# MLB: June 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018 "2011-06-01T23:16:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/81 "2011-06-11T14:34:33Z")
Yup, just another typical night at McCovey Cove. The Giants get their 9th walk-off victory, and add their 10th player (8 current) to the DL. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/82 "2011-06-11T16:27:43Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > A team doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be good enough to make the playoffs. Who do you see doing that instead of your guys? Good point, we need to outlast Tampa and the Jays and Detroit/Cleveland and I guess the Angels. The Yanks still look good enough to make the playoffs and hopefully a few pitchers return before then. Things just looked dim after a sweep by the Rivals and Joba heading for surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/83 "2011-06-11T16:56:33Z")
There are _ **sixteen** _ games remaining between the Rays and Yankees. By balanced measures, the Yanks have been pretty good against the American League as a whole, but very poor showings against two divisional teams _could_ do them in. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/84 "2011-06-11T22:16:25Z")
Take that, Tim Lincecum! You may be great but the Reds OWN you. That said, I fully expect the Reds bullpen to melt down and allow 9 runs in the 8th inning… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/85 "2011-06-12T19:32:54Z")
Francisco Liriano just had his perfect game blown with an error, but he’s still working on a no hitter against the Rangers through the 7th. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/86 "2011-06-12T22:33:19Z")
If this wasn’t the most embarassing weekend in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays, I certainly do not remember the one that was worse. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/87 "2011-06-13T00:39:29Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If this wasn’t the most embarassing weekend in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays, I certainly do not remember the one that was worse. On the bright side, maybe we can make McCoy a full time reliever, so he doesn’t have to hit, and we can dump Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/88 "2011-06-13T01:05:37Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Take that, Tim Lincecum! You may be great but the Reds OWN you. That said, I fully expect the Reds bullpen to melt down and allow 9 runs in the 8th inning… Ugh. Lincecum went into a funk last year when Posey replaced Bengie Molina…he appears to have gone into a funk this year when Posey got hurt. Apparently he doesn’t like changing catchers. Interesting\* in tonight’s game to hear the ESPN announcers go on and on at length about the difficulties the batters face in dealing with the shadows that happen with a 5:00 PM start. Odd that they don’t mention that the only reason anybody would start at 5:00 is because a network demands it. \*Interesting = hilarious, disingenuous, BS. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/89 "2011-06-13T01:52:06Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > Bah! The catchers are armored to their advantage in a collision. Whatever advantage is gained in armor is lost by the fact that the catcher has to watch and catch the baseball. He can’t get in a defensive posture, can’t watch the runner, and can’t brace for the collision. He’s vulnerable in exactly the same way, and for exactly the same reason, as a wide receiver extending his body to catch a pass. If the manly-man sport of football can recognize the vulnerability to injury in that situation, and at least _try_ to pass rules to mitigate the risk, I think baseball could do likewide without compromising its macho quotient. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/90 "2011-06-13T12:29:37Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Whatever advantage is gained in armor is lost by the fact that the catcher has to watch and catch the baseball. He can’t get in a defensive posture, can’t watch the runner, and can’t brace for the collision. > > He’s vulnerable in exactly the same way, and for exactly the same reason, as a wide receiver extending his body to catch a pass. If the manly-man sport of football can recognize the vulnerability to injury in that situation, and at least _try_ to pass rules to mitigate the risk, I think baseball could do likewide without compromising its macho quotient. I understand your point, but what you describe isn’t true in every case. There’s a wide spectrum of collisions, from what you describe to where the catcher catches the ball early, is able to see the runner, and can brace for the impact. Either way, they’re better off with their gear on. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/91 "2011-06-13T17:30:53Z")
I got to go to Dodgers/Rockies Saturday and Sunday. There was absolutely no defense by either team in either game. It was interesting seeing Gordon in person, he is tiny, the bat boy had 20 lbs and 2 inches on him in Saturday’s game. De La Rosa pitched OK on Sunday and it was nice to see a guy who will carry the team in a couple of years. The highlight for the weekend for me was Lilly stealing a base, although it may have been called defensive indifference he had a good jump off the bag and made a nice move after a solid hit. It’s plays like that that make the NL so much better then the AL, hell De La Rosa was batting .500 after his first at bat on the Sunday game. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/92 "2011-06-13T17:35:38Z")
Ted Lilly’s steal was crazy. You also got to see James Loney’s 4th (I think) grand slam ever, which is cool. I haven’t made up my mind about Gordon yet, but I like De La Rosa. He is still a touch raw, but I think he will get there. It only took him one inning to settle down this time, though he seems to still be only using his slider and fastball. His change is supposed to be coming along, but I guess it isn’t really there yet. His slider is nasty as hell. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/93 "2011-06-13T18:13:35Z")
I’m glad LeBron lost, because the Indians have been absolutely melting down. They need to shake things up offensively while they’re still in first. Time to call up Lonnie Chisenhall? Regardless, they really miss Hafner right now (they should have tried to deal him after he hit a couple of home runs, but that’s another story). ---
**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:** [June 13, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/94 "2011-06-13T18:30:05Z")
A few random observations: 1. David Ortiz in on fire, and i must say that it’s contrary to my expectations. When he was having a lot of trouble a couple of years back, i really thought that it was the beginning of what would be a long and painful-to-watch downhill slide. He has many of the physical characteristics of a player who is not likely to age well, and i thought his time was up. But from last May he began to pick it up again, and he’s currently on pace to have his best season ever, with an OPS+ of 174. He already has a better WAR (2.3) for the first two months than Baseball Prospectus predicted for the whole season (1.6). 1. Derek Jeter is gradually blooping and slapping his way towards 3,000, with only 7 hits to go. 2. I wish the writers at [MLB.com](http://MLB.com) would come up with some new terminology. I am fucking sick of reading about pitchers who “flirt with history” when they take a no-hitter into the late innings of a game. It’s very annoying. 3. I was browsing on [MLB.TV](http://MLB.TV) last night, watching highlights from the past few weeks, and i saw one that i missed when it happened. Has everyone seen [this play](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14981453&topic_id=11493214&c_id=mlb) by Asdrubal Cabrera? It’s pretty great. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/95 "2011-06-13T18:50:53Z")
Can’t watch the video from work, but is that the one where he barehanded it and flipped it behind his back to the 2nd baseman who turned it for the double play? I just saw that on TV yesterday. Amazing! ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/96 "2011-06-13T18:51:21Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Ted Lilly’s steal was crazy. You also got to see James Loney’s 4th (I think) grand slam ever, which is cool. > > I haven’t made up my mind about Gordon yet, but I like De La Rosa. He is still a touch raw, but I think he will get there. It only took him one inning to settle down this time, though he seems to still be only using his slider and fastball. His change is supposed to be coming along, but I guess it isn’t really there yet. His slider is nasty as hell. The grand slam was great especially the way we’ve been putting up runs lately I figured we were hosed being down 3-0. Every one was making solid contact both games. On a Rockies related note this is the second time I’ve seen Ubaldo pick live and both times he’s been lit up like a Christmas tree; it’s very disappointing. I went to the July 3rd game last year where he game up 7 runs in six innings, Sunday he gave up 7 in 5 1/3. Apparently he is winless at home this season. Have there been any rumors about what has changed since his early season dominance last year? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/97 "2011-06-13T18:57:36Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Can’t watch the video from work, but is that the one where he barehanded it and flipped it behind his back to the 2nd baseman who turned it for the double play? I just saw that on TV yesterday. Amazing! That’s the one. Appropriately enough, the batter on the play was Omar Vizquel, who has made some pretty spectacular plays at short himself. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/98 "2011-06-13T20:12:26Z")
THIS IS BECAUSE ASDRUBAL CABRERA IS AMAZING! (I just wanted you all to know) ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/99 "2011-06-13T21:57:36Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > It was interesting seeing Gordon in person, he is tiny, the bat boy had 20 lbs and 2 inches on him in Saturday’s game. De La Rosa pitched OK on Sunday and it was nice to see a guy who will carry the team in a couple of years. During his debut game against the Phillies, the announcer were saying that he used to take infield and batting practice when his Dad was finishing out his career with the Phils. The equipment manager couldn’t find a pair of pants that fit him, so he had to borrow the ballboy’s pants. This couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018/100 "2011-06-13T22:27:24Z")
> [@DxZero](#): > > During his debut game against the Phillies, the announcer were saying that he used to take infield and batting practice when his Dad was finishing out his career with the Phils. The equipment manager couldn’t find a pair of pants that fit him, so he had to borrow the ballboy’s pants. This couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5 years ago. Dee is older than you might think. Many people think he is younger than he is because of his size. He is 23 or 24. Not that it doesn’t mean that the story didn’t take place only 4 or 5 years ago, but just to put some perspective on things. He is a skinny kid and well past the point where he might just fill out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2011/584018.md?page=6)