# MLB: May 2016 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 2, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688 "2016-05-02T17:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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, 2016, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/61 "2016-05-08T07:04:50Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > Bartolo Colon just hit his first MLB HR. At age 42. Against James Shields. In Petco Park, of all places. Has there ever been a more improbable sequence of events? That’s the MLB record for hitting your first career HR, too. Colon sets a record. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/62 "2016-05-08T07:37:25Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > That’s the MLB record for hitting your first career HR, too. Colon sets a record. It was also the first home run trot to be measured in geologic eras. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/63 "2016-05-08T09:16:21Z")
Cubs vs 2 of the best staffs in MLB, possibly the best 2: 7,7,6,5,8,8. Cubs number 5 shuts out Washington with 2 hits over 6 innings. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/64 "2016-05-08T15:48:31Z")
Colon also becomes the last former Expo to hit a home run. ---
**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 8, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/65 "2016-05-08T15:53:54Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > It was also the first home run trot to be measured in geologic eras. What was the reading on the Richter scale? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/66 "2016-05-08T21:27:45Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > This is going to be exhibit A in why the N.L. should never have the DH Actually, I would think one home run in 249 plate appearances and an average of about one hit per year would be an argument in favor of it. 😉 ---
**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 8, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/67 "2016-05-08T22:06:09Z")
Justin Verlander pitched 7 shutout innings today, with 9 strikeouts, 3 hits and 2 walks. He left the game with a 2-0 lead. His bullpen managed to give up 7 runs the inning after Verlander was pulled, and Detroit lost the game 8-3. Ouch. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/68 "2016-05-08T23:17:40Z")
And a four-game sweep of the Nats! 24-6! Woo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/69 "2016-05-08T23:18:22Z")
Well I’ll be dipped in shit. The Cubs win, yet again. They sweep the Nats and are 24-6. ---
**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 8, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/70 "2016-05-08T23:38:07Z")
In the Cubs-Nats game, Bryce Harper came to the plate 7 times. He took 6 walks and was hit by a pitch; so he had 0 at bats while playing the entirety of a 13-inning game. And this is the second game in a row in which he has not recorded an official at-bat; he walked three times and had a sac fly yesterday. ---
**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 8, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/71 "2016-05-08T23:56:03Z")
Untouchable, you hear me? UNTOUCHABLE!!! :smack: ---
**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 9, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/72 "2016-05-09T02:39:10Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Well I’ll be dipped in shit. The Cubs win, yet again. They sweep the Nats and are 24-6. When a team goes on a 24-6 run, you often expect to see a fair bit of luck involved - a bunch of one-run or extra-inning wins that boost them a few games above their expected W-L record. But the Cubs are right where they’re supposed to be. They have scored the most runs in the majors, and they have given up the least. They’re 1-1 in extra inning games, and 3-2 in 1-run games. Their X W-L right now stands at 24-6, exactly the same as their actual record. When you score more than 6 runs a game, and give up fewer than 3, you’re going to win a lot of games. ---
**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 9, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/73 "2016-05-09T20:22:53Z")
The Yankees and Atlanta Braves are a combined 18-41. Life is good. Are the Nats still untouchable this week? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/74 "2016-05-09T20:40:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Justin Verlander pitched 7 shutout innings today, with 9 strikeouts, 3 hits and 2 walks. He left the game with a 2-0 lead. > > His bullpen managed to give up 7 runs the inning after Verlander was pulled, and Detroit lost the game 8-3. Ouch. You don’t know from ouch. Toronto Blue Jays Starting Pitchers: 13-7 Toronto Blue Jays Relief Pitchers: 3-10 I’, not sure how a bullpen loses 10 games by the first week in May. By way of comparison, the Giants, who they play today and who are just one game better, have seen their bullpen lose 4 games. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/75 "2016-05-09T21:03:23Z")
To be fair, it’s as much on the offence as it is the relief pitchers. The team could absorb the relievers leaking some runs if they could actually get some damn insurance runs. Clearly they need to recall Drew “Rain Dancer” Hutchinson. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/76 "2016-05-10T03:21:39Z")
If he replaces RA Dickey, you bet they should. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/77 "2016-05-10T03:41:06Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The Yankees and Atlanta Braves are a combined 18-41. Life is good. The Braves have not been trying to win, these last two years in Turner Field. They want a fresh look in the new place. I assume the Yankees do not suck on purpose. ---
**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 10, 2016, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/78 "2016-05-10T06:36:27Z")
[Here’s a pretty unusual play.](http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/11493214/v676863483/must-c-curious-realmuto-has-home-run-taken-away) Hitter has a home run overturned, and turned into a single and an out, because he passed his teammate on the basepaths. He ran to first, but the runner on first thought that it might not clear the fence, and so was waiting in order to tag up. The hitter ran through first base as the runner tagged. Doh! It’s the first time in 10 years (April 2006) that this has happened in the majors. Luckily for the Marlins, they won the game anyway. ---
**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 10, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/79 "2016-05-10T13:18:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > [Here’s a pretty unusual play.](http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/11493214/v676863483/must-c-curious-realmuto-has-home-run-taken-away) > > Hitter has a home run overturned, and turned into a single and an out, because he passed his teammate on the basepaths. He ran to first, but the runner on first thought that it might not clear the fence, and so was waiting in order to tag up. The hitter ran through first base as the runner tagged. Doh! > > It’s the first time in 10 years (April 2006) that this has happened in the majors. Luckily for the Marlins, they won the game anyway. I guess by the letter of the rule, even if the trailing runner only momentarily passes the leading runner, he’s out. That seems a bit much, but probably happens so infrequently maybe it doesn’t matter. ---
**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, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688/80 "2016-05-10T14:11:23Z")
The Cardinals actually did that vs Milwaukee earlier this season–Randal Grichuk homered and ran past Randy Moss, who was hovering around first waiting to see if the ball would be caught (it bounced out of the outfielder’s glove and over the fence) so he could tag up and head for second. It was pretty blatant if you watched the replay, but the umps missed it. So did the Brewers: [http://m.mlb.com/news/article/172378466/brewers-miss-grichuk-passing-moss-on-homer](http://m.mlb.com/news/article/172378466/brewers-miss-grichuk-passing-moss-on-homer) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2016/753688.md?page=5)