2018 MLB Thread

[Nik]

In "Goodness Gracious, that was still around?" news, the Indians today have announced that this year will be the last one where the team wears the Chief Wahoo logo.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/sports/baseball/cleveland-indians-chief-wahoo-logo.html

[cabber24]

In "Goodness Gracious, that was still around?" news, the Indians today have announced that this year will be the last one where the team wears the Chief Wahoo logo.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/sports/baseball/cleveland-indians-chief-wahoo-logo.html

Why one more year? Especially since the acknowledgement of it being racist? Ridiculous. Does commonsense even exist anymore?

Good God, that logo looks like something out of Grandpa's 1923 comic book found stashed away in his attic.

[Nik]

/quote]

I agree that it's tough to read the logic on this one but my guess is that Cleveland only agreed to the change at MLB's insistence and the one year grace period is the compromise they agreed on.

[Heroic Shrimp]

Jerry Howarth is retiring from calling Blue Jays games.  What a long run.  I'll miss him.

[Captain Canuck]

Jerry Howarth is retiring from calling Blue Jays games.  What a long run.  I'll miss him.

Yeah it will be strange not hearing his voice on the radio calling Jays games anymore. Lots of good memories growing up listening to Tom and Jerry.

Hopefully they bring in someone half decent as a replacement. Mike Wilner is a smug, corporate slug, douche!

[Arn]

So small sample size and early days and all that, but, Shohei Ohtani has certainly not disappointed Angels fans.

[herman]

So small sample size and early days and all that, but, Shohei Ohtani has certainly not disappointed Angels fans.

He might be the only reason I'd go to a Jays game this year.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/ohtani-numbers-power-judge-ks-scherzer/

[Arn]

Red Sox v Yankees confirmed for London next season.

https://www.mlb.com/london-series

Gonna head to that and boo them both.

[hockeyfan1]

Seattle Mariners' Robinson Canó suspended 80 games for using banned medication (a diuretic).  He violated MLB's drug policy and was unable aware it was a banned drug.:

"This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment. While I did not realize at the time that I was given a medication that was banned, I obviously now wish that I had been more careful," he said.

...his suspension will be concurrent with his time on the disabled list, which means he won't be out for the season.


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seattle-mariners-robinson-cano-suspended-80-games-for-drug-violation-2018-05-15/

[Nik]

Some crazy folk might think it would be important to note that the "medication" Cano took is frequently taken by athletes to mask steroid use.

[Frank E]

Some crazy folk might think it would be important to note that the "medication" Cano took is frequently taken by athletes to mask steroid use.

That's an incredible coincidence. 

[hockeyfan1]

Some crazy folk might think it would be important to note that the "medication" Cano took is frequently taken by athletes to mask steroid use.

That's an incredible coincidence. 

Coincidence? Perhaps.  Deliberately?  Yes.

Furosemide is a medication under the category of diuretics.  Under the WADA policy, it is a banned substance under the category of PEDs.

Why is it banned?
Perhaps obviously, furosemide can be used as a masking agent, helping the body rid itself of evidence of doping through urination. Hence why it, among other diuretics, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.¿

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/what-is-furosemide-the-diuretic-substance-that-got-robinson-cano-an-80-game-ped-suspension-by-mlb/

[hockeyfan1]

The Blue Jays will have one player representing them at the 2018 MLB All-Star Game slated for July 17 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.  Pitcher J.A.Happ has been chosen to represent Toronto.

As part of the All-Star Game package, there will be a Team USA vs Team World Top Prospects Futures Game on July 15.  Bo Bichette and catcher Casey Jansen will  the Jays representation there.

As for baseball's number one prospect,  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) will be a no show due to injury.

More on the above:
https://www.mlb.com/all-star

https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-futures-game-rosters-revealed/c-284471810

[hockeyfan1]

Blisters, blisters, and more blisters.   The past two seasons have seen a significant rise in blistered fingers by MLB starters (not relievers).

The question, why?

A study done by Dr. Meredith Wills, a data scientist, a few months ago attempted to answer that question and find the reasons attributable to the above.  Even though MLB had commissioned a study of their own, Dr. Wills' findings provided greater in-depth detail.

Among them:
- thicker yarn
- thicker lacing
- slicker ball making for less drag,  leading to a surge in home runs

Of course, there are variables attributable to the differences between how each pitcher's own unique grip and delivery also has it's own effects.  However, for the most part it appears that the newer balls are indeed thicker than the older balls of pre-2015.

(Dr. Wills' wrote an article for The Athletic in describing her detailed analysis of the balls, comparison charts, etc.  Since it (the article is behind a paywall qnd not available except to subscribers, here work in summary can be read here):


https://sports.yahoo.com/surge-pitcher-blisters-home-runs-due-change-baseball-lacing-yarn-154005044.html

https://theathletic.com/381544/2018/06/06/how-one-tiny-change-to-the-baseball-may-have-led-to-both-the-home-run-surge-and-the-rise-in-pitcher-blisters/

[Captain Canuck]

There has been talk the last couple seasons that physical changes to the baseball are causing all these blister issues. Why not go back to the older baseballs and see if there is a drop in pitchers getting blisters?