# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/161 "2015-05-20T19:59:40Z")
Superdude: > [@](#): > > But Chapman isn’t more than dominant than either of those 2 Heck, if he said that at the Royals-Reds game, Chapman (arguably) isn’t even the most dominant closer in the building at that time. Greg Holland is more dominant, and Wade Davis, who is not technically the Royals’ closer, but has filled the role when Holland has been injured and would certainly be a closer on any team not employing Holland (or Kimbrel, and OK, maybe Chapman too) is a more dominant single-inning reliever. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/162 "2015-05-20T20:20:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, “dominant” is a subjective term. I always kind of interpreted “Dominant” as meaning, in some contexts, a pitcher who strikes out many men and gives up very few hits, but might also walk many men - in other words, a pitcher who personally determines the outcome of the contest. Greg Maddux was a much greater pitcher than Nolan Ryan, but Ryan was more dominant, if you see what I mean. A very fair point. Chapman’s has struck out 15.3 batters per 9 innings in his career. If dominant is a function of strikeouts (and the speed of one’s fastball), that may be a fair statement. Holland, for comparison, has a K/9 of 12.2. Kimbrel is 14.7. ---
**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 20, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/163 "2015-05-20T20:30:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, “dominant” is a subjective term. I always kind of interpreted “Dominant” as meaning, in some contexts, a pitcher who strikes out many men and gives up very few hits, but might also walk many men - in other words, a pitcher who personally determines the outcome of the contest. Greg Maddux was a much greater pitcher than Nolan Ryan, but Ryan was more dominant, if you see what I mean. I understand what you mean. When I think “dominant” in terms of a closer, I think it’s more than just speed. Chapman routinely throws over 100mph. But it doesn’t really matter how fast it is if you can’t control it (note: I’m not suggesting that Chapman can’t control his pitches). Hitters will eventually be able to clock it and react. I’d hold Rivera over Chapman because, even though batters KNEW what pitch was coming, they STILL couldn’t do anything with it. And, while Chapman hasn’t had as many save chances in the postseason, I don’t think, when all is said and done, that he will have nearly the numbers that Rivera put up. I don’t know if anyone will ever get close to those stats. In 96 postseason games, he has a .889 winning percentage. He had a .700 ERA in his postseason career. 42 saves, 86 hits in 141.0 innings. Allowed TWO home runs in the playoffs. Struck out 110, walked 21. 4 intentional walks. A career WHIP of 0.759 (postseason). To me, part of dominance is “who would you LEAST like to have to face in the bottom of the 9th in game 7 of the World Series, especially if you’re down by one run?” To me, it’s not even close. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/164 "2015-05-20T21:06:06Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I’d hold Rivera over Chapman because, even though batters KNEW what pitch was coming, they STILL couldn’t do anything with it. And, while Chapman hasn’t had as many save chances in the postseason, I don’t think, when all is said and done, that he will have nearly the numbers that Rivera put up. I don’t know if anyone will ever get close to those stats. In 96 postseason games, he has a .889 winning percentage. He had a .700 ERA in his postseason career. 42 saves, 86 hits in 141.0 innings. Allowed TWO home runs in the playoffs. Struck out 110, walked 21. 4 intentional walks. A career WHIP of 0.759 (postseason). Mariano Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher of all time hands down, I’m not arguing that. I was just saying the Reds announcers’ statement might not be entirely absurd, it just depends what exactly they meant. I am sure if you asked Thom Brenneman who the greatest closer of all time was, he would say it’s Mariano Rivera. ---
**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 20, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/165 "2015-05-20T22:33:49Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Superdude: > > Heck, if he said that at the Royals-Reds game, Chapman (arguably) isn’t even the most dominant closer in the building at that time. Greg Holland is more dominant, and Wade Davis, who is not technically the Royals’ closer, but has filled the role when Holland has been injured and would certainly be a closer on any team not employing Holland (or Kimbrel, and OK, maybe Chapman too) is a more dominant single-inning reliever. You know how much I also love the Royals, but I’m giving this to Chapman. Ventura is the hardest throwing starting pitcher in the game last year, throwing 545 pitches over 98 last year. Last year Chapman threw twice as many pitches over 100 as the entire rest of the MLB. Combined. Davis and Holland are ninja surgeons - but they’re not dominant in the way that Chapman is. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/166 "2015-05-21T03:02:01Z")
I was going by WAR, a per Baseball Reference. Admittedly, as said in earlier messages of this thread, “dominant” can mean different things to different people. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/167 "2015-05-21T17:23:29Z")
I just have to say that I hope the dodgers find their bats again soon. that is all. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/168 "2015-05-21T18:09:47Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > I just have to say that I hope the dodgers find their bats again soon. that is all. Hey, it’s only been about 92 hours or so since they last scored a run. Or, to look at it another way, they’ve scored two runs since the fifth inning of Friday night’s game. That’s not so bad, is it? \ ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/169 "2015-05-21T19:20:52Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > I just have to say that I hope the dodgers find their bats again soon. that is all. I’d rather that their bats never make contact with a baseball ever again. But if I have to, I’ll settle for “not until tomorrow” ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/170 "2015-05-21T20:21:57Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > ill be there Friday, section 132. We were there tonight, too and saw Zimmhit a walk off HR in the tenth. I’m still amped from the game. We’ll be in 418. $5 Post tickets, with fees $22 for 3. ---
**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 21, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/171 "2015-05-21T21:21:46Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > ill be there Friday, section 132. We were there tonight, too and saw Zimmhit a walk off HR in the tenth. I’m still amped from the game. That was the 10th walk-off homer of Zimmerman’s career. The record is 13 by Jim Thome. What makes it particularly impressive is that Zimm only has 11 career homers. Ok, 189, but Thome had over 600. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/172 "2015-05-21T23:23:46Z")
Third straight shutout of the Dodgers by the Giants, and Kershaw gave up the first home run of his career to a pitcher, Madison Bumgarner. ---
**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 22, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/173 "2015-05-22T13:23:41Z")
Brewers pitcher Will Smith was ejected yesterday for having a foreign substance on his forearm. Specifically, he had a little sunscreen/rosin mix smeared on his glove arm. Buster Olney was complaining on the radio this morning that all pitchers do this so they can grip the ball because it’s too shiny and smooth right out of the box and so it should just be ignored. I do not agree with Buster. Yes, baseballs are shiny out of the box, but teams are allowed to work them in before they are used in the game. There is a rosin bag behind the mound in every MLB park. You’re allowed to lick your fingers or just rub a little sweat on them if you’re concerned about grip. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/174 "2015-05-22T13:55:58Z")
I thought the umps rubbed the balls with a special mud to take the shine off. That’s not done anymore? ---
**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 22, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/175 "2015-05-22T14:14:22Z")
I think an equipment manager or attendant does the actual mud rubbing, but yes they do that to dozens of baseballs before every game. ---
**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 22, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/176 "2015-05-22T14:22:30Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > That was the 10th walk-off homer of Zimmerman’s career. The record is 13 by Jim Thome. What makes it particularly impressive is that Zimm only has 11 career homers. Ok, 189, but Thome had over 600. And Zim is only 30, so he still has a lot of baseball left to play. RZ is my favorite player, he never whined when the team sucked, he never gloats and he raises a bunch of money for charity, his contract includes that he’s allowed to use the park once a year for a concert to raise money for his charity. Just a good guy. ---
**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 22, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/177 "2015-05-22T14:24:48Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > We’ll be in 418. $5 Post tickets, with fees $22 for 3. There’s not a bad seat in that park, it’s a great place to watch a game. Have you noticed over the years how much more informed Nats fans have become, it used to be people where there just to be out, but now the crowd is into the game and watching every pitch. GYFNG! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/178 "2015-05-22T20:13:41Z")
So Fangraphs decided to look at what in the world was wrong with the A’s, esp comparing their actual record with what their record should be based on Wins and Losses: > **[The Oakland A’s Defense Errs Toward Infamy](https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-oakland-as-defense-errs-toward-infamy/)** > > The 2015 Athletics have been talked about more than one might expect given their place in the standings. It might actually be because of their place in the standings that they’re getting talked about… > [@](#): > > The 2015 Athletics have been talked about more than one might expect given their place in the standings. It might actually be because of their place in the standings that they’re getting talked about so much. Having a record in one-run games of 2-13 will do that to a team. They’re unlucky. Their bullpen has chosen the worst possible times to implode this season. And, while this hasn’t gotten as much attention, their defense has been a serious problem, so much so that they might be one of the worst overall defenses in the past 15 years if they continue this level of play. 2-13 record in one-run games?! Holy crap. The defensive numbers are also downright stunning - Lawrie and Semien are killing the team with their fielding. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/179 "2015-05-22T20:18:29Z")
A 2-13 record is \*not \*best described as “unlucky”. ---
**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 22, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020/180 "2015-05-22T20:30:06Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > A 2-13 record is \*not \*best described as “unlucky”. In 1-run games? How would you describe it? I’d go one further and describe them lucky in the opposite direction - with a bullpen that bad and defense just as worse, how have they gone this far into the season with 15 games decided by just 1 run? How are they not 2-4 in 1-run games, and the other 9 games decided by 4+? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2015/719020.md?page=10)