# MLB: September 2019 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 1, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572 "2019-09-01T23:58:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/141 "2019-09-24T19:32:19Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > West is also far too old to be an MLB ump. It’s ridiculous to have a fat senior citizen out there; they should force retirement at 55-60. > > There is no good reason not to have strikes and balls called by the machine that’s ALREADY DOING IT ANYWAY. None. Agree with your second paragraph here, but the suggestion in the first paragraph would, as I understand it, run afoul of the law. You’d have the EEOC on your back if you tried to force retirement by age like this. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/142 "2019-09-24T19:47:37Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Well, Ned Yost announced yesterday that he’ll retired at the end of the season. I’ll be sorry to see him go. I wasn’t a huge fan of his to begin with, but a World Series Championship certainly helps to turn things around. He was one of the few managers I can remember to really change the way he thought about things - he’s been very flexible to the role of the reliever, the shift, etc. He’s become more and more a manager who lets younger players get more reps in the majors, and could be a tremendous asset to the new core that’s coming up through the system. > > And it’s looking more and more like Mike Matheny is going to be the next manager. Which sucks - his last year in St. Louis was a disaster, and it seems players really dislike him. I’ve been a Royals fan since their inception, and they’ve had their share of bad managers. While I never thought that Yost was a great manager, I don’t think he’s as bad as what his many critics say. (Although KC will lose 100 games this year for the second year in a row.) As **Munch** says, winning back-to-back pennants and a world series certainly helps the resume. Moving Wade Davis from a starter to the bullpen was the singlemost important move Yost did during his tenure in KC, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/143 "2019-09-25T10:49:20Z")
The Washington Nationals clinch a wild-card playoff spot. Not bad, considering they started the season 19-31. And their bullpen is still pretty shaky. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/144 "2019-09-25T11:05:09Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Rumor has it that Joe Maddon is on his way out of Wrigley Field, and that David Ross will take over. This would be a mistake, in my opinion. The Cubs have be whacked by injuries all season long, plus the Zobrist and Russell distractions. Now, I do question the way Maddon handled the Zobrist situation, but a utility guy wasn’t the reason they’re not going to make the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/145 "2019-09-25T11:12:02Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Agree with your second paragraph here, but the suggestion in the first paragraph would, as I understand it, run afoul of the law. You’d have the EEOC on your back if you tried to force retirement by age like this. [Aviation gets away with it.](http://m.aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/opinion-here-three-pronged-approach-pilot-shortage) Heck, it used to be 60, instead of 65 years old. IIRC, firefighters have a mandatory retirement age too. Both are professions where it was deemed that older people couldn’t do the job adequately, or had an unacceptable risk of sudden failure or illness. Unlike baseball, obviously, both are professions where sudden incapacity can mean that other people die. Agreed that trying to shove one into the Umpires’ current CBA would go poorly, but nothing says MLB can’t push for one in the next CBA with the umps. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/146 "2019-09-25T11:43:58Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > West is also far too old to be an MLB ump. It’s ridiculous to have a fat senior citizen out there; they should force retirement at 55-60. Sorry, but I abhor blind, blanket rules because people are individuals. There are people in their seventies who are sharp and energetic and shouldn’t be put out to pasture to die because of some mandatory, rigid rule. Instead, how about judging ALL umpires regardless of age on their performance? If he’s not performing well, don’t get rid of him because he is X amount of years old. Get rid of him because of poor performance. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/147 "2019-09-25T12:05:37Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Sorry, but I abhor blind, blanket rules because people are individuals. There are people in their seventies who are sharp and energetic and shouldn’t be put out to pasture to die because of some mandatory, rigid rule. Instead, how about judging ALL umpires regardless of age on their performance? If he’s not performing well, don’t get rid of him because he is X amount of years old. Get rid of him because of poor performance. I don’t understand the rationale behind an age limit for umpires. Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems to me that what you need to be a decent umpire are good eyesight (at least with corrective lenses), good judgment, the stamina to stand around and pay attention for several hours, and a thorough knowledge of and experience with the rules of baseball. The eyesight and stamina are the only ones that decline with age, and they can be tested. I hope this wasn’t a case of “Joe West is a bad umpire; Joe West is old; therefore old people are bad umpires.” ISTM that’s how discrimination and stereotypes work. (On the other hand, why do umpires have to be men? I’ve never seen any female umpires, but why not?) In unrelated news, I’m sure glad I didn’t try to stay up for the end of the Cardinals-Diamondbacks game. (St. Louis lost in the 19th inning.) ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/148 "2019-09-25T15:06:56Z")
It turns out that like athletes, [umpires don’t age very well.](https://fanbuzz.com/mlb/worst-mlb-umpires-study/) Generally speaking. There’s more to it than just eyesight. I was watching a game recently and Doug Eddings was the home plate umpire. One of the announcers mentioned that Eddings calls 10% more strikes than the average ump. And that was hand-waved away as him being a ‘pitcher friendly’ umpire, instead of being crap at his job. All personnel decisions for umpires should be performance based. If Eddings can’t tighten that shit up, adios. I saw another game this year with Chad Fairchild behind the plate and he was brilliant. I marvelled at his accuracy. If they were all like him I would be against robo umps, but as it stands, shitty umps are promoted and not fired. As for Joe West, that call against Brett Gardner was most likely personal. He knew damn well it wasn’t a strike. That’s how terrible West is at his job. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/149 "2019-09-25T15:51:55Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > It turns out that like athletes, [umpires don’t age very well.](https://fanbuzz.com/mlb/worst-mlb-umpires-study/) Generally speaking. There’s more to it than just eyesight. Interesting. Thanks for the link. I _think_ that article was just talking about calling balls and strikes, and not the other decisions umpires have to make, but I couldn’t tell for sure. And unless I missed it, the article didn’t say, or even speculate, _why_ older umpires are worse. Or even whether it’s causation or just correlation. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/150 "2019-09-25T17:44:11Z")
The most logical explanation would be that they’re worse for the same reason older ballplayers are worse; their eyes, minds and reflexes are not up to the task. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/151 "2019-09-25T20:40:20Z")
19 inning game of the Cards and the Dbacks last night/this morning. I must admit my shame at going to be at midnight, in only the 15th inning. I missed the big win. And today’s game is a day game. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/152 "2019-09-25T21:21:40Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > 19 inning game of the Cards and the Dbacks last night/this morning. I must admit my shame at going to be at midnight, in only the 15th inning. I missed the big win. > > And today’s game is a day game. Don’t you hate being a responsible adult and having to go to bed so you can get up in the morning and get to work on time. I do too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/153 "2019-09-25T23:34:33Z")
With a doubleheader sweep of the Phillies yesterday, combined with the Cubs losing to the Pirates, my Nats clinched a spot in the Wild Card game. We’re playing a lot of our reserves in today’s game against the Phillies, which is game four of a five-game series. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon appear to have the day off. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/154 "2019-09-26T00:03:45Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > With a doubleheader sweep of the Phillies yesterday, combined with the Cubs losing to the Pirates, my Nats clinched a spot in the Wild Card game. The decision not to give Bryce Harper a bazillion dollars looks smarter by the day. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/155 "2019-09-26T00:25:35Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > 19 inning game of the Cards and the Dbacks last night/this morning. I must admit my shame at going to be at midnight, in only the 15th inning. I missed the big win. > > And today’s game is a day game. Which the DBacks won. That’s okay, though. It means the Cards can win the NL Central at home against the Cubs. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/156 "2019-09-26T03:39:05Z")
I get the feeling that the Cards and Brewers are headed for a 5-game showdown and that it’s just a matter of whether they start the series in Milwaukee or St. Louis. But baseball’s a weird sport, the Nats have been playing okay, and it only takes one game now to throw the post-season into disarray. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/157 "2019-09-26T03:42:27Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The decision not to give Bryce Harper a bazillion dollars looks smarter by the day. Anyone with any baseball knowledge knew that deal was a great deal for Harper and not the Phillies. I don’t care if a guy bats .345 with 55 homers and 135 RBIs, you don’t pay that kind of money for one offensive player. You just don’t. And while I think Harper can be an ass at times, I’ve always liked his game and his intensity as a fan of baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/158 "2019-09-26T10:23:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I get the feeling that the Cards and Brewers are headed for a 5-game showdown and that it’s just a matter of whether they start the series in Milwaukee or St. Louis. But baseball’s a weird sport, the Nats have been playing okay, and it only takes one game now to throw the post-season into disarray. If they meet in the post-season, it’ll be a 7-game showdown. The only way they meet is in the NLCS. Dodgers v. Winner of WC (Either MIL/WAS or STL/WAS). Braves v. Either STL or MIL Winners to the NLCS. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/159 "2019-09-26T12:16:37Z")
Astros set another team record with their 104th win. This is the best Astros team I’ve ever seen and one of the best baseball teams period - maybe after the 98 Yankees. Probably also the best Astros team I will see in my life. They will have a Cy Young winner and a Rookie of the Year winner, and it’s possible Bregman wins MVP (he’s almost caught Mike Trout on whichever WAR measure [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com) uses - I think that is bbref WAR. I think he’s a bit further behind in the fangraphs version). I think the most 100-win teams there has been in a season is three, which we have already. If Minnesota goes 2-2 or better (pretty likely), they will make a fourth, and if Atlanta goes 3-0, that will make five. Also, whichever AL team misses the playoffs will have the most wins of any team to miss the playoffs since they expanded to ten teams, and probably since they expanded to eight teams. At the other end of the standings, there are four teams not even playing .400 baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572/160 "2019-09-26T12:56:26Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Astros set another team record with their 104th win. This is the best Astros team I’ve ever seen and one of the best baseball teams period - maybe after the 98 Yankees. Probably also the best Astros team I will see in my life. They will have a Cy Young winner and a Rookie of the Year winner, and it’s possible Bregman wins MVP (he’s almost caught Mike Trout on whichever WAR measure [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com) uses - I think that is bbref WAR. I think he’s a bit further behind in the fangraphs version). > > I think the most 100-win teams there has been in a season is three, which we have already. If Minnesota goes 2-2 or better (pretty likely), they will make a fourth, and if Atlanta goes 3-0, that will make five. Also, whichever AL team misses the playoffs will have the most wins of any team to miss the playoffs since they expanded to ten teams, and probably since they expanded to eight teams. At the other end of the standings, there are four teams not even playing .400 baseball. The team is ridiculously talented. Probable #1 and 2 in Cy Young voting, their #3 nearly threw a no-hitter last night, and they have five starters over .900 OPS, with another six players over .800. It’s the best Astros team ever. Highest team OPS they’ve ever had, at .848. They had better team pitching last year, on raw ERA. Baseball Reference doesn’t easily have ERA+ or OPS+ per team year to year, so it’s hard to compare. This team does have the 2nd best ever team WHIP, at 1.138. Last year’s was 1.099. Still only a 9 to 4 bet to win it all though. [2024 MLB World Series Futures Odds | MLB Futures Odds](http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/) Better than every other team though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2019/839572.md?page=9)