# MLB (Baseball) Return July 23. 60 game season in 66 days **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 24, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771 "2020-06-24T16:23:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**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 13, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/322 "2020-08-13T17:56:28Z")
If you want to be pedantic, which you seem to do, the thread is about the return of the season, not the season itself. Baseball threads and discussions have always taken off on tangents - there’s too much time between pitches to not muse about other aspects of the game. But they’re usually short lived, like a pitcher’s chances at the plate. In fact, there was a poster who was creating multiple threads about odd little questions about baseball, and the general consensus is that people wanted him to post them in this omnibus thread, rather than make separate ones. I’m sure the EW discussion has died out - like all tangents eventually do. ---
**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 13, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/323 "2020-08-13T17:57:52Z")
Well maybe Kay just a little, but Paul O’Neill and David Cone were great. All this talk about players hitting .400+ this year, why bother? No average stat is going to mean much as the season will pretty much be a third of a season. Though on that note [DJLeMahieu](https://www.mlb.com/player/518934) really looks locked in. Even picked up his first triple of the year last night. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/324 "2020-08-13T18:01:39Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > All this talk about players hitting .400+ this year, why bother? Because it’s fun and noteworthy. I don’t think anyone will forget that this season is being played underneath a giant asterisk, including the players themselves. A lot of craziness can happen when you shrink the sample size down this much. Baseball could use a little positive craziness for once. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/325 "2020-08-13T18:16:33Z")
Fair enough. I think DJ might pull it off. So apparently no one has actually won the batting title in both leagues. [Big Ed Delahanty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Delahanty) was credited with it when I was a kid, but I learned last night from Michael Kay that baseball corrected some stats from his AL batting title year and he actually came in second. So if DJ does win the AL, while carrying an asterisk, he’ll be the first player to win in both leagues. Interesting, [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_batting_champions) still lists him for winning in both leagues. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/326 "2020-08-13T18:21:22Z")
For some reason I thought Buckner had won in both leagues, but that’s not right at all. I’m not sure I’d put that big of an asterisk on something like that. Yes, hitting .400 will be fluky, but winning a title is winning against the regular competition. And yeah - I think he can do it. He’s an amazing contact hitter. The biggest obstacle is that pitching in the East is pretty tough. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/327 "2020-08-13T18:25:41Z")
OK, a small asterisk or a footnote. [Baseball Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/batting_avg_leagues.shtml) agrees with what Key said, I know never trust Wiki as a primary source. ---
**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 14, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/328 "2020-08-14T13:32:09Z")
A few teams are now a third of the way through this odd season. So the **Cubs** are 13-3 for a MLB leading .813 winning pct. Is this for real? They already have a 6.5 game lead in the NL Central. **Marlins** are .667 but only 8-4 having lost so many games to their collective stupidity. **Colorado** is also .667 but 12-6 and the **Dodgers** are .650 13-7. **In the AL:** **Oakland** 13-6 .684 (4 games up) **Yankees** 12-6 .667 (1 game up) **Tampa** 12-8 .600 **Twins** 12-7 .632 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/329 "2020-08-14T15:26:03Z")
As hypothesized yesterday, today’s Cardinals/White Sox game has been pushed to tomorrow, when it is to be one-half of a doubleheader. The Cardinals are slated to play the Cubs next week, after the weekend series against the Sox, with doubleheaders scheduled for Monday and Wednesday (so, eight games in five days). Also, rather than flying to Chicago today, the Cards are looking at making players rent cars and drive individually, in an attempt to limit the team’s exposure to contagious people. > **[Cards, White Sox will play two as series opener](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29657792/cardinals-white-sox-opener-postponed-saturday)** > > The Cardinals' series against the White Sox in Chicago will begin Saturday with a doubleheader. ---
**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 14, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/330 "2020-08-14T15:34:01Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Also, rather than flying to Chicago today, the Cards are looking at making players rent cars and drive individually, in an attempt to limit the team’s exposure to contagious people. LOL. Given the team’s recent problems with coronavirus, it seems to me that making the players rent cars might be an attempt to limit the exposure of the flying public to the plague ship Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/331 "2020-08-14T17:14:02Z")
Ken Rosenthal on Twitter: > > > Joel Sherman @Joelsherman1 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/332 "2020-08-14T17:21:13Z")
I can only imagine what that schedule is going to do to the Cardinals’ pitching staff. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/333 "2020-08-14T18:51:36Z")
They’re playing a doubleheader tomorrow in Chicago. Temperatures near 90F and the ubiquitous chance of thunderstorms. Better them than I. But, that’s a ton of 7 inning games for the Cards. I’m sticking a giant asterisk on the whole season ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/334 "2020-08-14T21:16:34Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > > Also, rather than flying to Chicago today, the Cards are looking at making players rent cars and drive individually, in an attempt to limit the team’s exposure to contagious people. > > LOL. > > Given the team’s recent problems with coronavirus, it seems to me that making the players rent cars might be an attempt to limit the exposure of the flying public to the plague ship Cardinals. Great comment! I used to fly Cards charters for the airline a lot. They always traveled on a chartered jet (727 or 757). We’d carry the team, the coaches, and some management hangers-on. Sometimes some press people or a high-roller’s wife too. Ground transportation was by chartered buses that pulled up adjacent to the airplane. They’d never enter the terminal building or interact with the public at any point. That was MLB, NFL, NHL standard stuff. Every team in every league did it this way. We didn’t do NBA, but I assume they did the same. I can’t say what’s being done in Aug 2020, but the idea of them renting 50 cars and driving exposes them to 50 rental car counters. Sounds more infectious than the chartered bus and jet method. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/335 "2020-08-15T02:53:35Z")
The Blue Jays hit 13 home runs in their last two games. I’m not sure if that’s an MLB record, but if not, it can’t be far off. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/336 "2020-08-15T13:29:10Z")
The Yankees once hit 13 home runs on the same day. 8 in [game one](https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=193906281PHA) of a double header. 5 more in [game two](https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=193906282PHA). ---
**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 15, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/337 "2020-08-15T13:36:18Z")
June 28, 1939. That is an awesome piece of trivia, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/338 "2020-08-15T13:40:38Z")
The Cincinnati Reds hit 9 HR on [9-4-1999](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI199909040.shtml), and followed that up with 5 on [9-5-1999](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI199909050.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/339 "2020-08-15T16:17:45Z")
The rest of this weekend’s Reds/Pirates series has been postponed, as a Cincinnati player tested positive for COVID yesterday; the test results apparently came out after the two teams played yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/340 "2020-08-16T20:13:46Z")
Cardinals rookie Roel Ramirez suffers a tough major league debut, entering in the fifth inning and giving up four consecutive home runs to the White Sox. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/341 "2020-08-16T22:39:48Z")
He actually got a couple of outs before the homer barrage started. His ERA after his first MLB appearance is 81.00. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771.md?page=18)