# MLB: May 2019 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 1, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324 "2019-05-01T14:36:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 8
**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 28, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/142 "2019-05-28T20:58:07Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Dustin Pedroia just held a press conference to announce … that he’s going to take a little more time before announcing his retirement. But look for a ceremonial last game this September. > > There was speculation when the Sox hired Alex Cora as manager that, as one of his former teammates, he’d be able to tell Pedey when it was time. Yeah, looks like Michael Chavis is for real, so Pedroia’s days playing 2B for the Sox are limited. Hope he stays in the organization in some way, kind of like Veritek. ---
**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 28, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/143 "2019-05-28T22:24:00Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > As to this, it’s a tough call. > > Bill Buckner was a really good player. He played in 22 seasons, won a batting title, and played in the World Series for two different teams. Like it or not, though, the thing he was most famous for was letting a ball roll through his legs to conclude maybe the greatest World Series choke of all time. It is probably not fair that he is remembered for that and not three 100-RBI seasons, or 2715 hits, or making an All-Star team, but he is, and if you ran a story about the man and DIDN’T mention that it would be kind of obvious to most baseball fans that the elephant was standing in the room. I think they have to at least mention it, since despite his excellent career it’s the main reason he is as famous as he is. What I object to is when people present it as “Buckner’s error cost the Red Sox the Series.” Not only were others like Schiraldi and Stanley much more responsible for the loss of the game, people forget that the Red Sox wouldn’t have won the game (and the Series) even if Buckner had made the play - the Mets had already tied it up. And the Sox could have won it the next night too, but they blew a three run lead (although in a less dramatic fashion). ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/144 "2019-05-28T23:47:51Z")
I’ve just noticed something very bizarre on the Red Sox organizational chart–they have three assistant GM’s, and an assistant _to the_ GM, but no GM. I am assuming that when Mike Hazen left for AZ, they never replaced him. But that is beyond weird. Four assistants to a person doesn’t exist? Hazen left almost 3 years ago. The Dodgers also have two assistants to a non-existent GM. I guess teams haven’t quite figured out this “president of baseball operations” yet. Maybe they’re too cheap to reprint business cards. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/145 "2019-05-29T00:03:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > As to this, it’s a tough call. > > Bill Buckner was a really good player. He played in 22 seasons, won a batting title, and played in the World Series for two different teams. Like it or not, though, the thing he was most famous for was letting a ball roll through his legs to conclude maybe the greatest World Series choke of all time. It is probably not fair that he is remembered for that and not three 100-RBI seasons, or 2715 hits, or making an All-Star team, but he is, and if you ran a story about the man and DIDN’T mention that it would be kind of obvious to most baseball fans that the elephant was standing in the room. And the error is why people know/care that he died, elevating him in the imagination above other players in the good-but-not-HOF set - when/if, say, Jose Cruz dies, Astros fans and Puerto Rican baseball fans will care, but most even serious baseball fans will be “oh yeah, him” if they hear the news. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/146 "2019-05-29T12:59:47Z")
Exactly. Buckner was a fine player but probably not one of the 1000 best players in baseball history; had he not let the Wilson grounder through his legs, his death would not have been one tenth as noticed. Bill Madlock, whom I thought of just because his name is also Bill, was a contemporary and competitor of Buckner’s, was vaguely similar, a righthanded contact hitter, and was definitely a better player. He won four batting titles, played brilliantly in a World Series his team won, made three All Star teams and was just a hell of a player, and he even had a great nickname. But when he dies, which God willing won’t be soon, his death will go largely unremarked except in Pittsburgh and maybe the north side. As terrific a player as he was he never had a MOMENT, a highlight that every baseball fan remembers. No Vin Scully call. So, I mean, if you’re running a news service, exactly how do you explain running the Buckner story as a national story and not mention the error? It’s the very reason you’d put it out front. Of course, Colibri is right that it is wrong to just flat out say the error cost them the Series; they could still have lost that game. People simplify these things in time, though, because that’s just how memory works. People will swear to you that the Denkinger call in the 1985 World Series would have been the last out, but it wasn’t - Orta was the leadoff batter, and in fact there was never a second out in that inning, and Orta was put out on a lousy bunt anyway and the Royals could have won that game without the call. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/147 "2019-05-29T16:38:46Z")
Lighthearted MLB news: The worst first pitch ever? > **[Watch: White Sox employee hits photographer with terrible ceremonial first...](https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/MLB/2019/05/29/White-Sox-employee-hits-photographer-with-terrible-first-pitch/5441559133916/)** > > A Chicago White Sox employee drilled a photographer with her ceremonial first pitch before the team's win against the Kansas City Royals. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/148 "2019-05-29T17:09:13Z")
Boy, Bryce Harper really earning that big contract, batting .232 with nine homers and on pace to set a new MLB record for strikeouts. The other big free agent, Manny Machado, is better, but not on any sort of MVP pace. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324/149 "2019-05-29T17:28:57Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > I’ve just noticed something very bizarre on the Red Sox organizational chart–they have three assistant GM’s, and an assistant _to the_ GM, but no GM. Dave Dombrowski is the functioning GM as well as President of Baseball Operations. You’re right, it’s because they didn’t replace Hazen, but he was more a titleholder than an effective executive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2019/833324.md?page=7)