# 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:** 3
**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, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/41 "2014-07-05T09:22:16Z")
I forgot to add in my previous post #39 (just above Jeff Lichtman’s) that two Oakland A’s starters, RHP Ryan Cook and RHP A.J. Griffin are on the A’s DL. They’ll BE BACK in 2015. Look out… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/42 "2014-07-06T18:38:25Z")
Alfonso Soriano designated for assignment. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. ---
**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 6, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/43 "2014-07-06T19:29:03Z")
Are the Cubs still on the hook for part of his salary if he’s down in the minors, or if he refuses his assignment? ETA: Oh, and **Little Pig** , I’ve seen an article suggesting that the Mets should look into trading for Castro. ---
**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 6, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/44 "2014-07-06T20:15:22Z")
I just wanted to drop in here a personal note of pride: I had the pleasure of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at an MLB game this past week. Highlight of a lifetime. ---
**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 6, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/45 "2014-07-06T20:28:45Z")
WAY cool! What was the reason for your exalted position? ---
**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 6, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/46 "2014-07-06T20:48:35Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I just wanted to drop in here a personal note of pride: I had the pleasure of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at an MLB game this past week. Highlight of a lifetime. Cool! How much did you practice? I’ve promised myself that in the unlikely event that I get the opportunity to throw out a first pitch, I’ll practice throwing off a mound for a week in advance. ---
**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 6, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/47 "2014-07-06T22:22:45Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I just wanted to drop in here a personal note of pride: I had the pleasure of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at an MLB game this past week. Highlight of a lifetime. Very cool! Why you? What happened? Was it a strike? ---
**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 6, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/48 "2014-07-06T22:28:51Z")
I know everyone is tired of the Derek Jeter Farewell Tour, and he’s not close to the player he was… but he had three hits today and that fucking rocks. When I was a young Yankees fan in the 70s, I read so many book about Ruth, Gehrig, Dimaggio, Mantle, Berra, etc. Jeter is the guy I got to see for his whole career. He’s probably going to wind up 6th all time for hits. More than Honus fucking Wagner. ---
**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 6, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/49 "2014-07-06T22:33:36Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > WAY cool! What was the reason for your exalted position? Largely luck. As a birthday present to myself, I bought a package through MasterCard that allowed me to be on the field during batting practice, along with some most-excellent front-row field-level seats. I thought _that_ would be a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Then the people coordinating with me called and said it was a night they were doing their Priceless Surprises for MasterCard users, and they’d selected me for the opportunity to throw out the first pitch…_if_ I wanted to do it. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I said that I most assuredly wanted to do it, although the language running through my head was slightly less eloquent and family-friendly. > [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > How much did you practice? I’ve promised myself that in the unlikely event that I get the opportunity to throw out a first pitch, I’ll practice throwing off a mound for a week in advance. I found out a week ahead of time that I’d be doing it. I went out on three different days to practice; however, due to poor planning, none of them involved a mound. Two were just in a park, having counted off the appropriate distance, and the last day was on a softball field with an actual plate and friend acting as a catcher for my targeting. Also, about five minutes before I took the mound at the stadium, one of the team’s ball boys came out and warmed me up, which was very cool. > [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Was it a strike? My friends have generously said yes; I disagree (and I think the video supports me). It was definitely not a bad pitch. It was very slightly low and outside (to an imaginary right-handed batter), and had I been pitching to Puig, he would have swung and missed. I did not embarrass myself, which was my ultimate goal. ---
**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 6, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/50 "2014-07-06T22:35:30Z")
That’s fucking fantastic! ---
**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 6, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/51 "2014-07-06T22:57:28Z")
Nice one, **Asimovian**. If i’m playing catch with a friend at 60 feet, i can throw it straight into his glove time after time. But if i was out there in the middle of a stadium, i reckon i’d probably bounce it about five feet in front of the plate, or throw it over the catcher’s head and into the stands. In other baseball news, the Orioles have been quietly winning series, and have slowly and surely made their way to the top of the (pretty damn mediocre) AL East. They’ve been helped by the fact that the Blue Jays have come back to earth, going 7-13 over their last 20 games. Baltimore gave up what should have been a winning lead over the Red Sox today, but managed to get the win in extra innings. ---
**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 6, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/52 "2014-07-06T23:01:48Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Nice one, **Asimovian**. > > If i’m playing catch with a friend at 60 feet, i can throw it straight into his glove time after time. But if i was out there in the middle of a stadium, i reckon i’d probably bounce it about five feet in front of the plate, or throw it over the catcher’s head and into the stands. Nearly everyone I knew who had advance notice sent me video of 50 Cent’s magnificent first pitch (which I’d already seen). I certainly cannot claim that I wasn’t well aware of the potential pitfalls. ---
**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 7, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/53 "2014-07-07T01:15:41Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > In other baseball news, the Orioles have been quietly winning series, and have slowly and surely made their way to the top of the (pretty damn mediocre) AL East. They’ve been helped by the fact that the Blue Jays have come back to earth, going 7-13 over their last 20 games. Not that you could tell from the 2 most recent games against the Nats, but the Cubs have been playing a lot better baseball as of late. Too bad they had such a shitty start to the season, or they could be right in the thick of things. I think they HAVE to get rid of Darwin Barney. I know he’s a Gold Glove winner, and he’s been playing better recently, but with every infield prospect they have in the minors, they can equal his production while getting the kids some important at-bats. I like Barney. He tries. He plays all-out, and I have to respect him for that. He strikes me as a lesser Fernando Vina. But they need to see what Kris Bryant and company can do. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/54 "2014-07-07T01:20:18Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Largely luck. As a birthday present to myself, I bought a package through MasterCard that allowed me to be on the field during batting practice, along with some most-excellent front-row field-level seats. I thought _that_ would be a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Then the people coordinating with me called and said it was a night they were doing their Priceless Surprises for MasterCard users, and they’d selected me for the opportunity to throw out the first pitch…_if_ I wanted to do it. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/55 "2014-07-07T01:57:22Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > My friends have generously said yes; I disagree (and I think the video supports me). It caught the corner, man. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/56 "2014-07-07T04:32:30Z")
Congrats **Asimovian** , I always told myself that if I threw out the first pitch, I’d shake off the first few signals for a laugh, but in reality, I’d probably bury it in the ground ten feet in front of me and end up on Tosh.0. Meanwhile, the Nats bullpen has been crazy good. Soriano has 21 saves and a 1.03 ERA; Drew Storen has a 1.03 ERA; Aaron Barrett has a 1.93 ERA; and Tyler Clippard has a 1.95 ERA. If they get a lead, it’s almost a lock. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/57 "2014-07-07T04:54:52Z")
Jeff Samardzjia was chosen as a National League All-Star, but because he’s now an Oakland A, he can’t participate. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/58 "2014-07-07T15:23:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Congrats **Asimovian** , I always told myself that if I threw out the first pitch, I’d shake off the first few signals for a laugh, but in reality, I’d probably bury it in the ground ten feet in front of me and end up on Tosh.0. > > Meanwhile, the Nats bullpen has been crazy good. Soriano has 21 saves and a 1.03 ERA; Drew Storen has a 1.03 ERA; Aaron Barrett has a 1.93 ERA; and Tyler Clippard has a 1.95 ERA. If they get a lead, it’s almost a lock. How many times has a team 9 games over .500 only had 1 All-Star? I thought Soriano would make it, Rendon certainly deserves to go over Josh Harrison, and Fister has been more than solid since he came back. It’s an injustice, I tell you. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/59 "2014-07-07T15:29:50Z")
I would have liked to see LaRoche go, he’s never been. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/60 "2014-07-07T16:14:22Z")
The defending world champs get one (1) representative. The ASG is all about “What have you done for me lately?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097.md?page=4)