# MLB: July 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 2, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663 "2011-07-02T21:19:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**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:** [July 27, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/201 "2011-07-27T19:23:54Z")
I am pissed that, at that price, the Dodgers weren’t able to get in on the action. Kuroda and a couple from our bullpen that are just as good would have been as good if not a better deal for St. Louis, but I don’t think the Dodger GM was even looking in that direction. Good on the Blue Jays. Looks like it is all but certain that Beltran will be playing for the Giants soon. That makes me a bit sad. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/202 "2011-07-27T19:25:37Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Any other year, the decision might not have mattered very much. > > But this year, the Pirates are in the running in their division. Last night’s decision means that, instead of sitting at the top alongside the Cardinals, they are 1 game back. > > If Pittsburgh misses the playoffs by 1 game this year, plenty of people will look back at last night’s game. The also mattered for Atlanta, who is leading the NL wild card race. (And I think they have a much better chance of competing down the stretch than Pittsburgh does.) When I heard the ump blew a call at the plate I didn’t think it would be _that_ bad. Truly an awful call. I guess he couldn’t tell where the catcher’s arm was in relation to Lugo, but from every angle it looked very obvious he was tagged. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/203 "2011-07-27T19:45:02Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Perhaps a lost story on a big trade day, but the Angels’ Santana is [del]three[/del] [del]two[/del] one out[del]s[/del] away from no-hitting the Indians. > > And he did it. Congratulations to him, but I wish it had been against someone else. Bah! I watched the last inning on the TV at my gym. He got a bit lucky with the Error call on the Angels shortstop. It wasn’t the most routine of plays, and i’ve seen easier chances than that called a Hit. Still, he picked up 10 strikeouts and clearly had a great day on the mound. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/204 "2011-07-27T19:55:29Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > He got a bit lucky with the Error call on the Angels shortstop. It wasn’t the most routine of plays, and i’ve seen easier chances than that called a Hit. I was listening to the game, rather than watching, so I don’t doubt you. Still, the error happened in the first inning, so it’s not like he caught a lucky break when everything was on the line. My hat’s off to him. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/205 "2011-07-27T20:04:41Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I was listening to the game, rather than watching, so I don’t doubt you. Still, the error happened in the first inning, so it’s not like he caught a lucky break when everything was on the line. My hat’s off to him. Sure. He pitched a great game. For me, it’s more about the fact that there’s a certain amount of luck in just about any no-hitter. In many cases, a pitcher who pitches a 1-hitter or 2-hitter has probably pitched about as well as a pitcher who pitches a no-hitter. All it takes is one bloop to drop in, one broken-bat swing to clear the heads of the infield, one shot down the line to go over instead of outside the bag, etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/206 "2011-07-27T20:12:55Z")
Sounds like Carlos Beltran is going to be traded to San Francisco. The Mets will pay most of his remaining salary and they’ll get pitcher ZacK Wheeler (currently in Class A ball). ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/207 "2011-07-27T20:14:28Z")
Mariners finally win a game and beat the hated Yankees, to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/208 "2011-07-27T20:54:31Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I am pissed that, at that price, the Dodgers weren’t able to get in on the action. Always a good sign when after a big trade other teams are thinking “Damn, we didn’t we call them?”… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/209 "2011-07-27T22:18:00Z")
Wow. I am absolutely thrilled with acquiring Rasmus. I’m actually disappointed to lose Rzepchinski (spelling the best I can do) because I think he has potential, but everyone else involved is a replacement player. Acquiring Rasmus is a big defensive upgrade now and potentially a huge offensive upgrade in the future. Toronto’s bullpen is briefly short of good righthanders but you cna always find a few more of those. Young center fielders with promise, much harder to locate. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/210 "2011-07-28T00:58:40Z")
Corey Patterson? COREY F’N PATTERSON? I realize LaRussa wanted to get rid of Rasmus, but the Cards couldn’t do any better than Corey Patterson? There wasn’t a box of batting practice balls or a basket of soiled clubhouse towels laying around? I can only hope they move him before the trade deadline. Maybe they can get some infield dirt for him. Unfortunately along with Colby Rasmus the Jays got Tony Rasmus. Good luck with that! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/211 "2011-07-28T01:09:42Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > Corey Patterson? COREY F’N PATTERSON? I realize LaRussa wanted to get rid of Rasmus, but the Cards couldn’t do any better than Corey Patterson? There wasn’t a box of batting practice balls or a basket of soiled clubhouse towels laying around? If you don’t like Corey now, wait until you watch him play the outfield. It’s… well, it’s something, I’ll tell you that. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/212 "2011-07-28T01:14:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If you don’t like Corey now, wait until you watch him play the outfield. It’s… well, it’s something, I’ll tell you that. Did you see him miss that line drive in left against the Orioles the other night? I don’t know WTF happened there. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/213 "2011-07-28T05:28:21Z")
Wow, the Pirates got robbed on that play at the plate. There’s got to be some way that an ump decision can be appealed, because that made no sense at all. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/214 "2011-07-28T07:36:29Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Wow, the Pirates got robbed on that play at the plate. There’s got to be some way that an ump decision can be appealed, because that made no sense at all. Can’t they just use the instant repl… Oh. Never mind. Joe ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/215 "2011-07-28T16:27:49Z")
Indians grab Fukodome from the Cubs for a couple of minor leaguers. The Cubs will be paying most of his salary for the rest of the season, the last year of his horrendous contract. A necessary bargain move by the Indians. They get a right handed outfield bat, which they desperately needed, and they don’t go all in trying to compete this year when the division is weak enough that they can be mediocre and still hang around. Given the low expectations for this season, simply competing is gravy. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/216 "2011-07-28T16:40:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Sounds like Carlos Beltran is going to be traded to San Francisco. The Mets will pay most of his remaining salary and they’ll get pitcher ZacK Wheeler (currently in Class A ball). Wheeler was definitely a Prospect that Giants fans were reluctant to use as trade bait, but the Giants badly need Beltran’s bat, and are pretty well set for pitching at the moment…so: good trade. It seems inevitable that the Giants are going to dump someone who had a key role in the magical 2nd half run last year: Cody Ross, Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff…somebody’s going to get DFA’d (probably Burrell). Sad; but baseball is an unsentimental business. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/217 "2011-07-28T23:53:36Z")
Hideki Irabu has been found dead in his LA apartment, at 42. He had hanged himself. Maybe Steinbrenner’s taunts stuck with him, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/218 "2011-07-29T02:03:55Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Wheeler was definitely a Prospect that Giants fans were reluctant to use as trade bait, but the Giants badly need Beltran’s bat, and are pretty well set for pitching at the moment…so: good trade. > > It seems inevitable that the Giants are going to dump someone who had a key role in the magical 2nd half run last year: Cody Ross, Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff…somebody’s going to get DFA’d (probably Burrell). Sad; but baseball is an unsentimental business. Interestingly, as a Met fan I also feel this was a good trade. Wheeler looks like a real player, and he’s not _so_ young and raw as to be a total shot in the dark. I’ll be rooting for Beltran and the Giants unless the Mets somehow manage to slip into the playoffs; he gave the Mets a pretty decent run, injury excepted, and I’d like to see him get a ring. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/219 "2011-07-29T07:45:33Z")
I know it doesn’t mean squat right now, but it feels really nice that the Giants took two out of three in Philly. Joe ---
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663/220 "2011-07-29T15:05:06Z")
Astros seem to be getting a decent bidding war going for Hunter Pence, to which I say Good. He’s 28 now; he’d probably be 32 by the time (optimistically) the team was ready to contend again, and while he’s a good player now, he’s not so good that he’s likely to be an asset into his late 30s. Only downside is that it will be a deal negotiated by Ed Wade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2011/587663.md?page=12)