# MLB: July 2023 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 2, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430 "2023-07-02T01:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 11, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/41 "2023-07-11T16:35:42Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Does the batter get an RBI when someone steals home? Nope; the batter has to either actually (a) get a hit on the play on which the runner scores, or (b) otherwise reach base on the play on which the runner scores (e.g., a bases-loaded walk or HBP, or on an error or fielder’s choice). As the batter just gets out of the way when a runner on third steals home, no RBI. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/42 "2023-07-11T16:38:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > or (b) otherwise reach base on the play on which the runner scores (e.g., a bases-loaded walk or HBP, or on an error or fielder’s choice). An error might or might not result in an RBI. It usually won’t; the circumstances where a scorer would judge that the run would have scored anyway even had the error not happened are not common. (It does happen, though.) ---
**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 11, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/43 "2023-07-11T16:39:07Z")
Thanks for the clarification! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/44 "2023-07-11T16:54:27Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > Does the batter get an RBI when someone steals home? > > Nope; the batter has to either actually (a) get a hit on the play on which the runner scores, or (b) otherwise reach base on the play on which the runner scores (e.g., a bases-loaded walk or HBP, or on an error or fielder’s choice). Wouldn’t a sacrifice fly be an RBI that doesn’t fit either of these two conditions? ---
**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 11, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/45 "2023-07-11T17:01:05Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Wouldn’t a sacrifice fly be an RBI that doesn’t fit either of these two conditions? Yes, you are correct. I should do better research before posting. 😉 But, it’s still a situation where, unlike the runner stealing home, the batter put the events into motion. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/46 "2023-07-11T17:03:46Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > the batter has to either actually (a) get a hit on the play on which the runner scores, or (b) otherwise reach base on the play on which the runner scores (e.g., a bases-loaded walk or HBP, or on an error or fielder’s choice). > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Wouldn’t a sacrifice fly be an RBI that doesn’t fit either of these two conditions? That is correct. The same is true of a ground ball (or squeeze bunt) that scores a runner but the batter is retired at first. > [@RickJay](#): > > An error might or might not result in an RBI. If the error occurs with two outs, there would be no RBI. But if the error occurred on a play that was, for example, a ground ball with less than two outs which would have plated the runner anyway, an RBI would be awarded, but the batter would not be credited with a hit. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/47 "2023-07-11T18:14:56Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > If the error occurs with two outs, there would be no RBI. But if the error occurred on a play that was, for example, a ground ball with less than two outs which would have plated the runner anyway, an RBI would be awarded, but the batter would not be credited with a hit. This is the likely scenario, yes. No one out, Volpe at third, Rizzo batting. The infield is back. Rizzo hit a grounder to deep short, he’s out short-to-first, Volpe scores. That’s an RBI. Same scenario, but the shortstop spikes the throw into the ground and Rizzo is safe. He reaches on an error, but it should still be counted as an RBI, because Volpe would have scored anyway even had the throw been good. Same scenario, but two out and the throw is errant; it cannot be an RBI because had the throw been good, it’s three out and no run could have scored. Same scenario, nobody out, but the infield was drawn in, and Volpe doesn’t break for the home on the grounder but breaks for home and scores when the throw gets away. No RBI, because he scored as a result of the throw getting away, not the grounder being hit. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/48 "2023-07-11T18:51:29Z")
Another scenario: One out, Volpe at third, Skowron at first, Rizzo batting. Rizzo hits a grounder to short. Shortstop throws to second for the force out, but Rizzo beats the relay throw to first as the run scores. Rizzo is credited with an RBI, reaching safely on a Fielders Choice. ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/49 "2023-07-11T18:52:44Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > One out, Volpe at third, Skowron at first, Rizzo batting. Rizzo hits a grounder to short. Shortstop throws to second for the force out, To be fair, Moose Skowron is an extremely slow runner, being dead and all, so that’s an easy play for the force out. 😃 ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/50 "2023-07-11T20:45:25Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > To be fair, Moose Skowron is an extremely slow runner He was inserted as the Ghost Runner ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/51 "2023-07-12T00:31:24Z")
I know, same old rant. but, I so wish they’d return to wearing the regular jerseys rather than the National and American ones. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/52 "2023-07-12T00:57:57Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I so wish they’d return to wearing the regular jerseys rather than the National and American ones. Agree! I’d much rather be able to look at the players and tell what team they play for than which league they play in. (Especially with how increasingly irrelevant the NL vs AL distinction has become.) ---
**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:** [July 12, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/53 "2023-07-12T01:54:46Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I so wish they’d return to wearing the regular jerseys rather than the National and American ones. Yes. Someone asked Manfred this week why they don’t go back to it. He seemed surprised they used to play the ASG in their own jerseys, and said “that would be a bad look”. God he’s useless. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/54 "2023-07-12T02:23:27Z")
They’re making the game tough to watch. The pregame was at glacial speed, with each player running in all the way from the outfield after low fiving about a dozen girls on the way in. The between inning breaks seem much longer than the regular season. The inane annual “Stand Up To Cancer” crap took forever. I’m all for MasterCard making donations to fight cancer, but having thousands of human props hold up signs doesn’t do anything but waste our time. Another vote to going back to regular uniforms. That was part of the majesty of the game in years gone by. Good overturn on the HR call. First replay view was all I needed- see the ball pass in front of the pole and it’s foul. Too bad they didn’t have an umpire working the left field line- oh wait a minute they did. ---
**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 12, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/55 "2023-07-12T02:37:38Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Someone asked Manfred this week why they don’t go back to it. He seemed surprised they used to play the ASG in their own jerseys, and said “that would be a bad look”. God he’s useless. I am 100% certain that they went to the special uniforms specifically to push even more crap to sell to fans. “That would be a bad look” to the league’s and teams’ bank accounts, I have no doubt. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/56 "2023-07-12T02:42:58Z")
Oh, of course. It’s all a money grab. I don’t mind the City Connect unis - I actually really like the vast majority of them. But who the hell is buying an All Star uniform? Maybe attendees of the game itself looking for a cool souvenir? ---
**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 12, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/57 "2023-07-12T03:01:09Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > But who the hell is buying an All Star uniform? I have no idea, but they’re extremely prominently displayed on the MLB Shop website right now, which suggests to me that, whoever is buying them, MLB thinks there’s a lot of those people. > **[MLBShop.com | MLB Store, Baseball Hats, MLB Jerseys, MLB Gifts & Apparel...](https://www.mlbshop.com/)** > > MLBshop.com is the source for official Major League Baseball gear including authentic jerseys, baseball hats, MLB t-shirts, baseball memorabilia, baseball collectibles, baseball cards, women's and kids baseball merchandise. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/58 "2023-07-12T03:06:37Z")
This is Ronald Acuna Jr. He’s hitting .331/.408/.582 with 21 HR and 41 SB. He’s a defensive marvel. He should be front and center of every single piece of marketing MLB produces. He looks like a computer-generated scrub from an unlicensed baseball video game here. Baseball trips on their own dick every single chance they walk out the door. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0y72shWAAIIGG5?format=png&name=900x900) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0y72shWAAIIGG5?format=png&name=900x900) ---
**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 12, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/59 "2023-07-12T03:11:26Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > He looks like a computer-generated scrub from an unlicensed baseball video game here. Which immediately brought this guy to mind: [https://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452033569e201b8d269f05d970c-350wi](https://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452033569e201b8d269f05d970c-350wi) [https://www.pressthebuttons.com/2017/03/meet-bobson-dugnutt-and-the-other-players-of-fighting-baseball.html](https://www.pressthebuttons.com/2017/03/meet-bobson-dugnutt-and-the-other-players-of-fighting-baseball.html) ---
**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 12, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430/60 "2023-07-12T21:47:01Z")
Luis Arraez of the Marlins is currently at a .383 batting average for the year; he’s the first player since 2000 to have a .380+ average at the All-Star break (in that season, Nomar Garciaparra, Darren Erstad, and Todd Helton were all over .380 at this point). No one since Ted Williams in 1941 has hit .400 for a season. This ESPN article describe what happened to the players over the past four decades who were chasing .400. > **[Luis Arraez is chasing .400 -- here's how others have fared](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/37991631/luis-arraez-400-batting-average-tony-gwynn-rod-carew-all-star-break)** > > Luis Arraez is going into the second half with a batting average over .380. Here's how other players who've hit that midseason mark fared in their chase for .400. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2023/986430.md?page=4)