# MLB: May 2015 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 1, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020 "2015-05-01T17:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/81 "2015-05-08T14:28:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There must be a reason why Jeffrey Leonard was known as “Penitentiary Face” or why the nickname “Death To Flying Things”\* was hung on Jack Chapman, but I will probably never find out for sure. > > \*this more properly should have been Dave Winfield’s nickname. Or [Randy Johnson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orI26C05udY)’s. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/82 "2015-05-08T18:30:49Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There is a great page for baseball fans up on [baseballreference.com](http://baseballreference.com), consisting of all the [nicknames](http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/baseball-player-nicknames.shtml) they have on record for major league ballplayers. > > There are tons of good ones, but today’s favorite for me is Mose Solomon’s nickname, “The Rabbi of Swat”. > > Indeed, Solomon has a lifetime .375 batting average, which is only slightly deceptive since his career consisted of two games for the 1923 New York Giants, during which he went 3 for 8 with two singles and a double. > > You could potentially waste hours looking at that page and wondering where some of those nicknames came from. There must be a reason why Jeffrey Leonard was known as “Penitentiary Face” or why the nickname “Death To Flying Things”\* was hung on Jack Chapman, but I will probably never find out for sure. > > \*this more properly should have been Dave Winfield’s nickname. Doesn’t even have Boog Powell! Maybe they thought Boog was his real name. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/83 "2015-05-08T19:19:40Z")
Just have to mention Stan [“King of the Minors”](http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=wasiak001sta) Wasiak. 19 years in professional baseball, all in the minor leagues, played for 14 different teams, lifetime .283 average. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/84 "2015-05-08T20:32:09Z")
With all the Willie Mays hoopla going on, I took a gander at A-Rod’s career stats. He’s only 38 hits shy of 3000, and needs 13 more rbi to reach 2000. So, yay!, more milestones. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/85 "2015-05-08T22:46:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > why the nickname “Death To Flying Things”\* was hung on Jack Chapman, but I will probably never find out for sure. Or why it’s the nickname of [3 MLB players](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_to_Flying_Things)! Seems a pretty sweet nick, but it loses something when you hand it out like candy. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/86 "2015-05-08T23:26:58Z")
I find it amusing that a guy already named “Howdy” (Caton) needed a nickname. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/87 "2015-05-08T23:33:55Z")
And the list completely left of Felix “El Gato” Fermin. It’s an outrage! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/88 "2015-05-08T23:44:59Z")
Chicago Cub top prospect [Kris Bryant](http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/33172/kris-bryant) has really impressed me since his call-up to the big leagues. His power isn’t there yet (he’s still sitting on 0 home runs), but it’ll come as he makes adjustments. He’s been pretty patient at the plate, and his defense has been impressive, as well. I’m biased as a Cub fan, but with Bryant, Castro, Rizzo, Russell, and the other kids, they’re getting to be fun to watch again. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/89 "2015-05-09T15:25:36Z")
Harper hit two more HRs last night, making him the youngest player to hit five home runs in two games. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/90 "2015-05-09T19:01:41Z")
Who would have bet that the first Dodger complete game pitched would be by Brett Anderson in Denver against his old club? Granted it was a 5 inning rainout, but it still counts. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/91 "2015-05-10T00:51:50Z")
Tonight was my first chance to see Kershaw in person this year of course the game is canceled and now with 5-10" predicted for tonight/tomorrow it’s looking like I’ll miss Greinke and Puig’s return from the DL. Out of curiosity does any one know what the record is for number of double headers in a row? Right now I’m hoping that tomorrow’s game gets rescheduled too and the June 1-3 series gets a pair of double headers (it should have been three and last night’s game shouldn’t have been played). ---
**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:** [May 10, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/92 "2015-05-10T03:03:48Z")
Puig is going to be on the DL for a bit - he re-strained the hamstring. Last night’s game sure \*should \*have been played. We won, didn’t we? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/93 "2015-05-10T16:24:27Z")
I don’t know if anyone plays OOTP, but after playing a month I complained that “There’s no way Boston batters and pitchers could collectively be this bad. There’s no way they could underperform their batting average with RISP by 50 points” Heh. I think they’re 100 points under right now. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/94 "2015-05-10T23:34:20Z")
David Price will have his next start pushed back a few days after having stepped on a bat while fielding. More ammunition for those who support having a Designated Fielder for the pitcher. Or a Vanishing Bat. Or perhaps no bat at all. Gotta avoid freak injuries no matter what, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/95 "2015-05-11T13:09:26Z")
Yes, create a pitcher’s helper position like in little kids coach-pitch leagues. I think it’s a great idea. If the actual pitcher touches the ball, automatic single. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/96 "2015-05-11T14:07:45Z")
Yes, little kids coach-pitch leagues - where everybody gets their turn at bat. Just like the NL. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/97 "2015-05-11T15:21:37Z")
God, I wish the Blue Jays would just cut R.A. Dickey. It’s not just that he isn’t very good and is visibly getting worse, but that the big baby just can’t pitch in the major leagues without his personal catcher, Josh Thole, who struggles to hit his weight and has about as much power as a small child. Thole is a sub-replacement-level player but the Jays feel obliged to carry him to be Dickey’s personal catcher despite there being ample evidence Thole catching Dickey does not help at all. So in effect, the Blue Jays are expending TWO roster spots - the most valuable resource a baseball team has - to carry one pitcher with a 5.00 ERA, as many walks as strikeouts, and no future. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/98 "2015-05-11T15:36:42Z")
There’s not much wrong with having a personal catcher assigned to a pitcher who’s good enough to demand one, as long as the guy’s as good a hitter as the average backup. A catching rotation, in which the starter has a regular, known day off can be good for him as well as the pitcher. The Red Sox did it for years with Doug Mirabelli catching Tim Wakefield (OK, mainly because Varitek never figured out how to catch a knuckler), and the Phillies made it work with Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver. Hell, even Victor Martinez figured out how to catch Wakefield’s knuckler - by using his first baseman’s glove. So hang in there, maybe Dioner Navarro can handle Dickey when he gets back. And then Dickey might suck less - this could be just a phase he’s going through, like knucklers often have. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/99 "2015-05-11T16:40:02Z")
When the Jays signed Dickey I knew they’d regret it eventually. He had a nice little run with the Mets, but he was like 38 years old and there was no way he could keep that up in the AL. Especially in the AL East. The good news is this the last year on his contract (I think). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/100 "2015-05-11T17:12:39Z")
It is, yes. At the time everyone here was saying “he’s a knuckleball pitcher, age doesn’t matter.” So why aren’t there any 65-year-old knuckleball pitchers? Of course age matters. I went through a whole bunch of knuckleball pitchers when Dickey was acquired and virtually every single one of them had their best season EARLIER than Dickey did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020.md?page=6)