# MLB: March/April 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 28, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055 "2012-03-28T16:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [April 5, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/61 "2012-04-05T23:58:18Z")
Indians/Jays is now the longest opening day game in MLB history. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/62 "2012-04-06T00:04:27Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Johnny Cueto is a fucking stud. Three hits in seven innings, Reds roust the Miami (???) Marlins 4-0. Good Opening Day Redleggers! I have Jose Reyes and Heath Bell on my fantasy team, but i’d be quite happy to see the Marlins go 0-162 this year. The fact that Cueto is one of my starting pitchers made today’s game even nicer. Blue Jays just took a 3-run lead in the 16th. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/63 "2012-04-06T00:04:56Z")
Meaning a) they blew a three-run lead an hour and a half ago, and b) I’m going to miss half of Community. Not all of it, because the Jays just hit a three-run homer. ETA: This game started FIVE HOURS AGO. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/64 "2012-04-06T00:13:09Z")
They may as well play another. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/65 "2012-04-06T04:22:42Z")
It was fun going to Dodger Stadium today and sitting in seats I’d pretty much never get to sit in normally to watch the game on the big screen. It didn’t hurt to get to listen to Vin Scully call the game, either. Oh, and Matt Kemp is easily going to break Barry Bonds’ single-season home run record, assuming he keeps up his current, torrid pace. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/66 "2012-04-06T05:10:37Z")
I’m sure Toronto and Cleveland’s pitching coaches are pretty happy tomorrow is a day off. I’m thrilled the Jays won a comeback game but what really thrills me is BASEBALL, BASEBALL, BASEBALL. Now, spring has begun. The sun is truly out; winter is gone, because baseball has started. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/67 "2012-04-06T11:32:29Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > It was fun going to Dodger Stadium today and sitting in seats I’d pretty much never get to sit in normally to watch the game on the big screen. It didn’t hurt to get to listen to Vin Scully call the game, either. > > Oh, and Matt Kemp is easily going to break Barry Bonds’ single-season home run record, assuming he keeps up his current, torrid pace. On pace for 162! Legendary year for Kemp. 😃 ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/68 "2012-04-06T13:08:51Z")
Also, Dee Gordon is ELECTRIC on the field. Check this out: [http://www.chadmoriyama.com/2012/04/gifcap-dee-gordon-does-his-best-ozzie-smith-impersonation/](http://www.chadmoriyama.com/2012/04/gifcap-dee-gordon-does-his-best-ozzie-smith-impersonation/) He isn’t always that good at short, but watching the whole game he has clearly improved from last year and his hitting has improved as well. He only got impatient in one at bat, in the others he took pitches, fouled off bad stuff in the zone and generally looked good. He even showed me might have just the tiniest (really small) bit of power turning a fly to center into a triple. It got ruled an error, but still, he ended up scoring because he was able to go from 1st to 3rd so damn fast. Weirdly, infield defense might actually be the 2012 Dodgers biggest strength. If Gordon continues to play well then they have (potentially) plus defenders at every infield position (and if they would move Kemp to RF, Ethier to LF and play Tony Gwynn in CF they would have plus defenders at EVERY position, but that won’t happen. Though it’s not like Gwynn would be a downgrade offensively from who they are running out there right now.) ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/69 "2012-04-06T15:28:30Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > It didn’t hurt to get to listen to Vin Scully call the game, either. I have a free preview of Extra Innings. I got to listen to Vin last night, too. I absolutely love listening to that man call a baseball game; I’m not even a Dodgers fan! I learned a lot of interesting stuff about Edinson Volquez early in the game. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/70 "2012-04-06T15:37:58Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Also, Dee Gordon is ELECTRIC on the field…He isn’t always that good at short, but watching the whole game he has clearly improved from last year and his hitting has improved as well. This is one of the things I noticed in the Spring Training games I went to, as well. Last year, it seemed like Dee was always great at getting to the ball, but when he turned and threw, you didn’t really know where the ball was going to end up. This year, it looks like he’s much more under control after he fields it. He’s going to be fun to watch out there. And holy shit is that man fast. > [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > I have a free preview of Extra Innings. I got to listen to Vin last night, too. I absolutely love listening to that man call a baseball game; I’m not even a Dodgers fan! I learned a lot of interesting stuff about Edinson Volquez early in the game. He is such an amazing announcer. There are people I know who don’t even like _baseball_ who enjoy listening to him. There are other announcers out there I love for other reasons (Tom Hamilton is maybe the most snarky and enthusiastic man in baseball, and he helped me fall for the Indians when I was first introduced to them), but no one touches Vin. Five more days until the home opener!!! ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/71 "2012-04-06T15:47:00Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > This is one of the things I noticed in the Spring Training games I went to, as well. Last year, it seemed like Dee was always great at getting to the ball, but when he turned and threw, you didn’t really know where the ball was going to end up. This year, it looks like he’s much more under control after he fields it. He’s going to be fun to watch out there. And holy shit is that man fast. Yeah, 2011 Dee Gordon doesn’t make that play. He airmails it into the dugout instead of getting it to Loney. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/72 "2012-04-06T16:12:22Z")
The sale of the Dodgers should get done eventually, but there _may_ be some problems with the deal. [The group buying the team has been slow to submit details, and some MLB people are starting to worry.](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/04/06/dodgers-sale/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp) ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/73 "2012-04-06T18:39:28Z")
According to the Rangers broadcast, Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura have never spoken since [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6dW32kLEmM) until today, before the Rangers-White Sox game. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/74 "2012-04-06T19:03:06Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > According to the Rangers broadcast, Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura have never spoken since [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6dW32kLEmM) until today, before the Rangers-White Sox game. Are they saying that’s because of animosity? Because otherwise, I’m wondering how much occasion they would have had for idle chatter. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/75 "2012-04-06T19:39:26Z")
I love it! The Texas Rangers are starting Darvish in his first game on Monday against the Mariners. Darvish vs Ichiro should be entertaining. However ESPN has the Rangers \*\*Sunday \*\*night game against the White Sox as their game of the week where the Rangers are starting…Matt Harrison! ESPN’s Monday night game is the Cubs/Brewers ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/76 "2012-04-06T20:52:52Z")
Not exactly a pitchers’ duel going on in Tampa right now. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/77 "2012-04-06T21:02:15Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > On pace for 162! Legendary year for Kemp. 😃 While your bullshitting, someone probably joked early in 2001 that Barry Bonds was on pace for 73 HRs. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/78 "2012-04-06T21:20:48Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > While your bullshitting, someone probably joked early in 2001 that Barry Bonds was on pace for 73 HRs. I don’t think it’s impossible that Kemp will get to 50 this year. Calling it and then doing it would be pretty bad-ass, though. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/79 "2012-04-06T21:28:24Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I don’t think it’s impossible that Kemp will get to 50 this year. Calling it and then doing it would be pretty bad-ass, though. Yeah it would. I do think he can do 50 too. I want to at least see him go 45 /45 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/80 "2012-04-06T21:33:18Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Yeah it would. I do think he can do 50 too. I want to at least see him go 45 /45 Because I’m just this much of a cynic, I want to see him go 49/50 and be denied the MVP again because the Dodgers didn’t win the World Series. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055.md?page=5)