# MLB: June 2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 1, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499 "2022-06-01T12:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/181 "2022-06-24T14:54:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > An MLB ump could make two million dollars in two months in an essentially invisible manner. The IRS would know, but they’re not telling MLB. To them it’s legitimate income. I assume (probably naively) that the FBI keeps an eye on this sort of income, as it would directly relate to large-scale fraud. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/182 "2022-06-24T14:58:00Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I assume (probably naively) that the FBI keeps an eye on this sort of income Wouldn’t they need probable cause and warrants? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/183 "2022-06-24T17:07:45Z")
I honestly don’t know. Looking a little further, I think the industry itself does a lot of the regulating. They caught an equipment manager who tipped off some bettors that a lot of the players on his team were going to miss a game due to Covid before the news broke. I bet a lot of that stuff happens pretty regularly - and the casinos/apps have a very big reason to maintain confidence in their product, and that betting lines aren’t being tampered with. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/184 "2022-06-24T19:26:18Z")
Well, tonight should be interesting. Apple TV has the exclusive rights to tonight’s Cubs at Cardinals game. There’s gonna be a lot of really pissed off Cubs fans in my neighborhood. Any summer weekend game between the Cubs and Cardinals is a must see, regardless of how bad the Cubs are. And, most sports bars aren’t gonna play games by jumping hoops to find an Apple TV stream. ---
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/185 "2022-06-24T19:58:19Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Now, hey… an ump works behind home plate 30-35 times a year. Log into a few betting sites, and you can place enormous sums of money on things directly under your control this very evening. Bet the over on the number of strikeouts in the game, and expand your strike zone a bit, and you just made a hundred thousand dollars with three minutes’ of effort on your laptop. An MLB ump could make two million dollars in two months in an essentially invisible manner. That’s still a very risky move. Because you have an enormous money riding on those strikeouts, now (you might win $200K, but you would also stand to lose a substantial amount if you lost). And however wide the strike zone, the game might not play out that way. And as the game goes on, you will be under tremendous pressure to expand the strike zone more and more, to the point where it will attract attention from fans, and officials. Meanwhile, suddenly coming into hundreds of thousans of dollars - let alone millions - with no apparent basis, is also something that attracts the attention of people. So between publicity about your strike zone, and people around you noticing that you’re flush with cash, you could be in big trouble fast. And that’s besides for the chance that you might actually lose … But I’ll grant that people could be tempted to try it anyway. ---
**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 24, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/186 "2022-06-24T23:54:19Z")
Josh Donaldson, very good 3rd baseman but also quite the ass. Tonight, he thinks he jacked one out, bat flip and styles instead of running. Ends up with a single. A little hard to root for this guy. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/187 "2022-06-25T00:02:44Z")
Just in case you didn’t see it before: > **[It's time for Banana Ball! The story of the Savannah Bananas](https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-05-15/savannah-bananas-baseball-mlb-rules-changes-facts)** > > Here's everything you need to know about how the Savannah Bananas minor-league baseball team is trying to revolutionize America's pastime. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/188 "2022-06-25T15:22:53Z")
An interesting look at Tanner Rainey, crossword devotee just as I am. > **[Nationals reliever Tanner Rainey is also a crossword devotee](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/23/tanner-rainey-crossword-puzzles/?fb_news_token=sbEbTmIaLkt478C1mZgdKA%3D%3D.tszkoxNZL%2BwtG1QtiaVZff9clcEPKX8PfHR3OMV22amv3AP8Y87e4ZFboGc%2FxjZOlW6Wgz4wkjuUE62uAZY2y7bO01VbeLInSKnfBuyZUFvbNNStGuebDUzD1twJizyo7tPdHDGuma%2BOg5sqW9Hr8UnVI63JtJxLEVDJHWrWwCluYZEVwX7gmIPfiirey31pYdazhwXIaGt%2FlnizPCHX39KzrCQ%2FDXh%2FXfGIRxj4RirXWfQ597jZijLkUNm%2FfHZwkFu1aL%2B6KsPQmv2i1hAbWYESwo4GhkGYTx6tPQaeNJA%3D)** > > “I get to the field and come in and if I have 20, 30 extra minutes, I’ll sit down and do that,” Rainey said of his crossword puzzles. “It’s just a good way to get the day started.” ---
**Author:** ![omenran](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omenran/32/3318_2.png) [@omenran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omenran)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/189 "2022-06-25T16:43:50Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > He hit for the cycle, accomplishing four hits in four at-bats, _in a game that lasted only six innings,_ That’s the most impressive part to me, at least since cycles usually don’t happen in just 4 plate appearances, of course any cycle is pretty rare. Only one in order - single, double, triple, home run- is more impressive to me. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/190 "2022-06-25T18:12:11Z")
If you’re looking for something interesting, put on Devil Rays vs Pirates. Yes, Tampa Bay is wearing their Devil Rays uniforms and I love it! ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/191 "2022-06-25T23:53:16Z")
The Astros pitched a combined no-hitter against the Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/192 "2022-06-26T15:29:07Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I bet a lot of that stuff happens pretty regularly - and the casinos/apps have a very big reason to maintain confidence in their product, and that betting lines aren’t being tampered with. I bet stuff like this is going to happen more often. Of course some people will get caught, because some people are morons; it’s a routine occurrence for people to be caught committing crimes that anyone with the IQ of a hamster could have gotten away with. It’s absolutely plausible that an ump could decide to make lots of cash from Sportsbettingaddicts Dot Com and get caught because he’s a complete nimrod. Looking at you, Jeff Nelson. However, it really wouldn’t take a criminal mastermind to figure out, in about twenty minutes, how to pull it off in a way assured to hide your tracks. Sports betting sites make this a bazillion times easier. That said, the problem is that if umpires Smith, Wesson and Colt get away with it, sooner or later a dumber guy like Winchester is going to do it and get caught, and that’s all it takes to fire a bullet into the heart of MLB’s legitimacy. > [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](#): > > Because you have an enormous money riding on those strikeouts, now (you might win $200K, but you would also stand to lose a substantial amount if you lost). And however wide the strike zone, the game might not play out that way. Oh that’s absolutely true. All gambling involves variance. A corrupt home plate umpire will, over the course of 30-35 games, have a 99.99% chance of winning most of his bets, but variance is such that if you don’t have the bankroll and you’re unlucky in the first few games in April, you could suddenly be in serious trouble. But that’s very much my point. You’re approaching this WAY too rationally and cautiously. If you are willing to be corrupt AND you’re patient and risk-averse, you could make millions from this and absolutely, positively get away with it. Building your bankroll, not involving any co-conspirators, (except maybe your spouse - have her/him place the bets) being careful about never favoring or hurting any teams too much, and being very careful with revealing your money and you can totally pull this off. But while those sorts of officials WILL exist if they don’t already, sooner or later one guy is going to try this who is stupid and has an ill-conceived plan, or who, like a lot of gamblers, allows the visions of dollar signs to overwhelm caution. He will get in trouble with gambler or go bankrupt or flash his new Lamborghini or involve a bunch of scumbags in his harebrained scheme (that’s how Pete Rose was caught.) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/193 "2022-06-26T21:48:36Z")
[https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1541161796731654144](https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1541161796731654144) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/194 "2022-06-27T19:24:38Z")
The Royals did something smart! They found a suitor for Carlos Santana, and walked away with more than a batting helmet full of nachos (which, frankly, would have made them winners in the deal). They got two minor league arms from the Mariners who don’t appear to be terrible. And in doing so, they’ve made room on the 27- man roster for Italian Breakfast, Vinnie Pasquantino! I’ve been waiting all season for them to let him take a stab at MLB pitching. He’s an incredibly patient hitter (101 BBs and 100 Ks over the last 2 seasons), with a bit of pop (100 XBHs). ---
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/195 "2022-06-27T19:36:26Z")
Not related to the current season, but a great article I came across about one of the less appreciated HOFers. “… but not your eyes, Mize, not your eyes.” > **[Not Your Eyes, Mize, Not Your Eyes](https://fourcrickets.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/not-your-eyes-mize-not-your-eyes/)** > > In 1947, Johnny Mize did something unmatched in baseball history. He became the first and, so far, only player to hit 50 or more home runs while striking out less than 50 times, one of the game’s e… ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/196 "2022-06-27T23:09:04Z")
The Nats start a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home today. We took two out of three from the Rangers in Arlington. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/197 "2022-06-28T02:10:12Z")
Nats took the lead against the Pirates for the first time in the 8th inning, and held on to win 3-2. We have won five of our last seven. [![](https://i.imgur.com/QwlKDGq.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/QwlKDGq.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/198 "2022-06-28T02:32:03Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > They got two minor league arms from the Mariners who don’t appear to be terrible. Might as well bring up these guys as well. The 3 Royals pitchers tonight have ERAs of 7.68, 5.00, and 15.75. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/199 "2022-06-28T12:23:46Z")
Yankee rally aided by two catcher’s interferences in same inning. You can watch a lot of baseball in one year and never see a catcher’s interference. To see two in the same inning is unbelievable. This team finds a way to win. Down 5-1? No problem, just score 8 more. ---
**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 28, 2022, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499/200 "2022-06-28T12:28:37Z")
The 98 team had a big knack for come from behinds and really taking advantage of mistakes. Though the starting pitching has been less sharp lately. On the other had, the Yanks have a lot of bullpen help working its way back now. Chapman is close, maybe tomorrow. Loáisiga is expected back in July and Germán is scheduled for a rehab start in AA today. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2022/965499.md?page=11)