# MLB: July 2025 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 1, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357 "2025-07-01T16:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/121 "2025-07-12T22:36:17Z")
Judge just **looks** like a comic book character come to life. ---
**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, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/122 "2025-07-12T22:38:35Z")
Some people say he looks like Sid from Toy Story. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/123 "2025-07-12T23:36:13Z")
The result was expect but I gotta hand it to the White Sox. Was at that game today, they did a good job of remembering that World Series win 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/124 "2025-07-13T03:53:06Z")
On Byron Buxton Bobblehead Night, Buxton [hit for the cycle](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45725727/twins-all-star-byron-buxton-hits-cycle-vs-pirates). ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/125 "2025-07-14T01:24:04Z")
It’s hard to not be romantic about baseball. ---
**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 14, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/126 "2025-07-14T01:46:33Z")
The Brewers go into the All-Star break at 56-40, one game behind the Cubs in the NL Central, and with the third-best record in the National League. Their 56 wins is the most that a Brewers team has ever had at the break. Originally, one Brewer – pitcher Freddy Peralta – was selected for the All-Star Game. Last week, Peralta was joined on the roster by rookie sensation, pitcher Jacob Misiorowski; this caused a stir, as Mis was only called up from the minors in mid-June, and has only pitched in five games (though he has pitched exceptionally well). Even speaking as a Brewers fan, I think adding him to the roster with such a limited amount of service is unfair to other deserving pitchers, but I imagine that the league likes the media buzz. (Peralta pitched today against the Nationals, and won’t be on the active roster for the ASG; he’s being replaced by Brewers closer Trevor Megill.) ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/127 "2025-07-14T13:31:09Z")
That’s really cool. ---
**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 14, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/128 "2025-07-14T13:58:26Z")
As we reach the All-Star break, the best team in baseball, and the only team playing better than .600 ball, is the Detroit Tigers, who have a massive lead in their division. The BoSox have won 10 in a row to climb back into the AL East race, and the Astros continue to lead the AL West. The Dodgers, despite recent struggles, still lead the NL West, while the other two NL divisions feature tight races between the Cubs and Brewers, and the Phillies and Mets. Biggest surprise to me, as others have mentioned, is of course the Tigers. Biggest disappointment IMO is probably the Orioles, who are at the bottom of the AL East. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/129 "2025-07-14T14:39:08Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > and the only team playing better than .600 ball, is the Detroit Tigers, who have a massive lead in their division. And somehow the Mariners just swept them. Baseball is funny. After the Mariners debacle in NY (swept by the Yankees), I had almost given up. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/130 "2025-07-14T16:23:47Z")
ISTM baseball is a bit like bowling. In bowling 5 strikes followed by 5 spares scores very differently than 5 each alternating strikes and spares. Stringing hot play back to back scores better. Waaay better. Stringing together hits into any given inning in baseball has the same effect. 9 singles, one per inning, scores bupkiss, or close to it. 9 singles in 1 inning scores maybe 8. Which will probably take the game even if that team is hitless the other 8 innings. Which suggests that the key to baseball is when several players get hot in the same game, versus them taking turns, each becoming hot in one game. Which is also where the surprise upsets come from. Once in awhile based on series strategy you see something like the starter struggles, the other side runs up a huge early lead, and the manager chooses to essentially write off this game and leave the starter out there to finish burying himself while the manager is hoarding his bullpen for the subsequent game(s). This is another way a surprise upset can occur. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/131 "2025-07-14T22:01:47Z")
All star starting lineups released > **[MLB All-Star Game 2025: Starting lineups announced; Shohei Ohtani leads off...](https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-all-star-game-2025-starting-lineups-announced-shohei-ohtani-leads-off-for-nl-aaron-judge-bats-third-for-al-190308322.html)** > > Three Dodgers are in the NL starting lineup, with four Tigers starting for the AL. Raleigh batting cleanup. I’m particularly interested in the all star game this year , I was overseas last year and I do like the return of the traditional uniforms. Nice to see some variety in the teams represented as well. I’ll be watching avidly ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/132 "2025-07-14T22:30:18Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Raleigh batting cleanup. The Dumper is in the rear. You have to love that. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/133 "2025-07-15T00:05:24Z")
Why isn’t Judge in the Home Run Derby? ---
**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 15, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/134 "2025-07-15T00:11:17Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Why isn’t Judge in the Home Run Derby He chose not to participate. Same reason Ohtani isn’t in the Derby this year. > **[4 biggest absentees from Home Run Derby and why Aaron Judge refused to compete](https://www.themirror.com/sport/baseball/home-run-derby-snubs-judge-1256175)** > > New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge will be joined by Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani on the MLB Home Run Derby sidelines in Atlanta's Truist Park ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/135 "2025-07-15T00:12:44Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/136 "2025-07-15T01:50:58Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > He chose not to participate. And he won it already, I don’t think he has anything to prove. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/137 "2025-07-15T02:56:36Z")
And Cal Raleigh is the 2025 Home Run Derby Champ. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/138 "2025-07-15T13:53:13Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Why isn’t Judge in the Home Run Derby? He would never place blame and say it in public but after he won the Home Run Derby his rookie year he went into a prolonged slump. In the 60 games after the break he hit .195 with .797 OPS. Before the derby he was hitting .329 and 1.139 OPS. A lot of players think the derby messes up their swing. ---
**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 15, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/139 "2025-07-15T14:48:27Z")
Quote from the linked Mirror article above: > The two-time American League MVP [cited how his 2017 derby win “exacerbated” a shoulder injury suffered right before the contest](https://www.themirror.com/sport/baseball/aaron-judge-home-run-derby-1195110). But the linked article in the quote doesn’t mention the shoulder injury, so who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/140 "2025-07-15T14:50:45Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > A lot of players think the derby messes up their swing. Or it can actually harm a player, as it did in 2022 when Julio Rodriguez participated in it a day after injuring his wrist on a stolen base attempt. The derby exacerbated the injury, and after the All-Star game he lost playing time. > **[Will J-Rod turn extended break into a blip?](https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-rodriguez-shrugs-off-home-run-derby-fallout)** > > This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer’s Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. Julio was a rookie and he made more in the derby than he made all year from his regular salary. And being in the derby helped raise his profile a lot. So it was the right move for him, I think. But it definitely hurt him on the field. Not only did he miss games while recovering, he wasn’t the same player when he came back. I don’t think he was at 100% even when he was cleared to play. This year he opted out of the All-Star game altogether, using it as an opportunity for rest. He’s been on a hot streak lately too. Aaron Judge is a great player and an experienced one, and he knows what the Home Run Derby is like having done it multiple times. I’m sure this was a carefully thought-out decision and probably a good one for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357.md?page=8)