# MLB: May **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 1, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430 "2014-05-01T12:26:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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 18, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/81 "2014-05-18T19:16:16Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I am really hoping the Cubs don’t trade Jeff Samardzija. This team isn’t making a playoff run this year, but they’re better than 14 games under .500 Samardzija is possibly an even harder-luck pitcher than Yu Darvish this year. Only two starting pitchers in all of MLB have lower run support (on a Runs per 9 innings basis) than Samardzija. The Cubs are sitting right around the NL average in runs scored and runs conceded, but they’ve had some bad breaks in close games. They are 1-5 in extra innings and 2-9 in 1-run games. Their record is 14-27, but their Expected W-L (based on runs scored and conceded) is 20-21. That’s easily the biggest discrepancy in the Majors right now. ---
**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 18, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/82 "2014-05-18T19:20:08Z")
Watching the Orioles and the Royals right now, and enjoying the homespun wisdom of Jim Palmer: > [@](#): > > “You have to play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. If you want to win.” Thanks Jim. ---
**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 18, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/83 "2014-05-18T20:46:30Z")
The A’s came into today’s game with a run differential of 85. They won today 13-3. But Jim Johnson has been a major disappointment, especially considering the money they’re paying him. He lost his closer job early in the season and has shown no glimpses of getting it back. He gave up three walks today, and his ERA is 7.00. ---
**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 18, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/84 "2014-05-18T22:35:01Z")
Check out [this kid](http://m.mlb.com/video/v32952311/tortex-young-fan-gives-decoy-ball-to-pretty-lady) at last night’s Toronto-Texas game. He is smooooooth. Charms the ladies \*\*\*and \*\*\*gets to keep the game ball. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/85 "2014-05-19T00:01:59Z")
Troy Tulowitzki is just ridiculously hot at the plate this season. He came into today with a .400 average, 50 points higher than any other NL player. He hit another homer today and leads the league with 13. He is second in RBI. His OPS is 1.266, .243 higher than the next best. He has scored 5 more runs than anyone else. He is second in hits and has already been walked 29 times. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/86 "2014-05-19T04:43:51Z")
Pretty happy with Los Tigres. 🙂 A nice sweep to get a small measure of revenge for the ALCS last year. Smyly and Porcello have really stepped up to give them a deep nasty rotation. Davis and especially Kinsler have been much better than my expectations. Hopefully they can cruise through the heart of the year with no injuries, and things will be great. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/87 "2014-05-19T18:27:53Z")
Marlins release Carlos Marmol, Rays earlier released Heath Bell. Closers are NOT worth big contracts. I’m becoming more convinced that closer by committee is the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/88 "2014-05-19T18:29:52Z")
Yes, until you happen upon one guy who looks like he can do it, then you anoint him. Closers seem to appear as rapidly as they fade. Meanwhile, it’s time for Boston to either sign Stephen Drew or trade for Chase Headley. This shit has got to stop. ---
**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 20, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/89 "2014-05-20T12:29:59Z")
I was at last night’s 15 inning game between the Nats and the Reds. Two things struck me, how amazing DC’s bullpen is and how crappy the Nats’ hitting has been. ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/90 "2014-05-20T14:58:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I was at last night’s 15 inning game between the Nats and the Reds. Two things struck me, how amazing DC’s bullpen is and how crappy the Nats’ hitting has been. Lose the heart of the order and that’s what happens. This team has had trouble getting runners in going back to last year, and even further. It took a couple of excellent plays by Phillips and Hamilton for the Reds to win it, though. The only thing that gives me hope is that the Braves aren’t looking great either. I think if Fernandez hadn’t gone down the Marlins might have been able to sneak in. ---
**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 20, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/91 "2014-05-20T17:57:11Z")
True, the Nats have a lot of their big hitters on the DL, but one of the Cinci pitchers had a 6.59 ERA, come on, someone should have been able to feast on that guy. On the plus side, the Nats bullpen went 27 and 2/3 scoreless innings until the Reds snapped their streak. ---
**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 20, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/92 "2014-05-20T18:26:59Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > True, the Nats have a lot of their big hitters on the DL, but one of the Cinci pitchers had a 6.59 ERA, come on, someone should have been able to feast on that guy. > > On the plus side, the Nats bullpen went 27 and 2/3 scoreless innings until the Reds snapped their streak. Not hitting that bullpen was discouraging. When they have everyone they’re a middling offense due to a bunch of streaky hitters. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/93 "2014-05-20T19:21:54Z")
I hate Nick Swisher and all of the Indians’ problems this year stem from him somehow. I just had to get that off my chest. ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/94 "2014-05-20T19:57:03Z")
Stephen Drew just signed with the Red Sox for approximately $10 million for the rest of the year. Current report is he will spend 7-10 days in the minors before going to Boston. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/95 "2014-05-20T20:04:35Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Meanwhile, it’s time for Boston to either sign Stephen Drew or trade for Chase Headley. This shit has got to stop. Sooner than expected. It’s Drew - for the prorated amount of the qualifying offer Boras had him turn down last winter. Bogie to 3rd, almost certainly. Worry about the prospects in the minors in the spring; it’s time to win _now_. If Cecchini or Marrero or Betts were ready yet, they’d be up already. Now, about the lack of offense from the entire outfield … maybe Sizemore needs to play every day to get in rhythm, but platooning in LF isn’t working and he really can’t cover CF well anymore, as feared in spring training. Bradley has admitted feeling “lost” at the plate, and has looked it. Nava looks like he’s getting it back together in AAA, but not quite yet. It’s time to quit trying to piece it together and go get somebody. ---
**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 21, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/96 "2014-05-21T01:25:10Z")
Some excitement in the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate in Albuquerque: > [@](#): > > Dodgers Cuban infield prospect Alex Guerrero required plastic surgery Tuesday after his left ear was bitten by Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes teammate Miguel Olivo during a fight in the dugout. Just setting a good example for Dodger fans, i guess. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/97 "2014-05-21T01:51:25Z")
in Yankees @ Cubs a Cubs batter swung at a ball and hit it and it bounced off his leg and the Yankees challenged and said that the swing missed and it just hit his leg and it should be strike 3 not a foul ball and the umps spent 5 minutes on the headset with New York before saying that it is not a reviewable play lol still gotta figure out the replay system ---
**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, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/98 "2014-05-21T02:56:28Z")
The same team that couldn’t manage a run in 5 innings against the woeful Reds bullpen just scored 8 runs (6 earned) against Johnny Cueto, who hadn’t given up more than 2 runs in a game all season. Baseball is a funny game. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/99 "2014-05-21T03:34:50Z")
Chicago “worst record in baseball” Cubs give Tanaka his first loss B) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430/100 "2014-05-21T04:01:10Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Pretty happy with Los Tigres. 🙂 A nice sweep to get a small measure of revenge for the ALCS last year. Smyly and Porcello have really stepped up to give them a deep nasty rotation. Davis and especially Kinsler have been much better than my expectations. Hopefully they can cruise through the heart of the year with no injuries, and things will be great. Nothin’ but losses and a malfunctioning team plane since you made this statement. I would thank you and everyone else to not discuss the Tigers here until November. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may/687430.md?page=6)