# MLB: July **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 1, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097 "2014-07-01T14:40:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/21 "2014-07-03T22:31:09Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I have a question I guess mostly for **RickJay** , but also anybody who watches a lot of Blue Jays games: How is Jose Reyes getting along? I see his stats are down a little this year, but aside from that. When he was a Met he was always a real joy to root for. Aside from being a very good ballplayer and playing an entertaining style, he was just generally joyful and exuberant during games, and he helped make some pretty lousy Mets teams surprisingly watchable. > > So how’s he doing? Still smiling a lot? Does he get along with his teammates and the Toronto press? Reyes is perpetually happy. He’s pretty much unchanged, smiling and cheerful anytime he isn’t making an error. When he’s hurt, he is unfailingly in the dugout cheering his teammates and giving out the first high fives. You can’t fault the man’s attitude. Class act all the way. He’d help the team a lot more if he could get on base a bit more but he’s not hurting them. > [@](#): > > Oh, and while we’re at it: R.A. Dickey, same questions? Obviously an immensely likable guy and a fan favorite. I was sorry to see him struggle so much last season. Had a terrible April this year, but a 3.60 ERA in his last 12 starts suggests maybe he can get things in order, yes? Or is he just going to allow too many HRs in the AL East for structural reasons, and this is about as good as he can be? Again, he seems to get along fine and likes Toronto. I think what you see with Dickey is what you get. People have gotten over the idea of him being a Cy Young winner and realize he’s just a third or fourth starter. He’ll eat innings and win about half his decisions. That can be a pretty valuable asset. If the Jays are buyers at the deadline for a top starter (I suspect they will prioritize a second baseman over a starter, though, since Marcus Stroman is coming along and anyway a top flight starter would cost them more prospects than they even have) Dickey drops to third or fourth in the rotation, but he’s a reliable guy. > [@](#): > > I understand why the team couldn’t bring these guys back, but there’s only so much joy to be had from watching Curtis Granderson bat .230 for $15M a year. Ok, he’s doing better lately, but still. And, Christ, if we were willing to pay Granderson $15M through his age-36 season, maybe it would have made more sense instead to pay Reyes the $17M through age-35 contract he actually signed with Miami? Reyes is a weird player though in that he looks amazing when he’s healthy but is never healthy. If he can give you 120 healthy games, he’ll help you win, but who the hell knows if he will. He hurt himself on the first play of the season - no, really - and has been limpy ever since; if I was managing the team I’d probably start giving him regular days off in an effort to get him back to top form, which is clearly isn’t at. I’m praying the All Star break does him some good. Granderson, frustrating though a .230 average might be, is arguably a more valuable player because he really is just as good (his OBP is higher than Reyes’s - really, look it up) and he’s getting better, and he’s usually healthy. Last year was the only year he’s been hurt in like forever and he looks fine now. The Mets can count on Granderson to roll out there every day; the Blue Jays have to keep a car running in Buffalo all the time in case they need a new infielder to replace Jose. There’s a lot of value in knowing a guy’s gonna be in the lineup for you. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/22 "2014-07-03T22:48:35Z")
Read an item today that said this is the first time that both the Yankees and Red Sox have been under .500 this late in the season since 1984. I hope I will be able to post this comment again every day from now till October. (Don’t worry…I won’t) ---
**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 3, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/23 "2014-07-03T23:41:03Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Read an item today that said this is the first time that both the Yankees and Red Sox have been under .500 this late in the season since 1984. > > I hope I will be able to post this comment again every day from now till October. > > (Don’t worry…I won’t) But if that happens you must! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/24 "2014-07-04T02:06:40Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Read an item today that said this is the first time that both the Yankees and Red Sox have been under .500 this late in the season since 1984. > > I hope I will be able to post this comment again every day from now till October. I’m a Mariners fan, and I approve this message. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/25 "2014-07-04T02:28:55Z")
Excellent article here explaining the Mariners’ major improvement this year: [Five reasons for Mariners’ recent success](http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/sea/five-reasons-for-seattle-mariners-recent-success?ymd=20140703&content_id=82902324&vkey=news_sea) It mentions manager Lloyd McClendon a bit at the end, but I don’t think the article gives him enough credit. So far, from what I’ve seen of him, I have to say that he’s the first M’s manager I’ve _really_ liked since Lou Piniella left. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/26 "2014-07-04T02:50:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Zunino has great power. Doesn’t know how to hit, though, and if he doesn’t learn soon will be out of the majors, or a fringe player, in no time. > > 86 strikeouts, 11 walks. > > No player, ever, has had a K/W ratio that bad and remained even a half passable big league hitter. It has never been done and never will be done. It is impossible. Zunino reminds me of JP Arencibia, and in fact is remarkably similar. Right handed power hitters, both catchers, both tall and immensely strong, both highly regarded, both showed up and started hitting lots of homers but with alarming strikeout to walk ratios. JP has played himself right out of the majors at age 28. Sorry I didn’t reply to this sooner. I’m utterly unfamiliar with Arencibia (though I’ve heard the name). How was he defensively, and at handling his pitching staff? I’ve always understood that catchers were a bit like shortstops, in that offensive production is secondary to their defense/how they play their position. All the commentary I’ve heard on Zunino (admittedly, it has all come from Mariners announcers and commentators, so there’s naturally some bias) is that he’s the best we’ve had behind the plate since Dan Wilson retired. And honestly, he is. Between Wilson and Zunino, we’ve had a steady parade of catchers who were basically filling in until we could get somebody better (kind of like left-fielders during the Griffey era). The main thing I’ve heard is that the pitching staff, including Felix, immediately fell in love with the kid when he was called up last season. He seems to be a big part of why our pitchers have done so well since he became the full-time catcher. Zunino appears to be extremely gifted when it comes to calling a game; the comments I’ve heard mention that the pitching staff quickly learned to trust him and his ability to call for the right pitches at the right time. I have hopes that, with Lloyd McClendon managing, and Robinson Cano’s influence, the kid’s hitting can only get better. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/27 "2014-07-04T03:10:26Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Sorry I didn’t reply to this sooner. I’m utterly unfamiliar with Arencibia (though I’ve heard the name). How was he defensively, and at handling his pitching staff? I’ve always understood that catchers were a bit like shortstops, in that offensive production is secondary to their defense/how they play their position. He was okay. He was criticized a lot for his defense but really didn’t deserve it. Of course one expects more of a defensive contribution from catchers, but hitting matters. Even a solid defensive catcher cannot be completely inept with the stick, because the teams you want to beat will probably have catchers who can do both. The Angels have a good defensive catcher who gets on base a lot, as do the A’s. ---
**Author:** ![MentalGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MentalGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MentalGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/28 "2014-07-04T05:07:07Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Until they play my Reds, sadly. Ugh. Being swept by them is a HUGE setback going into the series at home against the Brewers, whom keep refusing to lose. Doh! > > That game where Latos pitched, giving up only one hit, a homerun, and losing by that one hit…damn. Shows you how lousy the Reds offense can be. And the subsequent losses against the Padres over the next two games just confirms how irregular this team’s offense really is. > > Hey…vote for Devin Mesoraco as your NL catcher, by the way. He’s earned it. Actually, that one hit was not a home run. The run came on a walk, stolen base, and two fly balls. The one hit the Padres got, the runner was stranded. ---
**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 4, 2014, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/29 "2014-07-04T07:29:14Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > All the commentary I’ve heard on Zunino (admittedly, it has all come from Mariners announcers and commentators, so there’s naturally some bias) is that he’s the best we’ve had behind the plate since Dan Wilson retired. And honestly, he is. Between Wilson and Zunino, we’ve had a steady parade of catchers who were basically filling in until we could get somebody better (kind of like left-fielders during the Griffey era). The main thing I’ve heard is that the pitching staff, including Felix, immediately fell in love with the kid when he was called up last season. He seems to be a big part of why our pitchers have done so well since he became the full-time catcher. Zunino appears to be extremely gifted when it comes to calling a game; the comments I’ve heard mention that the pitching staff quickly learned to trust him and his ability to call for the right pitches at the right time. > > I have hopes that, with Lloyd McClendon managing, and Robinson Cano’s influence, the kid’s hitting can only get better. Unfortunately, I think Kenji Johjima has been largely forgotten or ignored in Mariners’ catcher history; while he wasn’t spectacular, he was more than a placeholder. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/30 "2014-07-04T11:55:03Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Unfortunately, I think Kenji Johjima has been largely forgotten or ignored in Mariners’ catcher history; while he wasn’t spectacular, he was more than a placeholder. :smack:You’re right, I had forgotten about him. Didn’t he get homesick and go back to Japan? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/31 "2014-07-04T15:03:43Z")
The entire Red Sox lineup has forgotten how to hit, except on days when the pitching stinks too and they lose 16-9 instead of 2-0. Halfway through and they have a worse record than the Bobby Valentine team. There used to be an old guy who’d call into WEEI every day to complain about the team, and end each call by yelling “They’re RUININ’ my SUMMAH!”. ---
**Author:** ![Ambihelical\_Hexnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambihelical_Hexnut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/32 "2014-07-04T19:34:58Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Read an item today that said this is the first time that both the Yankees and Red Sox have been under .500 this late in the season since 1984. > > I hope I will be able to post this comment again every day from now till October. > > (Don’t worry…I won’t) Both the Yankees and Red Sox finished the season under .500 in 1992. ---
**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 4, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/33 "2014-07-04T22:08:55Z")
Here’s an interesting article showing how [lucky](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-giants-clustered-their-luck/) my Mariners have been. ---
**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 4, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/34 "2014-07-04T22:11:57Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > :smack:You’re right, I had forgotten about him. Didn’t he get homesick and go back to Japan? You’re not the first person I’ve seen say that we haven’t had a decent catcher since Dan the Man, so you’re not alone in forgetting Johjima. Yeah, he did get homesick, which is interesting because I think we had Sasaki and Ichiro on the team at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/35 "2014-07-04T22:38:43Z")
> [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](#): > > Both the Yankees and Red Sox finished the season under .500 in 1992. Then my source was wrong, or I misunderstood; apologies. I’ll still hope for an encore, though the Yankees have admittedly not followed the script since falling below .500 a couple days back. Well, one out of two is better than none. ---
**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 5, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/36 "2014-07-05T03:24:53Z")
[Cubs trade Samardzija and Hammel](http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11177585/chicago-cubs-trade-jeff-samardzija-jason-hammel-oakland-athletics) to Oakland for SS Addison Russell (A’s #1 prospect), OF Billy McKinney, P Dan Straily, and a PTBNL. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/37 "2014-07-05T03:37:34Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [Cubs trade Samardzija and Hammel](http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11177585/chicago-cubs-trade-jeff-samardzija-jason-hammel-oakland-athletics) to Oakland for SS Addison Russell (A’s #1 prospect), OF Billy McKinney, P Dan Straily, and a PTBNL. Huh. So, Hammel is a free agent after this season, and Samardzija after next. That … seems like an awful lot to give up for a total of 2 pitcher/seasons. ---
**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 5, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/38 "2014-07-05T03:43:54Z")
Looks like Beane’s tired of being a bridesmaid. I’ve seen a rumor that the Cubs are going to turn around and trade their prospect 2B/SS Baez for David Price. Don’t know how true that is. Not surprisingly, some Cub fans are pissed about this trade on the team’s website. I post over there quite a bit, and some of the “fans” seem to actively root for things to bitch about. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/39 "2014-07-05T08:37:33Z")
Both the A’s and Cubs got exactly what they needed. I think the A’s giving up shortstop Addison Russell may be somewhat of a mistake down the road but time will tell. Expect Starling Castro to be a bit more attentive now at shortstop for the Cubs as he looks over his shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/40 "2014-07-05T08:54:29Z")
Here’s an odd situation that happened in the July 3 game between the A’s and the Blue Jays in Oakland. It was the top of the second with one out and the bases loaded - Kawasaki was on first, Lind on second and Encarnacion on third. Gose hit a ground ball to Nate Freiman, who was playing first base. Freiman tried to tag Kawasaki, but the first base umpire ruled that he missed the tag. Freiman then threw to catcher Steven Vogt, who stepped on home plate to put out Encarnacion on a force play. Blue Jays manager Gibbons came out of the dugout to challenge the play. He said that Freiman hadn’t missed the tag on Kawasaki. The umpires went to replay, and sure enough, Freiman had made the tag, putting Kawasaki out. This removed the force play at home, and since Vogt had not tagged Encarnacion, they called him safe, scoring a run. The problem, of course, is that Vogt relied on the first base umpire’s call when making the play at home. He didn’t know the call on Kawasaki would be overturned - if he had, he would have tried to tag Encarnacion. A’s manager Bob Melvin informed the umpires that the A’s were playing the game under protest - a protest that became moot when the A’s won the game four to one. It’s a problem when a player relies on an umpire’s call that is later overturned. I don’t know what should be done in cases like this. Will players have to assume that any out or safe call might be changed, and plan their actions accordingly? This doesn’t seem reasonable to me, or even possible in a lot of cases. It also doesn’t seem reasonable to expect the umpires to figure out how a play would have developed if the players knew a call would be overturned. In this case, Vogt got the ball in time to make the tag, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he would have made it. And how could the umpires decide if the play were close? I’m sure the rules committee will look at this case, but I don’t know how they could change the replay rules to avoid problems like this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097.md?page=3)