# MLB: August 2023 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [August 2, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980 "2023-08-02T21:43:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/101 "2023-08-23T22:15:53Z")
The Nats are looking terrific after the All-Star break. We might actually be able to compete for a playoff spot in a year or two. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/102 "2023-08-24T12:46:10Z")
Ohtani has torn UCL in elbow, is finished pitching for the year. > **[Ohtani done pitching in '23 due to elbow tear](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38248633/angels-shohei-ohtani-elbow-tear-pitch-again-season)** > > The Angels' Shohei Ohtani has a torn UCL in his right elbow and will not pitch again this season, while three-time MVP Mike Trout will return to the IL one day after being activated. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/103 "2023-08-24T13:32:26Z")
And Trout heads back to the IL a day after getting back in the lineup. I don’t have any love post for Arte Moreno - but man I feel sorry for Angles fans (and fans of baseball in general - Trout and Ohtani should be must-watch baseball whenever you get the chance). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/104 "2023-08-24T14:37:55Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > NIce rebound season, but not even remotely in any MVP discussion. Well, he’ll definitely get a lot of downballot votes, so in that sense he’s in the discussion. The award is likely Ronald Acuna’s, although Mookie Betts is giving him a run for his money. I will never understand why the Red Sox let Mookie Betts go. Apparently Betts didn’t like their offer. They should have offered more. If there was ever a guy you should sign to a long term deal, Mookie Betts was it. He was only 27 and the guy is an absolute monster. Every indication is that he will continue to be a monster for years to come. He plays the outfield, he plays second base, he hits, he runs, he wins. He’s making $25 million this year and that is an absolute bargain. He’s only 30 now and as far as I’m concerned, he is a Hall of Famer if he retired after this season. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/105 "2023-08-24T15:02:08Z")
When I was referring to Mookie Betts on Baseball Reference, I noticed something about the Dodgers. The Dodgers are 76-48, absolutely crushing it this year. Their team leader in inning pitched is Julio Urias. Urias has only pitched 106 innings, fewer than the number of games LA has played. So LA has no pitcher who even qualifies for the ERA title. In a sense, were you to ask “who is the Dodgers’ ERA leader?” the answer is nobody. I do not know how to construct a query to who many teams before 2023 lacked anyone who qualified for the ERA title, but there are definitely some - Washington, Pittsburgh and KC last year didn’t, many another team or two. But has a team this great ever had that happen? They may end up having to reduce the requirements for an ERA title to some arbitrary lower number, like 140 or 150. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/106 "2023-08-24T16:45:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I do not know how to construct a query to who many teams before 2023 lacked anyone who qualified for the ERA title I haven’t had a b-ref subscription in some time. But could you brute force it by searching team IP leaders on teams with 90+ wins? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/107 "2023-08-24T17:34:24Z")
Mets are going to retire the numbers of two of their amazing but troubled players from the 1980s, Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. > **[Mets to retire numbers of Gooden, Strawberry](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38251179/mets-retire-numbers-dwight-gooden-daryl-strawberry-next-season)** > > Dwight Gooden's No. 16 and Darryl Strawberry's No. 18 will be retired by the New York Mets in separate pregame ceremonies next year honoring players who were keys to the team's most recent World Series title in 1986. [https://www.sny.tv/articles/mets-retire-dwight-gooden-darryl-strawberry-numbers?fbclid=IwAR1GFi2CgtdaL1MtOJGs0wfH2YscKfR\_ZqEJO\_bNWUp41xFw1QawDdmRg5E\_aem\_AY6qsQNOkkWLmBV2B9-j6VjRm5\_LTqK1qYePqxgJ-5NXjKge5uPlEMnDDiUc14dS7c0](https://www.sny.tv/articles/mets-retire-dwight-gooden-darryl-strawberry-numbers?fbclid=IwAR1GFi2CgtdaL1MtOJGs0wfH2YscKfR_ZqEJO_bNWUp41xFw1QawDdmRg5E_aem_AY6qsQNOkkWLmBV2B9-j6VjRm5_LTqK1qYePqxgJ-5NXjKge5uPlEMnDDiUc14dS7c0) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/108 "2023-08-24T18:50:41Z")
And it looks like Strasburg is officially done. > **[Report: Nationals' Stephen Strasburg, 2019 World Series MVP, to retire due to...](https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/report-nationals-stephen-strasburg-2019-world-series-mvp-to-retire-due-to-rare-condition-183351405.html)** > > The former No. 1 pick couldn't overcome complications from thoracic outlet syndrome, according to the report. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/109 "2023-08-24T19:50:36Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The award is likely Ronald Acuna’s, although Mookie Betts is giving him a run for his money. I knew the latter had been hot recently, but wasn’t aware of just how much. Since June 27, in 198 PA he’s hit .384 .480 .768, 18 2B 15 HR. As a Sox fan, that entire thing was just a massive clusterfuck. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/110 "2023-08-25T01:28:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I do not know how to construct a query to who many teams before 2023 lacked anyone who qualified for the ERA title, but there are definitely some - Washington, Pittsburgh and KC last year didn’t, many another team or two. But has a team this great ever had that happen? This article talks about this issue and lists the 13 teams that have had no ERA qualifiers, [https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/32816/flu-like-symptoms-the-vanishing-era-qualifier/](https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/32816/flu-like-symptoms-the-vanishing-era-qualifier/) I’ll also point out that I’m pretty sure the qualification for ERA title used to be 10 complete games until some time in the 1950s, but I cannot find a cite for that. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/111 "2023-08-25T02:00:47Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I’ll also point out that I’m pretty sure the qualification for ERA title used to be 10 complete games until some time in the 1950s, but I cannot find a cite for that. OK, I found it. In Appendix C of the Baseball Encyclopedia (1969 version), it says that to qualify for the ERA title, a pitcher had to pitch 100 innings and 10 complete games. It also said the 10 complete games wasn’t strictly enforced if a pithcer had many more than 100 innings pitched. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/112 "2023-08-25T08:01:29Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > And it looks like Strasburg is officially done. He gave absolutely everything he could give to ensure our Nats won the 2019 World Series, and even though we’re still on the hook for his salary for the remainder of his contract because we didn’t insure it for some reason, it’s worth it. I hope there comes a day when he’s able to overcome the pain of daily life. ---
**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 25, 2023, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/113 "2023-08-25T08:03:21Z")
That’s really interesting, and I never knew that was a rule. I just randomly looked at Bob Gibson’s numbers and he never had fewer than 10 complete games in a full season until he was 38 years old. I would search for the first ERA title winner with fewer than 10 complete games but I’m not sure how. In other news, what a bummer about Ohtani. I hope he signs with the Mariners. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/114 "2023-08-25T09:29:08Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > In other news, what a bummer about Ohtani. I hope he signs with the Mariners. _I_ hope he signs with the Nats, but that’s a forlorn hope. We’ll be in playoff contention in a year or two without him, anyway, if we keep up what we’re doing. ---
**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 25, 2023, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/115 "2023-08-25T11:08:14Z")
Nats would be cool. Anywhere but LA, Houston, Boston or the Mets. I know the Yanks won’t be in because of Stanton and then Judge in the DH spot. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/116 "2023-08-25T12:49:26Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I’ll also point out that I’m pretty sure the qualification for ERA title used to be 10 complete games until some time in the 1950s, but I cannot find a cite for that. That was my recollection as well. Baseball Reference lists Howie Pollet as the NL ERA champion in 1943. Pollet pitched only 118 innings, but completed 12 games, so at that point it must have been the 10-CG standard. Pollet then went away to World War Two, came back in 1946 and immediately won the ERA title again, albeit with 210 innings pitched. Didn’t miss a beat. ---
**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 25, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/117 "2023-08-25T14:17:04Z")
Pollet pitched 266 innings in '46, which led the league. 2.10 was his ERA. I found this out because I wondered how many CGs he had that seaaon: 22. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/118 "2023-08-26T06:37:38Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > With the Rangers losing…again, Ms are 1 game out of the AL West lead. Who’da thunk it? Tied for first, now. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/119 "2023-08-26T12:51:31Z")
Looks like there was a shooting at the White Sox game last night. > **[Multiple Fans Injured In White Sox vs. A's Shooting Incident Friday Night](https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/08/26/white-sox-shooting-incident/)** > > During Friday night's contest between the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics, three females were struck by gunfire. Obviously, Fox News will have a field day. Not sure if this helps or hurts their effort to get more public money to prevent ‘relocation’ as they’ve started rattling that sabre recently. I do know people that were going to the game for the Vanilla Ice/Tone Loc 1990s rapper show after the game. That ended cancelled due to ‘technical difficulties’ ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980/120 "2023-08-26T14:34:25Z")
They haven’t been in the top spot of the AL West this late in the season for 20 years, and when it last happened, they held it for one day. I’m looking forward to them holding it for the rest of the season _knock on wood_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980.md?page=7)