MLB: September 2015

Yeah, apparently the Korean leagues are even more aggressive when it comes to take-out slides on potential double plays. And I’ve seen a few videos of some slides from Kang himself that are way worse than what Coghlan did.

For myself, as a fan, I don’t really appreciate the take-out slide. It just doesn’t really fit in with the aesthetic of the game for me - similar to the collision at home with the catcher. If the ball beats you to second you’re out - slide to the bag and walk back to the dugout. But I acknowledge that most fans and almost all players disagree with me.

Agreed Jas09. There is a fine line when going into 2nd base to break up a double play. I think that may also be the reason for “in the area” calls on double plays, to protect the 2nd baseman.

RickJay:

Except, of course, San Jose.

It would have been a nice little ball park cmkeller. Here are the plans.

Well, there’s also drilling the guy.

How about the Brewers hiring a 30 year old GM? They wanted a young guy who knows analytics.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/brewers-tab-astros-assistant-david-stearns-general-manager/ar-AAeAgTl

These kinds of stories really make me how I missed the path to MLB GM by age 30.

Let’s see how many core players the Cardinals can lose and still win ballgames! This time it’s Molina, out for at least a week with a torn ligament in his left thumb. They’re going to reevaluate the injury later this week. Right now, they’re saying they expect him to be back in time for the playoffs. Of course this means he’s out till mid-2016.

In happier news, Wainwright has been cleared to resume full baseball activities and might be able to pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason.

And happy 45th birthday to Mike Matheny, who still looks like he could snap a man in half if he put his mind to it. That guy is in great shape!

Let’s hope so—they may need him to catch.

We’re going to see Pete Kozma catching before the end of the season at this rate!

Jake Arrieta going for win # 20 tonight. Wins aren’t everything but he’s got to be the NL Cy Young winner barring a spectacular collapse

I know it would never happen, but is there anything in the rules that prevents a coach from taking a position on the field? Say both the Cards’ catchers take injuries one night, would the rules allow Matheny to suit up and catch a few frames?

Or in a crazy long extra inning game, when both teams are out of pitchers, could one manager decide, “Well, Bob the First Base Coach pitched in AAA. Send him up there! Too bad Harper is next up. Best of luck, Bob.”

There used to be player coaches. Was Pete Rose the last one? Did that just fall out of style, or did the rules change to prohibit it?

He would have to be on the Active List.

Which is to say, it is the league roster rules that keep Matheny from getting in the game, not the field rules.

I know Tony La Russa fantasized about sending Mark McGuire in to bat, when he was the Cardinals’ hitting coach.

Pete Rose was the last one (1984-1986). There is no rule that prevents it. Apparently the White Sox considered having Paul Konerko serve as player manager as recently as 2012.

Holy crap. Bautista is killing baserunners. Credit to Donaldson and Navarro for handling the throws beautifully, too.

Really? Over Greinke with the lowest Era in 20 years or Kershaw posting the highest fielding independent numbers and War?

He has a killer arm and the play by Donaldson to apply the tag was even better. Both outfield assists wound up saving at least one run each. Shame that the Blue Jays wasted that.

I wonder when the Jays last lost a game in which they hit a home run in both the ninth and tenth innings. Bet that doesn’t happen often.

Tough loss, but I’d still rather be two and a half up than two and a half down.

Absolutely, especially considering where they were before the Price and Tulo trades (IIRC, 8 games back in the AL East and infinity games back in the AL).

I really wish that the Jays could have taken advantage of the Royals recent struggles, though.