# MLB: June 2021 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 1, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367 "2021-06-01T18:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/141 "2021-06-16T01:22:31Z")
Vladdy Jr., man. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is just the flat out best hitter in baseball so far. I always expected him to be excellent but man, what progress. WEre he to keep doing this, and he’s gotta slump sooner or later, it’d certainly be the best offensive season in team history. I was 97% sure that the best offensive season in team history was John Olerud’s 1993, followed by Jose Bautista in 2011, but Baseball Reference goes Bautista, CArlos Delgado in 2000, then Olerud. I don’t 100% buy that, I’d still go with Olerud. But at this rate Guerrero would crush 'em by any analytical measure and most of the traditional ones - he is leading the AL in the Triple Crown categories. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/142 "2021-06-16T11:54:56Z")
The Diamondbacks are having problems on defense. Blew a 7-0 lead to lose their 20th straight away game to the Giants. I was amused by this win probability graph. [![](https://preview.redd.it/4rqv77ct7k571.png?width=1024&auto=webp&s=888a6b4b8da4f8c1ffbab38625211b327878e981) ](https://preview.redd.it/4rqv77ct7k571.png?width=1024&auto=webp&s=888a6b4b8da4f8c1ffbab38625211b327878e981) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/143 "2021-06-16T14:22:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > But at this rate Guerrero would crush 'em by any analytical measure and most of the traditional ones - he is leading the AL in the Triple Crown categories. It’s also remarkable that he’s accomplishing this without playing any home games at home. Hmm, well that’s what I was thinking watching the game last night, anyway. Just checked, and in 2019 he was a far better player on the road. Still, he’s killing it this year. He’s going to be a pain in the ass in the AL East for a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/144 "2021-06-16T14:23:46Z")
Dunedin and Buffalo both, by design, have basically the same dimensions as Toronto, and have no other obvious benefit to a hitter, so I have a feeling the home/road splits are mostly flukes. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/145 "2021-06-16T14:26:14Z")
It’s sort of like the National Weather Service suddenly posting a thunderstorm warning just as the black clouds materialize overhead. Thanks for the tip, fellas! ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/146 "2021-06-16T14:27:14Z")
Yeah, and his sample is tiny. Still, his 2019 home slash was an unpretty .239/.307/.370 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/147 "2021-06-16T15:23:01Z")
Didn’t the Blue Jays play a bunch of ‘home’ games away last season anyway? That happened with a few teams last year with the craziness of the schedule. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/148 "2021-06-16T16:10:27Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Didn’t the Blue Jays play a bunch of ‘home’ games away last season anyway? All of their home games were played (or, at least scheduled to played) in Buffalo last year; I’m not sure if they had any games in which they were technically the “home” team, but were played in a different city other than Buffalo. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/149 "2021-06-16T16:26:49Z")
It looks promising that the Jays will be back in Toronto before season’s end. Cross your fingers. Sahlen Field is said to be better for lefthanded batters than righthanded because of how winds blow there, but I am not sure a lot of data proves that. According to FanGraphs its a pitcher’s park by the standards of the International League, which isn’t a hitter-friendly league. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/150 "2021-06-16T16:35:21Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > All of their home games were played (or, at least scheduled to played) in Buffalo last year; I’m not sure if they had any games in which they were technically the “home” team, but were played in a different city other than Buffalo. This is what I’m talking about, I remember this game where the Blue Jays played a ‘home’ game in Washington DC against the Nationals. > **[Nationals 4-0 Blue Jays (Jul 29, 2020) Game Recap - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401225760)** > > Expert recap and game analysis of the Washington Nationals vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB game from July 29, 2020 on ESPN. I know there were some of these weird games, trying to remember how many. I’m pretty sure the Jays weren’t the only team in this weird situation ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/151 "2021-06-16T17:32:41Z")
Starlin Castro to the restricted list. We’ve seen this movie before. He wasn’t exactly setting the league on fire before this. > **[Nationals' Starlin Castro: Placed on restricted list](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-starlin-castro-placed-on-restricted-list/)** > > Nationals' Starlin Castro: Placed on restricted list ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/152 "2021-06-16T23:17:28Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I was amused by this win probability graph. I’m watching the game, and watching the Dbacks lead erode, and then in the eighth it’s looking good, still ahead, but only by three - but I’m “well, they’re only three up - a grand slam would put SF ahead.” So what happens in the bottom of the eighth? Usually a team losing that bad would have fired the manager, but my theory is they are saving money. Firing Lovelo would mean eating his contract and still paying his replacement. Part of me hopes they never win a game the rest of the year. You ain’t coming back from 28 games below .500 (!), and the team hasn’t showed a desire to actually win games in several season, so why not set the new record for futility? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/153 "2021-06-17T01:45:41Z")
Cleveland’s 2 through 5 spots in the batting order tonight form a palindrome. Rosario, Ramirez, Ramirez and Rosario. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/154 "2021-06-17T12:08:07Z")
The Mets continue to be on an absolute tear, winning three straight against the Cubs, for a season .583 WP, maintaining first place in the NL East by a 5-game lead. DeGrom has come out early in his last two starts; tonight he was out with muscle soreness after just three innings. Edwin Diaz continues to be an all-star level closing strikeout artist, and Lindor continues to shine on defense while steadily improving his hitting. This team is redonkulous. When (and if) Conforto, Nimmo, Syndergaard, and McNeil get off the injured list, they will be unstoppable. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/155 "2021-06-17T15:36:51Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Cleveland’s 2 through 5 spots in the batting order tonight form a palindrome. > > Rosario, Ramirez, Ramirez and Rosario. It’d be cooler if it was Rosario, Ramirez, Zerimar, Oirasor ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/156 "2021-06-17T20:03:29Z")
McNeil should be back this weekend, Conforto next week. Nimmo maybe end of month, Syn not til Sept earliest ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/157 "2021-06-17T20:49:15Z")
The Blue Jays have a fine offense and a good enough starting rotation but are falling out of contention because of the bullpen. In four decades of watching this team, this is the worst bullpen I’ve ever seen them have. Of course, most of the guys who SHOULD be in the bullpen are injured. And I do mean most. All of these guys are supposed to be in the bullpen: Julian Merryweather Kirby Yates David Phelps Ryan Borucki Tom Hatch Tommy Milone AJ Cole They literally have cycled through an entire bullpen; except for two guys the entire bullpen they have now is supposed to be in the minors or not on the roster at all. The result has been a disaster. On May 13 they were 20-16. Since then, the bullpen has have blown… seven games, I think. And that’s not counting last night, which they might not have blown if Ross Stripling had been pulled after the sixth, which he normally would have been but was left in because Charlie Montoyo was desperate to get another inning out of his starter before giving it to the bullpen. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/158 "2021-06-17T23:42:31Z")
And Carrasco…whenever. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/159 "2021-06-18T01:10:25Z")
Speaking of the Blue Jays, here’s your standard old 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play, courtesy of the Yankees. \ [https://streamable.com/4fbkiw](https://streamable.com/4fbkiw) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367/160 "2021-06-18T02:05:07Z")
But no, baserunning isn’t any worse than usual this year… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2021/943367.md?page=9)