2018 MLB Thread

[hockeyfan1]

Where the ball differs:  Major League and Minor League baseballs are similar but very different.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/four-perspectives-how-do-mlb-and-milb-balls-differ/

...and now this:

[tweet]1031241585588142085[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

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?

That would clearly be left up to Commissioner Manfred to designate that.  Plus the company (the manufacturer) Rawlings would have to agree not in the name of cost cutting.

The fact that there are more home runs being hit than ever, might just be more reason why MLB has been slow to act upon the problem.

[bustaheims]

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?

I read an article the other that said an independent investigation found that the thread used for the seams was thicker than previously (MLB's investigation couldn't determine a specific cause for why the balls were different - just that they were), so, it's not simply a matter of going back to the old balls. They'd have to find the right thread which could require rigorous testing (it wasn't stated whether or not Rawlings had source the thread from a new company or their supplier was now producing thicker thread) and manufacture hundreds of new balls.

[herman]

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?

I read an article the other that said an independent investigation found that the thread used for the seams was thicker than previously (MLB's investigation couldn't determine a specific cause for why the balls were different - just that they were), so, it's not simply a matter of going back to the old balls. They'd have to find the right thread which could require rigorous testing (it wasn't stated whether or not Rawlings had source the thread from a new company or their supplier was now producing thicker thread) and manufacture hundreds of new balls.

This?
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/

[bustaheims]

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?

I read an article the other that said an independent investigation found that the thread used for the seams was thicker than previously (MLB's investigation couldn't determine a specific cause for why the balls were different - just that they were), so, it's not simply a matter of going back to the old balls. They'd have to find the right thread which could require rigorous testing (it wasn't stated whether or not Rawlings had source the thread from a new company or their supplier was now producing thicker thread) and manufacture hundreds of new balls.

This?
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/

That is the one, yes.

[hockeyfan1]

Tommy John Surgery:  How it can impair a pitcher (length of recovery time), what teams can do to primarily avoid it, the many misconceptions about it, etc., etc...

(Note:  article dated 2016)

http://www.asmi.org/research.php?page=research&section=TJpositionstatement

[hockeyfan1]

Roberto Osuna speaks for first time since being traded to Houston from Toronto:

"No one knows what happened but obviously me,'' Osuna, the former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander, told USA TODAY Sports in a 20-minute interview. "Everybody is quick to judge me and say all kinds of things about it. I'm just waiting for everything to come out so people can really wait to see what happened. I would really like the fans, and everybody else, (to) learn what the media says is not true.

"The biggest thing for me, and it's sad to me, (is) how people are free to say whatever they want. They can just judge you, and they don't know you. Everybody is judging me for things they don't know. I don't like that.

"Hey, if I'm guilty, you can say whatever you want.''

"People were concerned when we made the trade, it's a difficult subject and rightfully so,'' Astros owner Jim Crane told USA TODAY Sports. "It should be. We did as much homework on this as we could, and we felt the guy deserved a second chance. He had done all of his community work, counseling, and done everything baseball asked him to do.

"We are now going to do some stuff around the ballpark that will hopefully benefit women's centers that address this problem. It's a sensitive problem, and we want to be proactive.''

"The egregious acts are the egregious acts,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "That's never going to be debatable among people, and I get it. I have a wife and two daughters. It's very hard personally to even think about that. But the fact is that the case is still pending, is what most people are offended about."

"You can say anything you want to me,'' Osuna said. "None of what you say will hurt me because I know what happened. But don't talk about my mom. I might lose my mind one day if you try to say something to my mom. She has nothing to do with this.

"There are people who changed towards me, but so many people had my back and were supportive. I heard from guys like [former teammates] Jason Grilli, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. That meant everything to me.

"And here ... the first time I met these guys, they gave me the thumbs up. They said, 'Hey, you're one of us. Happy to have you.' They've really made me comfortable, and really made things normal.

"Hopefully, when this is all over, it can stay that way.''

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2018/08/29/roberto-osuna-astros-domestic-violence-justin-verlander/1125119002/

[hockeyfan1]

As many know, Shapiro's explanation for management's decision on the non September callup of the Jays Guerrero Jr., was laced with a load of verbal bloatware.  This has been a trend in MLB for teams to take back a year of a prospect's service time, leading to speculation that, unless a solution is found that is compatible for all sides, it will be a contentious issue and part of the next strike should there be one.

Some solutions put forth by player agents could be modeled after the NFL or NBA CBA agreements, or even the NHL's.  However, there are plenty of complications (including international implications) and it demonstrates the sport of baseball to be a complicated one.  Convoluted, if it may be called that, as the only pro league of the big four -- NBA, NFL, & NHL -- that can't come up with a winnable and compromising solution for all.

[tweet]1040227215055773696[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

Re:  Roberto Osuna court case result:

[tweet]1044655958696161280[/tweet]

Oauna's lawyer at the time of the MLB suspension:

"My client is not remorseful of being guilty of any criminal activity," the lawyer said. "He's obviously remorseful of the circumstances."

The only reason the charges were dropped by the court had directly to do with the complainant Alejandra Román Cota, who elected to remain her native Mexico and refused to come back to Toronto to testify in court Monday.

The Peace Bond will be for a year in which Osuna will need to cooperate and behave in accordance with what's expected of him in this regard, namely to avoid contact with Román Cota the mother of his child, and to undergo counseling.  Román Cota accepts co-parenting for the child which is why she may wish to get back together with Osuna (when he returns to Mexico in the off-season).

Be wary of this so-called Peace Bond.  On account of the fact that Osuna is now an Astro and no longer a Blue Jay playing & living in Canada, this counseling requirement is only effective if the individual is still living in the city & country in which he plays in.  Translation, it is a Canadian decision from a Canadian court Judge and it becomes "unenforceable" for the primary reason that said individual no longer resides or plays with a Canadian-based team from Canada.

End of story.  Osuna walks away practically scott-free.  Something did allegedly happen between Cota & Osuna, something that has now been dissolved by a court decision due to the absence of a complainant's testimony.

[hockeyfan1]

MLB playoff update: 

https://www.mlb.com/postseason

[hockeyfan1]

Red Sox defeat the Astros to take ALCS and advance  to a World Series appearance, thanks in part to starting pitcher David Price.  The former Blue Jay finally broke his post-season 'curse' by coming up a winner when it counted.

Boston will now play the winner of the NLCS -- the Dodgers or the Brewers -- in the World Series.

Story:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/david-price-beats-astros-sends-red-sox-world-series/

[Arn]

Can't see past the Red Sox this year, but kind of rooting for the Brewers

[hockeyfan1]

The Red Sox are one win away from winning it all tonight in L.A.   Boston is leading three games to one.

Ex-Blue Jay Steve Pearce drove in four runs in Boston's 9-5 win Saturday night.

[tweet]1056406586732806144[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

Boston beat Los Angeles Sunday night 5-1 to win World Series four games to one...

[tweet]1056953878179184647[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

Congratulations to former Blue Jay Steve Pearce on being named MVP:

[tweet]1056765900685299712[/tweet]