# MLB: May 2021 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [May 2, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222 "2021-05-02T13:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/21 "2021-05-05T01:08:00Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > DeGrom is scratched for tonight, was definitely looking forward to watching him tonight. Looks like you couldn’t have anyway: the game appears to have been rained out. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/22 "2021-05-05T01:23:44Z")
Yeah, and if it was just him being scratched because they didn’t want him to go an inning or so before rain, that would have been completely understandable. But, looks like it’s lateral soreness and he’s shut down for a few days. I’d just put him on the 10 day IL immediately but I’m not paid the big bucks. > **[deGrom (right lat) shut down for few days](https://www.mlb.com/news/jacob-degrom-scratched-from-start-vs-cardinals)** > > Mets ace Jacob deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start against the Cardinals on Tuesday due to inflammation in his right lat, the team announced. deGrom was not placed on the injured list, but he will refrain from throwing for the next few... ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/23 "2021-05-05T06:09:55Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > ll of Philadelphia is salty about the no-home I don’t know what they are salty about, the ball clearly bounced off the railing and back into the field, if it had hit the top of the railing it would have bounced into the stands. But I wouldn’t expect Philly fans to understand the physics of a ball in motion 😉 I didn’t see it live even though I have [MLB.TV](http://MLB.TV) becasue of the ESPN blackout. And since it was on ESPN with the extra commercials it lasted almost 4 hours which meant the archive wasn’t available until almost 12:45 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/24 "2021-05-05T16:00:20Z")
Yeah, I tend to be about a day behind because of blackout shennanigans and it’s just easier to watch the archives than interrupt my west-coast schedule to watch east-coast games. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/25 "2021-05-06T06:36:25Z")
WHOOO! CUBBIEWUBBIEWUBBIES!!! Sweeping Dodgers. Feel so bad for Dustin May. He is a great pitcher and hope he rebounds next season. ---
**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 6, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/26 "2021-05-06T13:30:39Z")
So this Giancarlo **Stanton** guy looks pretty good, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in the Pinstripes before this year though. We had some other guy, but not this one. Does anyone think **Gardner** can really turn it around this year? I didn’t think he should have been back last year, but now I really don’t get it. Bigger issue, can **Sanchez** pull it together and be anything close to the hitter he promised his first two seasons? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/27 "2021-05-06T15:35:55Z")
No talk of the John Means no hitter? The only batter to reach base reached on a third strike wild pitch; Means is the first pitcher to ever throw a non-perfect-game no hitter in which none of the baserunners got on via walk, HBP, or error. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/28 "2021-05-06T15:41:55Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Bigger issue, can **Sanchez** pull it together and be anything close to the hitter he promised his first two seasons? Sanchez is such a weird hitter that I don’t know what he is or isn’t capable of. Over the last four years he’s hitting .198 across 1,076 plate appearances. That can’t be a fluke. Hitting .198 over a month or two can be a fluke; over the equivalent of two seasons it is not. I think. His BABIP is .212 over that period, which is bizarrely low for a guy who hits the ball hard, so MAYBE he’s been crazy unlucky? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/29 "2021-05-06T15:51:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > No talk of the John Means no hitter? Mentioned in its own thread from last night, though with no replies so far. > [@Baseball - John Means...almost perfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-john-means-almost-perfect/941515): > > For the first time - a perfect game was blemished by a wild pitch - a dropped/missed 3rd strike that allowed the runner to reach 1st (he was caught stealing later). John Means of Baltimore faced the minimum 27 batters - getting a no-hitter - but missed the perfect game due to that wild pitch. It’s the 3rd no-hitter this season. There have been 34 other occurrences of pitchers facing the minimum 27 over a 9-inning complete game, and not getting a perfect game (one even allowing 4 hits). [Faci…](https://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/216.html) ---
**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 6, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/30 "2021-05-06T16:54:01Z")
Man, that’s a terrible way to lose a perfect game. What inning was the wild pitch? > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Does anyone think **Gardner** can really turn it around this year? I didn’t think he should have been back last year, but now I really don’t get it. He wasn’t supposed to be playing so much, but yeah, he looks done. Frazier has looked lost as well, but hopefully he picks it up and we only see Brett as an occasional defensive replacement and spot starter. Trading Tauchman was a mystifying decision on top of it all. It’s early, but Chapman has been really impressive. I was beginning to sour on him for obvious reasons, but adding a third pitch and regaining velocity has made him scary out there. His number are stupid: 38 batters faced and 26 Ks… a SO9 of 21.3. HIs FIP is -0.81. ---
**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 6, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/31 "2021-05-06T17:05:19Z")
Putting myself in Cashman’s position, Tauchman brought back some value and was expendable with two kids pushing up in the minors it kind of makes sense. But I would have not traded him and not signed Gardy myself. But it isn’t like Tauchman is lighting up the NL West either. * * * As to Chapman, he’s been incredible so far. I love the .455 WHIP also. Led by Chapman, the Yanks bullpen has been the strength of the team so far. Of their top 6 relievers by innings, 5 are at a 1.35 ERA or lower. ---
**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 6, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/32 "2021-05-06T17:32:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Led by Chapman, the Yanks bullpen has been the strength of the team so far. Of their top 6 relievers by innings, 5 are at a 1.35 ERA or lower. I’ve been high on Loaisiga for quite a while, so I’m happy to see him getting more prime time. Even more exciting, Zack Britton should be back in June. This team has the pieces, they just need better production from Gary, Hicksy and Gleyber (where did his power go?) ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/33 "2021-05-06T17:45:30Z")
I think it was the 3rd. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/34 "2021-05-06T18:05:21Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Trading Tauchman was a mystifying decision on top of it all. 30-year-old backup outfielders aren’t difficult to replace. While I’d agree Brett Gardner is toast, I’m not convinced Clint Frazier is. He’s walking a lot and has a few homers. His batting average is likely pretty flukey. Today’s baseball is so historically unprecedented, with everyone striking out all the time and hitting .230, that it’s hard to make sense of a guy’s statistics after 25 games. There was once a time when if a guy was hitting .143 in early May and striking out in a third of his at bats I’d be concerned, but now I’m not so sure. Frazier is only _six hits_ from having the MLB batting average. One hit a week, basically (and that would put his OBP well ABOVE the league average.) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/35 "2021-05-06T18:26:30Z")
Albert Pujols designated for assignment > He’s been awful, but it’s still weird to actually see it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/36 "2021-05-06T18:37:32Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > He’s been awful, but it’s still weird to actually see it. I had known that he’d not been playing anywhere close to his earlier level for a while, but I hadn’t realized just how bad it’s been, nor for how long. Looking at Baseball Reference, he hasn’t posted a WAR above 1.0 since 2016. > **[Albert Pujols Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |...](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)** > > Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Albert Pujols. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com ---
**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 6, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/37 "2021-05-06T18:43:19Z")
Dude was only successful in 74% of his stolen base attempts. Scrub. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/38 "2021-05-06T18:47:41Z")
OTOH, he hadn’t been caught stealing even once in the past six years! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/39 "2021-05-08T01:54:21Z")
Washington Nationals smoking the Yankees tonight. It’s enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222/40 "2021-05-08T07:38:10Z")
Weird thing tonight in Mets game tonight, I think will be forever known as the Rat Game- Mets down 2 runs, bottom of 7th, one man one, Lindor up, in the worst slump of his career. 0 for 28 or something like that. Mets fans and Mets media all in an uproar. “He’s a bum!” “He can’t handle the pressure of his contract.” And the old saw - “He can’t deal with playing in New York.” He hits a home run to tie the game. Everyone is happy. After he runs the bases, high fives all around, he and some other players go back into the tunnel. Then we get a couple of close up shots of Lindor on the bench. He is not smiling now, he is just sitting there watching the game. Looks a little emotional, a weight lifted maybe What happened in the tunnel? Must be some major issue. We get close up shot of McNeil at 2nd, his eyes look a little red. What happened in the tunnel? Maybe McNeil, or Lindor, was informed that their mother had died. Ya know what happened in the tunnel? Mets players saw a rat as big as a raccoon. Now Lindor, coming from Cleveland, had probably never seen a rat as big as a kitten, and NYC players have seen bigger ones, but for them to go into the tunnel, it must have been a monster rat. It was all about a rat. [Homer voice] Or was it? [/Homer voice] That is the rat story the Mets are sticking to. The reporters asked Lindor about it, he talked about the rat and laughed about it. They asked McNeil, and he is lying IMO. For some reason, there is an issue between Lindor and McNeil. Can’t imagine what it is, they have made some beautiful double plays. [https://sny.tv/articles/jeff-mcneil-denies-confrontation-with-francisco-lindor-reiterates-rat-raccoon-story-mets-post-game](https://sny.tv/articles/jeff-mcneil-denies-confrontation-with-francisco-lindor-reiterates-rat-raccoon-story-mets-post-game) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2021/941222.md?page=3)