# MLB: July 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 1, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105 "2018-07-01T18:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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 12, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/101 "2018-07-12T01:13:10Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Alex Bregman of the Astros now has two walk-off “hits” this year that failed to go as far as the pitcher’s mound. Crazy play to end the Astros-A’s game. Grant Brisbee at SB Nation wrote a long hilarious essay about this play. [5 best things about the Astros-Athletics hilarious walk-off error - SBNation.com](https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2018/7/11/17559186/astros-athletics-error-walkoff-alex-bregman-wat) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/102 "2018-07-12T02:29:09Z")
Wow, Reds get smoked 19-4. Fucking hell. Way to sweep the series, guys! ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/103 "2018-07-12T23:42:12Z")
Richards chooses Tommy John surgery. He’s 30 and a free agent after the season. What to do with him, Angels? Can they sign him on a cheap one year deal while he rehabs or is there a max they can cut his salary? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/104 "2018-07-13T01:08:57Z")
This might be the first time I’ve ever linked to The Hill in the Game Room. They’re reporting that MLB has dropped the Papa Slam promotion as part of the Papa John’s fallout. > **[MLB suspends deal with Papa John’s after founder uses n-word](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/396811-mlb-suspends-deal-with-papa-johns-after-founder-uses-n-word/)** > > Major League Baseball indefinitely suspended its “Papa Slam” promotion with Papa John’s pizza company.According to a report published by Yahoo Sports on Thursday, the league cancelled its deal with… Quite a few major league teams have individual arrangements with Papa John’s for half off pizzas the day after a win or if they score a certain number of runs. It’ll be interesting to see if those sponsorship deals get terminated as well. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/105 "2018-07-13T03:23:38Z")
Mookie Betts had a 13 pitch at bat that ended with a grand slam. One pitch more and it would have been the 99th pitch of the game and someone would have won $999,999. Year long promotion from a restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/106 "2018-07-13T10:29:27Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Mookie Betts had a 13 pitch at bat that ended with a grand slam. One pitch more and it would have been the 99th pitch of the game and someone would have won $999,999. Year long promotion from a restaurant. I was watching the game and as the next batter stepped up to the plate I noticed the pitch count. So close! But you’re an order of magnitude too generous. It’s only $99,999. [https://weei.radio.com/contest/cumberland-farms-99th-pitch-giveaway-0](https://weei.radio.com/contest/cumberland-farms-99th-pitch-giveaway-0) ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/107 "2018-07-13T15:18:28Z")
Are the Red Sox going to stop winning so much? Yanks are playing at a great clip and yet losing ground. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Textual\_Assault](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@Textual\_Assault](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Textual_Assault)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/108 "2018-07-13T16:36:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Why in tarnation are the Yankees thinking about Manny Machado? The Yanks have solid young players in Andujar at third and Torres at second. Didi has been more than adequate at short. Why bring in another stellar infielder? Infield depth is not the problem! Starting pitching is the problem! For my money you give Sonny Gray AND Sanchez for a #1 starter. Romine and Hasakioka are ready to take over at #1 and #2 catcher, Sanchez has more value as trade bait. Who would you rather have, a first ballot HofF who can play third AND short and players who are ‘solid’ and ‘more than adequate’ at those positions. Why bring in another stellar infielder? Well because the infield they have now sucks dick, that’s why. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/109 "2018-07-13T16:40:05Z")
> [@Textual\_Assault](#): > > Who would you rather have, a first ballot HofF who can play third AND short and players who are ‘solid’ and ‘more than adequate’ at those positions. Why bring in another stellar infielder? Well because the infield they have now sucks dick, that’s why. Actually Machado is a poor Short Stop. I would take him gladly at Third but not for the price on a rental unless the Yanks are trading Andujar for an Ace. Then I would at least consider it. Though I feel like Drury can handle 3b well enough and hit well enough not to bother. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/110 "2018-07-13T16:46:29Z")
A first ballot HOFer? Lol. Probably the only certain 1st balloter younger player thus far is Mike Trout. Even Joe DiMaggio wasn’t a first balloter. > [@Textual\_Assault](#): > > Who would you rather have, a first ballot HofF who can play third AND short and players who are ‘solid’ and ‘more than adequate’ at those positions. Why bring in another stellar infielder? Well because the infield they have now sucks dick, that’s why. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/111 "2018-07-13T17:08:15Z")
Speaking of Trout: there’s [a neat article on SI.com about him](https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/12/mike-trout-los-angeles-angels), and how he’s continued to get even better, and is having possibly the best season of his already-amazing career, while at the same time laboring in relative obscurity for a second-division team. As per Baseball Reference: [Trout’s WAR for the season so far is already 7.1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml), and we’re only at the All-Star break. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/112 "2018-07-13T17:29:54Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Speaking of Trout: there’s [a neat article on SI.com about him](https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/12/mike-trout-los-angeles-angels), and how he’s continued to get even better, and is having possibly the best season of his already-amazing career, while at the same time laboring in relative obscurity for a second-division team. > > As per Baseball Reference: [Trout’s WAR for the season so far is already 7.1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml), and we’re only at the All-Star break. Thank you for that! One reason Trout labors on obscurity is that he is low key and drama free. And he is very popular with his teammates. Would anyone disagreee that were he to suffer a tragic accident and his career ended today, based on his amazing statistics, he would still make it to the HOF? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/113 "2018-07-13T17:34:10Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Thank you for that! One reason Trout labors on obscurity is that he is low key and drama free. And he is very popular with his teammates. > > Would anyone disagreee that were he to suffer a tragic accident and his career ended today, based on his amazing statistics, he would still make it to the HOF? Maybe not, only 8 years so far. He has been absolutely amazing so far but it would be iffy to put him in. Give me the 2019 & 2020 seasons equal to his worst years\* and then I would say yes. - His worst year was amazing by most standards. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/114 "2018-07-13T18:51:09Z")
Looks like Chase Utley is going to announce his retirement at the end of the season this afternoon. Max Muncy has pretty much played Chase out of any field time. He’s 39, so this would be the right time to transition to coaching maybe. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/115 "2018-07-13T18:58:32Z")
> [@Textual\_Assault](#): > > Who would you rather have, a first ballot HofF who can play third AND short and players who are ‘solid’ and ‘more than adequate’ at those positions. Why bring in another stellar infielder? Well because the infield they have now sucks dick, that’s why. You obviously don’t know much about baseball. Gregorius is on pace for 4.0 WAR and Andujar leads all rookies with 41 extra base hits. Machado can take his infantile attitude and insistence on playing lousy shortstop to some other city. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/116 "2018-07-13T20:48:20Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Are the Red Sox going to stop winning so much? Yanks are playing at a great clip and yet losing ground. WTF? It is a damn shame one of these teams could potentially be eliminated after one postseason game as a Wild Card team. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/117 "2018-07-13T21:17:03Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > It is a damn shame **one of these teams** could potentially be eliminated after one postseason game as a Wild Card team. Not if it’s the Yankees. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/118 "2018-07-13T21:42:12Z")
> [@Textual\_Assault](#): > > Who would you rather have, a first ballot HofF who can play third AND short and players who are ‘solid’ and ‘more than adequate’ at those positions. Why bring in another stellar infielder? Well because the infield they have now sucks dick, that’s why. It’s rather insanely early to start anointing Manny Machado a first ballot Hall of Famer. Hell of a player, but he is at best halfway there. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/119 "2018-07-13T23:47:01Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Thank you for that! One reason Trout labors on obscurity is that he is low key and drama free. And he is very popular with his teammates. > > Would anyone disagreee that were he to suffer a tragic accident and his career ended today, based on his amazing statistics, he would still make it to the HOF? How exactly are we getting around the “minimum 10 seasons played” requirement for the HOF? Did Trout play 2 more seasons of exactly 0 WAR? It doesn’t change my answer, but I’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/120 "2018-07-14T09:07:09Z")
Can we talk about legitamite All Stars now, or is this discussion closed to BSox and Yankoff fanboys? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105.md?page=7)