# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/81 "2012-04-06T22:14:27Z")
Less than an hour till Opening Day! If you don’t count Japan, Wednesday, and Thursday. And if you consider 6:05 pm CT to be day. What the hell . . . Go Rockies! ---
**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 7, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/82 "2012-04-07T00:43:26Z")
Mariano Rivera blew his first save opportunity. Is he done? Trevor Hoffman was great until his last year when he seemed like he fell off a cliff and was done. Could the same thing happen to Mo? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/83 "2012-04-07T01:51:29Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Yeah it would. I do think he can do 50 too. I want to at least see him go 45 /45 I don’t think I’d want a big guy like Kemp putting a lot of emphasis on running. He’s fast now, but I’d rather protect the bat. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/84 "2012-04-07T03:39:57Z")
Opening day at the Arizona Diamondbacks was fun. 45,900 people there, 4th largest crowd in Dbacks history. Quite a few San Francisco fans there, not sure if they were visiting or transplants. The only drawback is that opening day was definitely amateur hour. Every knowledgeable fan knows that you don’t try to exit your row unless there is a stoppage in play, preferably in between innings. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/85 "2012-04-07T04:45:24Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Mariano Rivera blew his first save opportunity. Is he done? Trevor Hoffman was great until his last year when he seemed like he fell off a cliff and was done. Could the same thing happen to Mo? Don’t know, but that sure was fun. What a homecoming game for Carlos Pena! ---
**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 7, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/86 "2012-04-07T05:16:40Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The only drawback is that opening day was definitely amateur hour. Every knowledgeable fan knows that you don’t try to exit your row unless there is a stoppage in play, preferably in between innings. One of my biggest pet peeves, especially when people stand around in front of you trying to figure out where they’re going to go. In other news, the Dodgers looked to be firing on all cylinders tonight, winning 6-0. Chad Billingsley was great, going 8.1 and giving up only three hits, and Andre Ethier got a double and a triple off of the Padres’ starter, helping to answer some of the questions about his ability to hit lefties this year. Kemp collected a couple of hits and didn’t miss an opposite-field homer by a whole lot. I still seriously question the decision to stick with Juan Uribe, who has looked lost at the plate since last year. He is a fairly ugly 0-7 this year after batting just .204 last season. Anyway, I know it’s just the beginning, and only the Padres, but I’ll take a 2-0 start to the season over the alternatives. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/87 "2012-04-07T05:17:45Z")
Mariners looked promising tonight, with a 7-3, 13-hit win over Oakland. ---
**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 7, 2012, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/88 "2012-04-07T11:19:10Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Mariano Rivera blew his first save opportunity. Is he done? Trevor Hoffman was great until his last year when he seemed like he fell off a cliff and was done. Could the same thing happen to Mo? Could it? I guess. It’s a little early to panic though. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/89 "2012-04-07T12:57:01Z")
The Red Sox lose on Opening Day and the Boston writers are already [writing off the season](http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2012/04/red_sox_bullpen_just_wont_cut_it.html). Hey, it’s an annual tradition. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/90 "2012-04-07T13:50:59Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Mariano Rivera blew his first save opportunity. Is he done? Trevor Hoffman was great until his last year when he seemed like he fell off a cliff and was done. Could the same thing happen to Mo? Laughable idea in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/91 "2012-04-07T14:09:27Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Laughable idea in my opinion. Not exactly “laughable” – if he is indeed human the dude is 42. Of course, I’ve been hearing that same question since at least 2004 and would not bet any of my own personal money on him falling apart this year or any year before he’s, say, 55. (I am also rooting heavily for Jamie Moyer, the last major leaguer older than me. Huzzah!) Meanwhile, across Flushing Bay, the Mets (a) won a game and (b) have brought up Kirk Nieuwenhuis to ply center, a guy I watched a few times in double-A. Oh, the subtle joys of watching a team go more or less nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/92 "2012-04-07T16:51:16Z")
[A great blog on the horrors of Opening Day in Detroit.](http://designaterobertson.blogspot.com/2012/04/nightmare-that-was-opening-day-in.html) I loved reading this description of Opening Day. I’d have to say I found the experience pretty similar in Arizona. I’m glad I went, but I doubt I’ll try to make opening day again. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/93 "2012-04-07T18:25:07Z")
Does anyone else get a visceral thrill out of every blown save? I really hate what we’ve come to with closers and saves. I find it especially annoying when the manger starts warming up his closer in the 9th with a 3 run lead, because, you know, the game’s on the line. But if they score a run in top of the 9th, then the game is magically out of reach now that they have a 4 run lead :rolleyes:. When did managers start managing to stats? ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/94 "2012-04-07T18:41:00Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > Not exactly “laughable” – if he is indeed human the dude is 42. Of course, I’ve been hearing that same question since at least 2004 and would not bet any of my own personal money on him falling apart this year or any year before he’s, say, 55. > > (I am also rooting heavily for Jamie Moyer, the last major leaguer older than me. Huzzah!) On Rivera, he’ll be done when he says he’s done. Not that he can control it, but that he’ll know and then retire. So he’ll be fine this year in my opinion. I’m rooting for Moyer for the same reason. I hope he does great. > [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](#): > > Does anyone else get a visceral thrill out of every blown save? I really hate what we’ve come to with closers and saves. I find it especially annoying when the manger starts warming up his closer in the 9th with a 3 run lead, because, you know, the game’s on the line. But if they score a run in top of the 9th, then the game is magically out of reach now that they have a 4 run lead :rolleyes:. When did managers start managing to stats? I love it when Mo saves a game and love a good closer, but there is also few things sweeter then getting the better of a good closer. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/95 "2012-04-07T18:54:00Z")
Ubaldo Jimenez, who is appealing a suspension for hitting Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch in a preseason game, took a perfect game into the seventh inning against Toronto. But he’s walked two batters, thrown a wild pitch and given up a two-run single, so the game is tied at 2-2 at the stretch. I guess Cleveland deserves credit for working the system here, but I’m just rolling my eyes at this failure of the system: Jimenez was suspended for five games, appealed so he could keep playing, started today, and then said before the game that after the game ends, he’ll withdraw the appeal and serve the suspension. Cleveland is taking advantage of the fact that they have an off day tomorrow. Suspensions for starters really need to be six games or more to prevent this kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/96 "2012-04-07T19:12:38Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Laughable idea in my opinion. Why, do you think he’s going to pitch forever? Pitchers over 40 do seem to lose it overnight when the time comes. Mo has been reachable fairly regularly for a couple of years now; so it’s entirely possible that “overnight” came last winter. ---
**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 7, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/97 "2012-04-07T19:31:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Ubaldo Jimenez, who is appealing a suspension for hitting Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch in a preseason game, took a perfect game into the seventh inning against Toronto. I’ve been watching this game, along with a couple of others. He took a no-hitter into the 7th, but not a perfect game. He gave up a walk in the 6th. ---
**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 7, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/98 "2012-04-07T19:38:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Cleveland is taking advantage of the fact that they have an off day tomorrow. Suspensions for starters really need to be six games or more to prevent this kind of thing. I don’t understand this part. Cleveland is playing tomorrow like everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/99 "2012-04-07T19:41:25Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I don’t understand this part. Cleveland is playing tomorrow like everyone else. Sorry, they have an off day Thursday. ---
**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 7, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/100 "2012-04-07T19:50:30Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I don’t understand this part. Cleveland is playing tomorrow like everyone else. Seattle and, I believe, Oakland have tomorrow off. I can’t remember the last time there was a scheduled off day on a Sunday. Mondays and Thursdays are the normal off days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055.md?page=6)