---
**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 20, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/142 "2018-08-20T02:11:50Z")
Verlander gets his 200th win, though not with a great game, and the Astros manage to hang on to a 1-game lead after losing a 3-game series to Oakland 2-1. I don’t think anyone saw Oakland coming this year. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/143 "2018-08-20T12:43:45Z")
Verlander is a fully qualified Hall of Famer already, and he’s still going strong. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/144 "2018-08-20T13:23:03Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I may have asked this earlier in this thread and didn’t see it but…is this the best Red Sox team…ever? They look pretty inhuman. I’m surprised at their success. Thought the Yankees would win the division this year, and by the way they are no slouches. Felt like a lot of things were going to have to go right for Boston. I did not love the JD Martinez signing, so it’s a good thing I’m not GM. I was concerned about Betts’ ability to sustain his offensive production. That was misplaced. Benintendi is living up to the hype. The pitching has stayed, for the most part, healthy. But they’ll have to win the WS to be the best Sox team ever. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/145 "2018-08-20T13:35:55Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I’m surprised at their success. Thought the Yankees would win the division this year, and by the way they are no slouches. Felt like a lot of things were going to have to go right for Boston. I did not love the JD Martinez signing, so it’s a good thing I’m not GM. I was concerned about Betts’ ability to sustain his offensive production. That was misplaced. Benintendi is living up to the hype. The pitching has stayed, for the most part, healthy. But they’ll have to win the WS to be the best Sox team ever. Yanks have a 7.5 game hold on a wild card spot and 2nd best record in the AL but are 9.5 games behind the Sox for the AL East. The Sox are sadly really exceptionally good this year. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/146 "2018-08-20T14:39:51Z")
So far so good, yes. but remember, the 2001 Mariners are just a trivia question. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/147 "2018-08-21T18:29:13Z")
Cubs to get Daniel Murphy from the Nats, too bad he’s not a starting pitcher. [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180821&content\_id=291270022&vkey=news\_chc&c\_id=chc](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180821&content_id=291270022&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/148 "2018-08-21T19:18:13Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Cubs to get Daniel Murphy from the Nats, too bad he’s not a starting pitcher. > [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180821&content\_id=291270022&vkey=news\_chc&c\_id=chc](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180821&content_id=291270022&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc) Maybe at least he’ll help them score more than one run a game. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/149 "2018-08-21T19:47:49Z")
Where the heck is he going to play? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/150 "2018-08-21T20:47:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Where the heck is he going to play? I suppose they could put him at 2nd, move Baez to short, and replace Addison Russell’s anemic offensive efforts… Not what _I_ would do, but… Ick, looks like a **watchwolf** post… :o ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/151 "2018-08-21T21:34:03Z")
The only thing I can think of, since the Cubs only have 2 days off for the rest of the season after yesterday, is that Murphy can help allow everyone to have a couple days off. Yes, rosters expand in September, but Murphy is going to be better than a September call up. Also, Darvish is out for the season. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/152 "2018-08-21T23:03:26Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Cubs to get Daniel Murphy from the Nats, too bad he’s not a starting pitcher. > [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180821&content\_id=291270022&vkey=news\_chc&c\_id=chc](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180821&content_id=291270022&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc) Murphy hit .329 in three seasons with Nats. Who the fuck trades away a .329 hitter? –signed Frustrated… ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/153 "2018-08-21T23:39:13Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The only thing I can think of, since the Cubs only have 2 days off for the rest of the season after yesterday, is that Murphy can help allow everyone to have a couple days off. Yes, rosters expand in September, but Murphy is going to be better than a September call up. > > Also, Darvish is out for the season. And perhaps the injury to Kris Bryant is worse than expected, unless he’s been activated recently. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/154 "2018-08-21T23:54:49Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > And perhaps the injury to Kris Bryant is worse than expected, unless he’s been activated recently. Bryant has not been reactivated. Bryant can play the outfield, so perhaps he’ll get some time there once he’s able to play. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/155 "2018-08-22T00:25:58Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I suppose they could put him at 2nd, move Baez to short, and replace Addison Russell’s anemic offensive efforts… > > Not what _I_ would do, but… God, I should hope not. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/156 "2018-08-22T01:18:18Z")
Stanton’s plate appearance was quite emotional. Alotta love there. Was a nice sight to see. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/157 "2018-08-22T03:10:08Z")
One run on a solo HR for the Cubs in 5 straight games. Baseball is a funny game. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/158 "2018-08-22T14:16:07Z")
The Cleveland rookies are learning not to be intimidated by Boston. This bodes ill for October. They shoulda never fired Tito, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/159 "2018-08-22T14:22:05Z")
A Tuesday game in August doesn’t bode anything for a playoff game in October. No, they should not have fired Tito 2.0, but I guess Bobby Valentine had some sort of kompromat. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950/160 "2018-08-22T14:52:53Z")
The Tribe have won the first **two** games in the series, and kept the Sox offense in check in both. That’s not a good sign. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2018/818950.md?page=9)