# MLB: March/April 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 29, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387 "2018-03-29T01:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/221 "2018-04-23T03:08:51Z")
I was looking at the Associated Press recap and apparently Bartolo Colon as been pitching in the MLB for at least 30 years. :eek: > [@](#): > > It was the longest at-bat in the majors since records began in 1988. The previous high of 20 pitches in a plate appearance since 1988 was when Houston’s Ricky Gutierrez struck out against Cleveland’s Bartolo Colon on June 26, 1998, according to Retrosheet. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/222 "2018-04-23T04:05:31Z")
> [@Covfefe](#): > > I was looking at the Associated Press recap and apparently Bartolo Colon as been pitching in the MLB for at least 30 years. :eek: I assume you know thay’s an error. Colon first pitched in the majors 1997. ---
**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 23, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/223 "2018-04-23T05:11:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Brandon Belt of the Giants sets an MLB record by forcing 21 pitches before he grounds out. The at-bat lasted over 12 minutes. What gets me about this is that quite a few of the news and sports commentary stories had headlines like this: [Giants’ Brandon Belt Works Historic 21-Pitch Plate Appearance, To No Avail](https://deadspin.com/giants-brandon-belt-works-historic-21-pitch-plate-appea-1825456110) (Deadspin) [This record-setting at-bat took 21 pitches, and it didn’t even end in a hit](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/04/22/brandon-belt-sets-mlb-record-with-21-pitch-at-bat-vs-jaime-barria/?utm_term=.c8d450404da4) (Washington Post) These people are sports analysts, and they can’t even seem to appreciate the significance of an at-bat like this in the course of a baseball game. All they can focus on is the fact that Belt faced all those pitches and still didn’t manage to get a hit. But in that at-bat, Belt ensured that his opponent’s starting pitcher had to expend about one-fifth of a game’s worth or pitches just to get a single out. Largely thanks to Belt, the Angels starter, Barria, had thrown almost 50 pitches by the end of the first inning, and was pulled before getting an out in the third. And the Angels ended up using six more pitchers in a loss. Getting the pitch count up so high early in the game probably helped the Giants win the game. If this had been the first game of a series instead of the last, it might also have helped them in the subsequent games by going deep into the bullpen. And of the four or five stories I read on this, they barely mentioned the impact that this at-bat might have had on the game. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/224 "2018-04-23T05:13:55Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I assume you know thay’s an error. Colon first pitched in the majors 1997. He is only 44 years old. He might go another ten years. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/225 "2018-04-23T11:49:50Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I assume you know thay’s an error. Colon first pitched in the majors 1997. There’s no error in the quoted article. That has the right date of June 26, 1998. The error is either in **Covfefe** ’s math or being distracted by the “since records began in 1988” part of the paragraph. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/226 "2018-04-23T21:20:16Z")
My Redlegs are off to the _worst start in franchise history_ at 3-21 right now. That historically bad start is the worst in 136 YEARS! Almost a century and a half of baseball. Unreal. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/227 "2018-04-23T22:32:12Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > My Redlegs are off to the _worst start in franchise history_ at 3-21 right now. That historically bad start is the worst in 136 YEARS! Almost a century and a half of baseball. > > Unreal. Now, now, they’re only 3 and 18 just now. At worst you’re jumping the gun. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/228 "2018-04-23T23:42:56Z")
Updated information has been released on White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar, who suffered an aneurysm and brain hemorrhage during last Friday’s game. [As per the Chicago Tribune](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-white-sox-danny-farquhar-20180423-story.html): > [@](#): > > Sox officials said that Farquhar, 31, has use of his extremities and “is responding appropriately to questions and commands and is speaking to doctors and his family.” > [@](#): > > Farquhar is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks. The Sox moved him to the 60-day disabled list. > > “We’re very happy he’s trending in the right direction,” manager Rick Renteria said. “To know he’s able to move and to speak and to know that his family’s there … he knows everybody cares for him, and we’re guardedly optimistic about the outcome.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/229 "2018-04-24T10:56:35Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Now, now, they’re only 3 and 18 just now. At worst you’re jumping the gun. Weird. I was listening to local sports talk radio yesterday and they said 3-21. That’s what I get for not fact checking. 4-18 now, take that! ---
**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:** [April 24, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/230 "2018-04-24T12:48:39Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Is it too soon for the Nats to dump Davey Martinez? And take A.J. Cole along with him… Wow, someone took my advice for a change. At least on the latter of the two. ---
**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 25, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/231 "2018-04-25T20:06:19Z")
I hope this is real, but it might be fair to start singing “The Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming”. Holy crap the offense woke up or more likely warmed up. I hope Grey can pitch a good game tonight. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/232 "2018-04-25T23:54:59Z")
Listening to a fun game on the radio, Tigers 13 Pirates 10 in the first game of a regular doubleheader. I’ll assume the nightcap will be a pitchers duel. ---
**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 26, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/233 "2018-04-26T02:25:44Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I hope Grey can pitch a good game tonight. Well not a good game but the Yankees win despite it so all is good. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2018, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/234 "2018-04-26T10:55:34Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Well not a good game but the Yankees win despite it so all is good. _Austin powers Yankees to fifth straight win_ Gregorius has gone berserk. With all of his crazy offensive numbers, it’s remarkable that he has 17 walks and only 9 strikeouts. He needs to cool down before he becomes too expensive in free agency. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/235 "2018-04-26T12:29:21Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > _Austin powers Yankees to fifth straight win_ That’s so cute, someone getting excited that their team has a shot at the wild card. 😉 ---
**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:** [April 26, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/236 "2018-04-26T13:55:28Z")
_yeah, baby, yeah_ ---
**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:** [April 26, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/237 "2018-04-26T22:02:42Z")
Of course, after tonight’s walk-off, three run homer by Sanchez, the Yanks will only be three games out if the Red Sox lose. After a Boston 17-2 start. Now might be the time to start panicking. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/238 "2018-04-26T22:18:08Z")
What an amazing choke job by the Detroit Tigers this afternoon! They dominated the Pirates in every way except for that small task of getting runners home. Naturally, they lose 1-0 with a walkoff homerun by the Pirates in the bottom of the 9th. ---
**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 26, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/239 "2018-04-26T23:49:28Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Of course, after tonight’s walk-off, three run homer by Sanchez, the Yanks will only be three games out if the Red Sox lose. After a Boston 17-2 start. Now might be the time to start panicking. 😃 The Yanks … **Released The Kraken!** today.😃 ---
**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:** [April 27, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387/240 "2018-04-27T00:12:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > That’s so cute, someone getting excited that their team has a shot at the wild card. 😉 I recall the Red Sox being 14 games ahead in 1978. A handful of games in April is nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2018/811387.md?page=13)