# MLB: May 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 1, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379 "2011-05-01T13:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**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:** [May 22, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/161 "2011-05-22T17:56:46Z")
In the last week, the Mariners are 5-1 with a team ERA of 0.50 and a BAA of .146. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/162 "2011-05-22T18:51:10Z")
OK, I’m convinced. Jose Bautista really is one of the game’s great sluggers. It’s not a fluke. But how the hell did it happen? What did he start doing differently that had such an effect? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/163 "2011-05-22T19:59:56Z")
Bautista’s swing was significantly retooled in late 2009, which is when he actually started doing this; he hit ten home runs in September 2009. There really isn’t any one answer to the question “why did Bautista get so good?” It’s a combination of things; the mismanagement of his career prior to arriving to Toronto, the security of having a full time role, and a lot of work on the part of the organization to change his approach in a variety of ways, including his swing timing, weight transfer, and his entire plan at the plate. Bautista always had ferocious bat speed; now he’s just putting it into the ball more. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/164 "2011-05-22T22:22:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > OK, I’m convinced. Jose Bautista really is one of the game’s great sluggers. It’s not a fluke. > > But how the hell did it happen? What did he start doing differently that had such an effect? He hit 58 HRs in his first 6 years. Now that is a good year? Makes no sense. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/165 "2011-05-22T22:39:44Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I don’t know how many heartbreaker 1 run losses a fella can take! So, was the 12-4 hiding easier to take? 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 22, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/166 "2011-05-22T22:49:42Z")
The Padres have managed a total of 6 runs in their last 6 games, including a total of 2 in the 3-game series against the Mariners. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/167 "2011-05-22T23:17:17Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > [Jayson Stark’s column about interleague issues.](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings110520) > > The main issue is that the schedule has no rhyme or reason to it. The NFL has interconference play, and while that can end up being kinda unfair in certain seasons, at least there’s a structure to it. I don’t understand why he (and Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd) think the addition of more wild card teams to the postseason suddenly makes scheduling important. Scheduling has always been huge. > [@](#): > > It’s not that tough to explain what he means. Suppose Texas and Oakland are both playoff teams next year. But suppose the Rangers go 5-1 against the Astros in interleague play while the A’s go 2-4 against the Giants – and then the Rangers win the AL West by two games. > > Think about the impact. The A’s would probably get sentenced to a precarious wild-card duel with the AL East runner-up, while the Rangers get to line up their division series rotation. Biggggggg difference. Right, but _now_ the A’s would miss the postseason entirely. Bigger difference! Moreover, under any unbalanced divisional system with WCs, teams in divisions other than that yielding the WC may have played a tougher schedule _all year long_, not just in the interleague portion. I agree that the present interleague system doesn’t make much sense, and within any given single season certainly treats teams unequally. But I don’t see much difference between the divisional, unbalanced, interleague schedules with eight playoff teams (as now), and the divisional, unbalanced, interleague schedules with ten playoff teams. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/168 "2011-05-22T23:55:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > So, was the 12-4 hiding easier to take? 🙂 No! 😃 Edinson Volquez is seriously screwed up. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/169 "2011-05-23T00:52:35Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > In the last week, the Mariners are 5-1 with a team ERA of 0.50 and a BAA of .146. Their starting pitching staff has been even better than that. The starters have gone 9 straight games pitching at least 7 innings while allowing 2 earned runs or fewer. Last team to do that was the '88 Giants. ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/170 "2011-05-23T01:03:07Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > He’ll never have higher value. I understand that he’s the best hitter right now, but what better time to do it? Trade him to Kansas City for a few of their prospects. > > My point is that there is no better time. I don’t thinks his value is going anywhere, but up. Plus the Jays are currently in the race. In a few months, they’ll be out of it and trading him we’ll be a lot easier on the fans. If they trade him now, and then the Jays descend into their all too familiar double digit games deficit, the critics will point to Bautista’s departure. In July, teams who are still vying for a playoff spot will be lining up for a player like Bautista (Yankees? Phillies?) and Toronto should get a good return for him. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/171 "2011-05-23T01:34:59Z")
> [@Fred\_Garvin](#): > > I don’t thinks his value is going anywhere, but up. Plus the Jays are currently in the race. In a few months, they’ll be out of it and trading him we’ll be a lot easier on the fans. If they trade him now, and then the Jays descend into their all too familiar double digit games deficit, the critics will point to Bautista’s departure. In July, teams who are still vying for a playoff spot will be lining up for a player like Bautista (Yankees? Phillies?) and Toronto should get a good return for him. That’s true. You could also not trade him, and then get nothing when he leaves for free agency. That’s a lot better. A team like the Royals could package two of their uber prospects and make a run at it. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/172 "2011-05-23T01:59:24Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > That’s true. You could also not trade him, and then get nothing when he leaves for free agency. That’s a lot better. A team like the Royals could package two of their uber prospects and make a run at it. You (and **Fred Garvin** ) do realize that Bautista signed a five-year deal in the offseason, yes? No free agency for him until after 2015. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/173 "2011-05-23T02:13:44Z")
Who is going to trade for Beltran? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/174 "2011-05-23T02:29:11Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > You (and **Fred Garvin** ) do realize that Bautista signed a five-year deal in the offseason, yes? No free agency for him until after 2015. Shit. I forgot all about that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/175 "2011-05-23T02:30:14Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Who is going to trade for Beltran? I’d love for the Tigers to trade for Wright/Beltran or Reyes/Beltran. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/176 "2011-05-23T02:32:56Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I’d love for the Tigers to trade for Wright/Beltran or Reyes/Beltran. Wright is not moving and Reyes could be a bad move. He’s going to hold out for a big contract and I think will probably be a disaster. (Pavano as a Yankee type disaster) Beltran will not cost as much and won’t try to force a long contract. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/177 "2011-05-23T03:10:29Z")
Asdrubal Cabrera went 5-for-5 today with 2 HR and 5 RBI. I am red as a lobster and happy as a clam (I was in the right field stands). ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/178 "2011-05-23T03:28:33Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > You (and **Fred Garvin** ) do realize that Bautista signed a five-year deal in the offseason, yes? No free agency for him until after 2015. Yes, well aware of that. Also, the capital of Peru is Lima ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/179 "2011-05-23T03:47:40Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Who is going to trade for Beltran? Tampa seems the most logical destination. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Wright is not moving and Reyes could be a bad move. He’s going to hold out for a big contract and I think will probably be a disaster. (Pavano as a Yankee type disaster) Beltran will not cost as much and won’t try to force a long contract. I don’t really get the comparison. Pavano had one good season before the yankees signed him. Reyes had had several, and looks back in form this year except for reduced walk rate. There is certainly some injury risk, but if Reyes stays healthy there is no reason to doubt his value. I’m hoping the mets lock him up rather than trade him. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379/180 "2011-05-23T10:57:49Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Wright is not moving and Reyes could be a bad move. He’s going to hold out for a big contract and I think will probably be a disaster. (Pavano as a Yankee type disaster) Beltran will not cost as much and won’t try to force a long contract. It’s a contract year for Wright and Reyes, no? Presumably, they’ll be able to sign one of them. Reyes as a Met doesn’t equal Pavano as a Yankee. Pavano was a complete and total disaster. Reyes has shown some incredible value, albeit with some injury risk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2011/580379.md?page=10)