MLB: June 2015

Buck Scowalter says “We really didn’t like the description of some of the things he was feeling after his start on the 10th.”

Of course, on the 15th Chen threw 8 shutout innings with 9 Ks against the Phillies.

Duquette was much more straight forward. The move was “consistent with how we’ve managed our pitching staff the last couple of years.”

Chen, a free agent to be, and his agent, Scott Boras of course, were not pleased. And it’s hard to believe that whoever makes the spot start will fare better than Chen. I don’t care how the Jays hit left handed pitching.

MLB has cancelled over 60 million All-Star ballots.

It looks like we may not get ‘National League vs. KC Royals’ after all…

Alex Rodriguez with his 3000th hit, a HR off Verlander.

I was in the stands a couple of nights ago and saw hits number 2996 and 2997, along with a couple of walks and a stolen base (and an RBI, and a failed attempt to score from second on a single). I was intrigued by the amount of support he was receiving from the fans, at least the fans in my section (the cheap, cheap seats waaaay up over left field)–there was a LOT of cheering and chanting when he came up. Somehow did not expect to hear “A-rod, A-rod” from Yankees fans in an non-ironic, non-mocking way.

Mississippi Braves manager Phillip Wellman performs a tribute to Earl Weaver. I especially enjoyed his tossing the rosin bag like a grenade.

I still predict that KC sends at least 5 starters to the All Star Game.

Max Scherzer lost a perfect game in the top of the 9th, on a HBP with two strikes and two out. He had to settle for a no-hitter.

Because he hit the 27th batter.

Kansas City voters are apparently pushing Nori Aoki in the All-Star balloting for the National League, too, though the way he’s batting, he deserves a spot anyway.

Orem Owlz minor league team decided that it would be inappropriate to hold their scheduled Caucasian Heritage Night. Gee, I can’t imagine anything wrong with that.

A one hitter and now a no hitter. I like this fellow.

He’s a great pitcher, Larry. But as a Cub fan, he’s someone we might have to contend with if we both make the postseason…

My Seattle Mariners have named Edgar Martinez their new hitting coach, effective immediately.

A perfect game lost to body armor. Tabata would have pulled an unprotected elbow out of the way on that pitch.

From some of sports sites comments I am amazed by the ignorance of baseball fans about the 3 inning save. I saw several comments that just thought it was some perverse official scorer decision to award a save for Bryan Mitchell in yesterday’s Yankees win over Detroit.

Raises a question though is a 3 inning save in a 14-3 blowout worth noting? In defense of this old scoring rule, in today’s game a pitcher going 3 to finish the game and to “save” the rest of the bullpen is probably more valuable than it was in the 70s if the game is a blowout. But it is hardly the intent of the rule when it was conceived.

Hey, that’s cool. I always liked and respected Edgar. He use to owned my Yankees. Seem like he always hit us hard and at crucial times. A very professional hitter.

Someone help me here. Could the Nats catcher have appealed to the 3rd base umpire to decide if the batter made the proper effort to get out of the way of the inside pitch that hit the batter’s elbow?

He could probably ask, but there is no way anything would happen on that call.

I actually read one article that heavily implied (or maybe outright stated) that the Nats could have challenged the play, but a quick review of the rules say otherwise. I think the Nats manager was quoted as saying he wouldn’t have because he didn’t want to mess with Scherzer’s rhythm.

Did Tabata get plunked today?

Daryl Hamilton dead after murder-suicide..

Biggest cheers I’ve heard for him this year were in Miami–he pinch-hit with a chance to tie the game and the MARLINS fans were going bananas. He’s a local boy and I guess very popular.

ESPN claims to have proof that Pete Rose bet on games he was playing in, something he has always denied.

Saw this headline today. What timing - right before the All Star game in Cincinnati where he was supposedly going to be at least partially reinstated. So much for that. Rose will not see his HoF induction, which I doubt will ever happen anyway.

Is ANYONE surprised about the Rose revelations? He’s been lying all along, his lies slowly unraveling bit by bit. Next we’ll find out he bet against the Reds.

On ESPN’s Sunday Night game last night, they were discussing this game. Curt Schilling was asked whether he thought that Tabata’s actions were within the unwritten rules of the game. Schilling advised that he had no problems with Tabata leaning in to get hit.

And Schilling has at least empathy for Scherzer, since Schilling had a perfect game bid broken up with 2 outs in the 9th by a bunt single. As I remember it, Schilling and company were very upset at the time. I guess distance really does lend perspective.