# MLB - June

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 1, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767 "2014-06-01T13:51:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/21 "2014-06-05T05:26:51Z")

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Well, the expected and annual rash of injuries to key players has begun for the Rockies.

Two starters are on the 60 day DL, one due to a broken finger suffered in a batting situation where the ball didn’t actually hit him. He just swung and broke his finger. All Star Carlos Gonzales is on the DL again with another finger injury, and rookie Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado, who had a 27 game hitting streak at the start of the season, also broke a finger. Tonight their best starter, 5-1 Jordan Lyles, broke his hand.

Time for Troy Tulowitzki to break a rib.

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**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 5, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/22 "2014-06-05T11:48:17Z")

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Don Zimmer dead. Damn.

Yankees circling the drain. Sometimes teams get into a funk and come to the park expecting to find a way to lose. Tex can’t stay healthy, Jeter is having a sub par year, CC is both past it and can’t stay healthy. Time to rebuild.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/23 "2014-06-05T12:14:36Z")

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Don Mattingly is blaming the Dodgers’ woes which are relative - the team’s like a game out of a wild card) on a lack of team chemistry.

Obviously Don Mattingly knows more about baseball than I do, but I cannot help but notice that he has four outfielders and three of them aren’t hitting. How does a lack of chemistry make Matt Kemp not hit?

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**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 5, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/24 "2014-06-05T13:07:07Z")

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Maybe he meant lack of _chemicals_…

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/25 "2014-06-05T14:07:15Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Don Mattingly is blaming the Dodgers’ woes which are relative - the team’s like a game out of a wild card) on a lack of team chemistry.

Maybe having Beckett, Crawford, and Gonzales has something to do with that? 😉

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**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 5, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/26 "2014-06-05T14:45:06Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> How does a lack of chemistry make Matt Kemp not hit?

Kemp’s not hitting because he’s miffed he’s not playing every day. The reason he isn’t playing every day is because he isn’t hitting. So sad.

On the up-side, the Hello Kitty bobble heads they gave away the other night are kinda cute.

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**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/27 "2014-06-05T14:52:09Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> Don Zimmer dead. Damn.
> 
> Yankees circling the drain.

Zimmer/Popeye deserves a thread - the man was baseball through and through. A Brookyln Dodger, the third or fourth of many Third Basemen of The Mets. And Manager of the Cubbie Bears.

Let’s go Mets! Fuck the Yankees!!! And Go Cubbies!!

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/28 "2014-06-05T14:55:24Z")

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I mean, that could be, but seriously, Kemp’s a multi-year major league ballplayer. When he steps up to the plate he should be ready to hit, and to be honest I am inclined to believe he usually is. Kemp has played 51 out of 61 games, most of them all game, so he has very little to complain about.

Who knows, maybe it IS the Former Red Sox who’re the problem. But they weren’t a problem last year, and Beckett is sure holding up his end of the deal. I thought Yasiel Puig was the jerk? He was the jerk last year. All this “Chemistry” stuff is post-hoc. **When someone correctly and consistently begins predicting the performance of a team based on good or bad chemistry before it happens, I’ll start believing they know what they’re talking about.** Yes, even Don Mattingly, who I do not recall issuing any concerns about chemistry before Opening Day when he presumably knew who his ballplayers were and how they interacted in the clubhouse. Until then my inclination is to assume the Dodgers are 31-30 because they have been hitting and pitching and fielding about well enough to go 31-30.

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/29 "2014-06-08T20:12:20Z")

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Hell of a pitching duel going on between the Mariners and the Rays. Still scoreless going into the bottom of the 8th. King Felix has 14 K’s, a new career high.

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/30 "2014-06-08T20:35:05Z")

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And the Mariners take a 3-0 lead in the top of the 9th, on two triples!

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/31 "2014-06-09T00:27:14Z")

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Astros have actually been kind of good for an extended period of time - 17-12 for the last month. Kind of nice.

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**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/32 "2014-06-09T01:25:02Z")

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Nationals in first; now they’ve for a big four game series with the Giants. I’d be happy with a split, but they have played pretty well against the Giants in recent years.

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**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/33 "2014-06-09T01:29:30Z")

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Manny Machado sure seems like a nutcase after today.

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**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:** [June 9, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/34 "2014-06-09T01:45:26Z")

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Manny Machado needs a vacation. Maybe a week or two.

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**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/35 "2014-06-09T18:39:36Z")

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If Bryce Harper had done what Machado did, there would have been way more talk about it and what a punk Harp is.

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/36 "2014-06-09T20:56:06Z")

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w00t! The Mariners just finished a 6-1 road trip with back-to-back shutouts of the Rays. Today’s win puts them 5 games over .500. M’s bullpen only gave up one run on this road trip.

Interesting tidbit: Since the Mariners 8-game losing streak back in April, they have the 4th-best record in the Majors (27-16).

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**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/37 "2014-06-09T21:26:36Z")

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Tigers’ 9th inning woes continue. Last night it was Joba blowing the save. Nathan’s 9th inning performance on Saturday, despite the win, didn’t inspire any confidence.

With owner Mike Ilitch’s desire to win now, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade for another closer before too long. Huston Street’s one name that’s been bandied about the speculation mill. It would likely mean giving up some of our future (Robbie Ray, Nick Castellanos). But as a Tigers fan, I’m a-ok with that.

Street vs Nathan 2014

ERA  
Street: 1.08  
Nathan: 7.04

WHIP  
Street: 0.76  
Nathan: 1.57

Blown saves  
Street: 0  
Nathan: 4

ER  
Street: 3  
Nathan: 18

Padres aren’t going anywhere this year. I say deal them some of Detroit’s young talent for their closer and everyone’s happy.

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**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/38 "2014-06-09T22:07:56Z")

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And the Rockies send two more guys to the DL.

Three of the eight Opening Day starters, including two All-Stars, are out, plus three of the five starters from the Opening Day roster. Top prospect Eddie Butler, another starter, was put on the DL today. He made his Major League debut on Friday.

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**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:** [June 9, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/39 "2014-06-09T22:41:37Z")

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How long are the A’s going to keep paying Jim Johnson astronomical amounts and finally decide to kick him to the curb?  
I realize that even if they kick him to the curb they will probably still have to pay him, but at least he won’t be blowing any more saves.

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**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:** [June 10, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june/689767/40 "2014-06-10T05:10:21Z")

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Jim Johnson lived up to his crap season and them some tonight, now making bad fielding decisions. Just dump him, please?

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