# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/81 "2014-07-09T08:07:45Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Dodgers scored five runs off Justin Verlander in the first inning against Detroit, and then proceeded to lose 14-5. It’s about time for Fife’s annual cup of coffee, with Beckett on the DL with a hip injury. What happened to Ryu today? At least we didn’t let the dog-assed giants gain any ground on us. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/82 "2014-07-09T15:06:06Z")
The Dead Sox have opened the store for business. According to “unconfirmed reports” from “unnamed sources”, Jake Peavy is going to the Cards for Allen Craig, any minute now. Any pending FA or short-timer is available, including Lester, Lackey, Pierzynski, Drew (salary issue, though), Napoli (what are the Reds gonna do without Votto?), Gomes, probably Doubront … all it takes is enough of whatever the Marlins need so they can put a Stanton package together. ---
**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 9, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/83 "2014-07-09T15:18:58Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > It’s about time for Fife’s annual cup of coffee, with Beckett on the DL with a hip injury. What happened to Ryu today? At least we didn’t let the dog-assed giants gain any ground on us. I prefer Fife temporarily to sticking Maholm back in the rotation, which is apparently also being considered. Let’s hope Beckett’s absence is brief. ---
**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 9, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/84 "2014-07-09T15:36:31Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > There was a period when the A’s had a lot of players whose first or last names started with K. It peaked in 2008 with nine players (although I don’t think they were all on the roster at the same time). I liked to joke that Billy Beane had determined the letter K to be undervalued. Several years ago, the Reds had an outfield that featured Dmitri Young, Mike Frank, and Chris Stynes. There were quite a few references to “Young Frankenstein” made. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/85 "2014-07-09T15:54:33Z")
Last spring there were a gifs of the Braves starting outfield with the lyrics “Y’all gonna make me lose my mind/Upton here, Upton here.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/86 "2014-07-09T16:00:06Z")
Going back a bit, the Phillies DP combo was once “The Plays of Wine and Rojas”. ---
**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 9, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/87 "2014-07-09T18:44:08Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > We just play a guessing game in this situation instead of actually playing the game. Replay has no place in baseball. It’s not hard to come up with situations like these. It could happen on caught fly ball that an umpire mistakenly rules to have been trapped (i.e. not caught) and a runner advances without tagging up. The problem happens when players make decisions based on umpire calls that are then overturned - you can’t go back and restart the play from where the bad call was made. The rules prior to this season limited replay to situations where this couldn’t happen (home run calls, for example). I really think the rules committee should go back and look at this. There might be some way to limit the damage when a call is overturned, or to limit the situations in which replay can be used. ---
**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 9, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/88 "2014-07-09T23:01:42Z")
The A’s displayed a visual last night showing that since replay has gone into effect, there have actually been _7_ times that the umpire got the ball and strike count wrong. [Duane Kuiper calls out Angel Hernandez](https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/umpire--angel-hernandez-does-not-belong-in-the-big-leagues--%E2%80%94-duane-kuiper-164749453.html). He definitely earns his sobriquet as the worst umpire in baseball. ---
**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 10, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/89 "2014-07-10T00:08:31Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Several years ago, the Reds had an outfield that featured Dmitri Young, Mike Frank, and Chris Stynes. There were quite a few references to “Young Frankenstein” made. I loved Dmitri Young. My friends and I used to holler “cheeseburger, cheeseburger” at the TV when he lumbered around the bases. He’s been far, far surpassed in sheer fatitude by the likes of Prince Fielder and Pablo Sandoval these days. ---
**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 10, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/90 "2014-07-10T00:24:00Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The A’s displayed a visual last night showing that since replay has gone into effect, there have actually been _7_ times that the umpire got the ball and strike count wrong. Is that just for the A’s, or for all of baseball? Because if it’s the latter, i must say that i think that’s actually pretty damn good. Every team has played about 90 games so far. That about 800 half-innings of hitting for each of the 30 teams in MLB. That’s a total of over 20,000 half-innings (i.e., three outs) for all 30 teams in the major leagues. Even if every single inning were a perfect inning, with no baserunners, that would be over 60,000 hitters over the course of the season so far.\* If the umpires have messed up ball-and-strike counts on 7 out of 60,000, i think that’s something the game can probably survive - I’m being very conservative; the real number is actually considerably higher. ---
**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 10, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/91 "2014-07-10T02:25:17Z")
Hamilton with another triple. That’s 6 so far this year from the rookie. He’s hitting over .350 with RISP since June 1. Dude has been on fire, and his youthful enthusiasm is propelling the team. The Reds suddenly look dangerous in a division where there are FOUR teams over .500 right now. He’s got 39 RBI’s, is hitting .280 after being about .230 at the end of May, has an OBP of .312 now, a SLG of .420, has knocked in 5 HR’s, stolen 38 bases…and that’s not to mention his defense. The kid is starting to put it all together and it’s been really, really fun watching his speed induce opposing pitchers and defensemen into throwing errors. If you haven’t been watching this guy, it’s time to start now. ---
**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 10, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/92 "2014-07-10T05:08:18Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I loved Dmitri Young. My friends and I used to holler “cheeseburger, cheeseburger” at the TV when he lumbered around the bases. He’s been far, far surpassed in sheer fatitude by the likes of Prince Fielder and Pablo Sandoval these days. Did you see [his SI cover for the “Body Issue?”](http://msn.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/Buzzer/Images/2014/07/07/prince-fielder-body-issue-cover.jpg) > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > If you haven’t been watching this guy, it’s time to start now. As a Cub fan, I’ve seen enough of Billy Hamilton, thank you very much. ---
**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 10, 2014, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/93 "2014-07-10T06:28:00Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Is that just for the A’s, or for all of baseball? Because if it’s the latter, i must say that i think that’s actually pretty damn good. > > Every team has played about 90 games so far. That about 800 half-innings of hitting for each of the 30 teams in MLB. That’s a total of over 20,000 half-innings (i.e., three outs) for all 30 teams in the major leagues. > > Even if every single inning were a perfect inning, with no baserunners, that would be over 60,000 hitters over the course of the season so far.\* If the umpires have messed up ball-and-strike counts on 7 out of 60,000, i think that’s something the game can probably survive > > - I’m being very conservative; the real number is actually considerably higher. It was for all of baseball. But can’t the umpires look up at the scoreboard to help them figure out the count? And does it really take a call to New York to get it resolved? ---
**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 10, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/94 "2014-07-10T06:30:51Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I loved Dmitri Young. My friends and I used to holler “cheeseburger, cheeseburger” at the TV when he lumbered around the bases. He’s been far, far surpassed in sheer fatitude by the likes of Prince Fielder and Pablo Sandoval these days. Have you seen Pablo Sandoval lately? > **[Pablo Sandoval May Be 42 Pounds Lighter When He Enters Giants Spring Training](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1924867-pablo-sandoval-may-be-42-pounds-lighter-when-he-enters-giants-spring-training)** > > It seems years of Bruce Bochy nagging really paid off, because the new version of Pablo Sandoval is reportedly thinner and sleeker... ---
**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 10, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/95 "2014-07-10T06:38:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > But can’t the umpires look up at the scoreboard to help them figure out the count? The scoreboard is more likely to have it wrong than the umpires are. I have seen umpires notice that the count on the scoreboard is wrong and hold up fingers to indicate the correct count. This happens at least a few times a year at games I attend. ---
**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 10, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/96 "2014-07-10T18:31:30Z")
Th Red Sox started 5 rookies as position players last night against the White Sox. And The starter is a rookie. Holt, Bogaerts, Betts, Bradley Jr, and Vazquez, with De La Rosa pitching. First time they’ve done that, outside of Sept call ups since 1952. And it worked! ---
**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 11, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/97 "2014-07-11T00:09:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It was for all of baseball. But can’t the umpires look up at the scoreboard to help them figure out the count? But, as suggested by **Jeff Lichtman** , all you’re doing then is possibly compounding an error, or even adding an error where none existed. It’s like trying to measure the accuracy of an uncalibrated tool by using another uncalibrated tool. If umpires can sometimes get the count wrong, so can scoreboard keepers. I’ve seen the scoreboard at major league ballparks display incorrect ball and strike counts, and i’ve seen the same thing on television broadcasts. If you’re not sure, the only way to really check is to have someone look back over the tape and see how many balls and strikes there are in this particular at-bat. Hence the call to New York. ---
**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 11, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/98 "2014-07-11T03:08:38Z")
Will somebody tell Vin Scully what a “pearl necklace” is? He keeps saying things like “Kershaw adds another pearl to that necklace of scoreless innings.” It’s kinda jarring from Vin. ---
**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 11, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/99 "2014-07-11T03:19:25Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Did you see [his SI cover for the “Body Issue?”](http://msn.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/Buzzer/Images/2014/07/07/prince-fielder-body-issue-cover.jpg) > > As a Cub fan, I’ve seen enough of Billy Hamilton, thank you very much. Wow, Dmitri looks positively svelte there! And c’mon…you can never have enough Billy Hamilton! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097/100 "2014-07-11T03:27:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Will somebody tell Vin Scully what a “pearl necklace” is? He keeps saying things like “Kershaw adds another pearl to that necklace of scoreless innings.” It’s kinda jarring from Vin. He knows, it’s just that in his day they called it a “painted lady.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july/692097.md?page=6)