BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Omnichatter for September 2023

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Friday, September 01, 2023

Omnichatter for September 2023

One month to go. Atlanta and LA are the only teams that have (essentially) wrapped up their divisions, each with a magic number of 16.

The AL Wild Cards right now would be Tampa Bay, Houston, and Texas. Toronto (2.5 games back) and Boston (6.5) are the only conceivable threats.

In the NL, the Phillies, Cubs, and Giants lead a trio of teams for the Wild Card—DBacks (1 game back), Reds (1.5), and Marlins (3). Count the Brewers in that mix since they lead the Central by 3 games and would have to fall pretty far to lose the division and miss the playoffs

NaOH Posted: September 01, 2023 at 02:14 PM | 711 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: omnichatter

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601. Howie Menckel Posted: September 28, 2023 at 08:01 PM (#6142667)

bump and backpedal, if you don't want to miss the latest Angel Hernandez fiasco

602. I Am Not a Number Posted: September 28, 2023 at 08:29 PM (#6142671)

Imagine being as bad at your job as Angel Hernandez and then thinking you are being treated badly. He has zero self-awareness.

603. Tony S Posted: September 28, 2023 at 09:08 PM (#6142673)

The Orioles win their 100th game and clinch the AL East with a 2-0 win over the Red Sox.

604. Booey Posted: September 28, 2023 at 09:15 PM (#6142675)

More importantly Corbin Carrol with his 10th triple and becomes the first player ever with 25 homers, 50 SBs and 10 triples. Sure the totals are arbitrary, but hey it's still cool.

And with 2 more stolen bases, Bobby Witt Jr will join him. If Witt can add another homer too, he'll stand alone in the 30 HR, 50 SB, 10 triple club.

605. sunday silence (again) Posted: September 28, 2023 at 10:02 PM (#6142683)

Why would LA be favored? Their pitching is a wreck. Atlanta's pitchers are dropping like flies too.

If I had to pick the NL representative right now I'd pick the Phillies and their new God Kerkering but I'd need to see the brackets first

Hi Duke. I wanted to get back to this comment. First off: I am sure you are more plugged into the day by day goings on in MLB. And as I have admitted, your predictions have shown to be better than the usual primate so I take your comments seriously. So checking around the various prediction algorithms:

predictor.......... NL odds of winning WS.......... WS win: ATL odds vs LA odds

Fangraphs: ........... 57% ..... 21.4 15.8
ATC ..................... 58% ..... 26.7 15.1
season to date stats 56% ..... 19 20.2
baseball reference ... 57% .....18.4 16.2

but I'd need to see the brackets first

I totally get what you're saying until I get to this statement. WHy (or how) would it possibly matter?

Would the Phillies really be better to win against the ATL than LAD for example. The NLCS is 7 games they are going to face a variety of pitchers. Its not like a one game playoff where a teams ace might confirm an advantage. And given that we're talking presumably 3 rounds of playoffs, hence more data points. HOw can it possible make a difference who they face??

606. The Duke Posted: September 28, 2023 at 10:13 PM (#6142684)

Polanco is correct

607. Booey Posted: September 29, 2023 at 12:34 AM (#6142699)

Harper got ejected and walked 100 feet or so to let Angel know what a disgrace he is to his profession - which of course is true.

Angel's just giving the people what they want! All those fans came to see him, not Harper, right?!

608. sunday silence (again) Posted: September 29, 2023 at 01:27 AM (#6142703)

I just love the human element in sports.

609. DFA Posted: September 29, 2023 at 01:31 AM (#6142704)

The Orioles win their 100th game and clinch the AL East with a 2-0 win over the Red Sox.

Ain't the beer cold!

610. Bote Man Posted: September 29, 2023 at 01:58 AM (#6142705)

I wonder if there will be any repercussions for...something about the grounds at Citi Field tonight?

Rain was forecast to start sometime this evening and rain all the way until Sunday morning, so you can't blame Mother Nature for the rain. But while I was otherwise disposed, apparently there was about a 20 minute window during which they could have played the remaining 4 outs (unless they tied and went to extras). Skip Schumaker was furious with the groundskeeper and gave him a piece of his mind on the field.

Ultimately, the game was suspended, to be resumed Monday if it still impacts the playoff picture. Cubbies lost, so there's that flicker of hope left for the Marlins.

611. shoelesjoe Posted: September 29, 2023 at 07:59 AM (#6142714)

The Angel Hernandez situation has me wondering, exactly what is the line that an umpire cannot cross when it comes to "judgement" calls? And even is there a line? The check swing against Harper was so egregious that one has to conclude that AH either wasn't even watching the play and just guessed at a decision, or he deliberately called strike three for reasons that had nothing to do with what actually happened.

If a Union umpire can basically do whatever he wants in judgement call situations then it is possible that when behind the plate he could just decide to call every pitch that bounced three feet in front of the plate as a strike. Out in the field he could call every pitch a balk. And he could decide that every appeal on a check swing was a strike (or not) regardless of whether the batter even took the bat off his shoulder, or took a full swing. He could ignore the game and make whatever calls he wanted without repercussions, because it's all in his judgement.

Is that really where we are with Angel Hernandez?

612. The Duke Posted: September 29, 2023 at 05:25 PM (#6142766)

TEAM AND YEAR OF MLB DEBUT PLAYER
Arizona Diamondbacks (2019) Merrill Kelly
Atlanta Braves (2017) Ozzie Albies
Baltimore Orioles (2017) Anthony Santander
Boston Red Sox (2017) Rafael Devers
Chicago Cubs (2014) Kyle Hendricks
Chicago White Sox (2016) Tim Anderson
Cincinnati Reds (2007) Joey Votto
Cleveland Indians/Guardians (2013) Jose Ramirez
Colorado Rockies (2011) Charlie Blackmon
Detroit Tigers (2018) Spencer Turnbull
Houston Astros (2011) Jose Altuve
Kansas City Royals (2011) Salvador Perez
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim/Angels (2011) Mike Trout
Los Angeles Dodgers (2008) Clayton Kershaw
Miami Marlins (2020) Jesus Sanchez
Milwaukee Brewers (2015) Adrian Houser
Minnesota Twins (2014) Jorge Polanco
New York Mets (2016) Brandon Nimmo
New York Yankees (2015) Luis Severino
Oakland Athletics (2017) Paul Blackburn
Philadelphia Phillies (2015) Aaron Nola
Pittsburgh Pirates (2019) Bryan Reynolds
San Diego Padres (2019) Fernando Tatis Jr.
San Francisco Giants (2011) Brandon Crawford
Seattle Mariners (2019) Dylan Moore
St. Louis Cardinals (2004) Adam Wainwright
Tampa Bay Rays (2017) Andrew Kittredge
Texas Rangers (2016) Jose Leclerc
Toronto Blue Jays (2017) Tim Mayza
Washington Nationals (2010) Stephen StrasburG

A final post to put you out of your misery

613. The Duke Posted: September 29, 2023 at 05:37 PM (#6142768)

Kapler fired which could mean a number of things:

1. Zaidi is about to go
2. Zaidi knows who he wants and wants to act now
3. Zaidi is forcing the owners hand on whether he stays

614. Bote Man Posted: September 29, 2023 at 07:29 PM (#6142786)

4. Zaidi has secretly been buying shares of the team and now controls everything.

615. JJ1986 Posted: September 29, 2023 at 07:37 PM (#6142788)

Seattle Mariners (2019) Dylan Moore
Tampa Bay Rays (2017) Andrew Kittredge
Toronto Blue Jays (2017) Tim Mayza

I could have guessed for years and would not have gotten these 3.

616. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 29, 2023 at 08:32 PM (#6142792)

An inauspicious 1st inning for Carlos Rodon: single, BB, double, HR, single, single, single, SB & BB. 5-0 Royals over Yankees, still no one out, bases loaded, and Boone goes to the bullpen. Don’t know what Rodon’s problem is, but I’m beginning to doubt that he’s salvageable.

617. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: September 29, 2023 at 08:40 PM (#6142794)

Good news, the Yankees finally recorded an out. Bad news is it was an RBI sac fly.

618. Tony S Posted: September 29, 2023 at 10:01 PM (#6142809)

NFL-style tiebreakers for determining playoff seeding: lazy idea, but tolerable.

NFL-style tiebreakers for making vs missing the playoffs: bad idea all around.

619. salvomania Posted: September 29, 2023 at 10:17 PM (#6142810)

Wainwright in to DH in the 6th inning of the Cards' 14-2 debacle against the Reds.

He grounds out.

(according to a tweet it's the Cardinals's second-hardest-hit ball tonight, 102.1 mph)

620. Howie Menckel Posted: September 29, 2023 at 10:28 PM (#6142811)

yes, I mentioned last week that Wainwright told MLB Network that he was interested in perhaps DHing this weekend.

10 HR, 75 RBI, 39 2B, 2 3B, .193 AVG in 742 career AB.

that feels like the Mets DHs in 2023, lol

hit .262 with an 89 OPS+ in 2017 at age 35, then fell off the table offensively

621. The Duke Posted: September 29, 2023 at 10:49 PM (#6142813)

2023 San Diego Padres have:

• this year’s Cy Young
• three 25+ HR hitters
• 2nd-best team ERA in NL
• a closer with a 1.16 ERA
• 3rd-highest offensive fWAR in NL
• 3rd-fewest errors in NL

What they also had? A bunch of owners mad as hell about their spending.

622. Snowboy Posted: September 30, 2023 at 01:55 AM (#6142821)

Sorry to be late to the party to comment on Bryce Harper's ejection.

(But not really late? Within minutes last night, Sportsnet (Canada) posted a package of "Worst Angel Hernandez Calls of All Time" I remember watching so many of them! One of the lowlights shown was AH making a horrible call in 1998, so he's not just "bad" like day-old bread, he's been bad for decades, and even a non-baseball fan like Mrs. Snowboy can see and smell his mould.)

The continued employment of Angel Hernandez, when he is so objectively terrible at his job, had me thinking about my own workplace. We had a guy last week sitting on a forklift, passed out...slowly moving across the warehouse. Someone pulled him off before he killed someone or punched through the wall, lots of people just laughed and shrugged. But my point of complaint is that this guy is a known problem and it wasn't his first day being a problem. The company knows it, the union knows it, but how long do they/us all put up with it before they just get rid of him?

Pay him out if you have to {am I talking about AH, or my coworker, or both?}
{It's both.}
Let's make the workplace better by getting rid of a hazard. We and MLB would be better to fire an objectively terrible employee, and move on with hiring someone off the street. If they don't want to go down the road of explaining their personnel decision, just fire him "without cause" and let him hire a lawyer and sue for wages and damages? Just eat one or two or ten million $$, and let us not ever talk again about Angel Hernandez?

623. Bote Man Posted: September 30, 2023 at 11:02 AM (#6142839)

Yes, I mentioned last week that Wainwright told MLB Network that he was interested in perhaps DHing this weekend.

Wainwright hit a home run during batting practice yesterday.

624. The Duke Posted: September 30, 2023 at 11:16 AM (#6142842)

It's unclear why they won't pay Angel off. The guy could only win so much in a suit at his age. It's hard to argue you've been treated unfairly when they've employed him at the highest level for 25+ years right ?

It's not earth shattering amount. He's 62. I assume mandatory retirement is 65. It's got to be less than $5 million to get him to walk.

625. Booey Posted: September 30, 2023 at 11:48 AM (#6142845)

Trivia time!

With Bobby Witt Jr hitting his 30th homer last night and getting the Royals their first entry into the 30/30 club, which 7 teams have still never had a 30/30 season?

Bonus: What two 30/30 seasons were split between 2 teams?

626. JJ1986 Posted: September 30, 2023 at 01:38 PM (#6142857)

Bonus: What two 30/30 seasons were split between 2 teams?

One of these is Beltran with the Royals and Astros.

627. Booey Posted: September 30, 2023 at 01:51 PM (#6142860)

Beltran in 2004 is correct. He had 15 homers and 14 stolen bases with the Royals, and then 23 homers and 28 SB with the Astros.

628. Cris E Posted: September 30, 2023 at 03:49 PM (#6142872)

I don't think the Twins have had a 30-30 yet. They weren't stealing bases before it was cool.

629. Booey Posted: September 30, 2023 at 04:32 PM (#6142877)

Twins are correct. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone who even came close. I checked Puckett and Torii Hunter, and both had 20/20 seasons but were never particularly close to 30/30.

630. The Duke Posted: September 30, 2023 at 04:35 PM (#6142878)

Didn't Bobby Bonds have a split season ?

631. The Duke Posted: September 30, 2023 at 04:39 PM (#6142879)

I can't think of a Cub or a Cardinal. I take it back. I bet Sammy Sosa did it

632. Booey Posted: September 30, 2023 at 04:43 PM (#6142880)

Bobby Bonds is correct for the other split season. In 1978 he had 2 HR and 6 SB for the White Sox and 29 HR and 37 SB for the Rangers.

Cardinals are correct (surprisingly considering they had Lankford and Gant in the 90's).

Cubs are not correct. Sosa did it in 1993 and 1995.

633. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: September 30, 2023 at 04:54 PM (#6142883)

On Hernandez he keeps himself in ferociously good shape.

The belief is that no amount of money could force him out. And he won’t let his body force him to retire

Think the dude is fueled by spite

634. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: September 30, 2023 at 05:05 PM (#6142885)

Think it’s telling that when he called out Harper the other umps let Harper go 90 plus feet with no intervention

The home plate ump was passed by the manager (?) of Phillies who ran out to save his guy from taking a swing at Harper

Also like the third base coach half way put his arm up like hey don’t swing but sure if you really want to go ahead

635. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: September 30, 2023 at 05:17 PM (#6142887)

I appreciate guys like Hernandez. He pushes the boundaries and forces management to rethink how its performance management operates

Also appreciate a well of hostility from a non middle aged white mfer. Really tired of that drill.

Hernandez is also a super twisted form of performance art. How can I suck at my job? Let me show you the ways.

636. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 30, 2023 at 07:45 PM (#6142895)

It's hard to argue you've been treated unfairly when they've employed him at the highest level for 25+ years right?

That can cut both ways. An employee will typically contend that his performance has always been OK since he’s been employed for decades, and the only thing that has changed is the that his employer now wants to get rid of him for a discriminatory reason or some other prohibited reason. Not firing Angel Hernandez decades ago has made it more difficult to do so today.

637. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: September 30, 2023 at 07:58 PM (#6142896)

Cubs score 6 in the first

But now 6-6 in the second

638. Howie Menckel Posted: September 30, 2023 at 08:44 PM (#6142899)

SNY booth speculating if Marlins would be allowed to forfeit that dangling game against the Mets on Monday if the Reds and Cubs both are eliminated tonight.

they could be playing for seeding, but a forfeit would underscore how meaningless it is - in this NL season, anyway - as to whether you are the 5 or 6 seed.

face the lady - the Brewers - or the tiger - the Phillies?

both are daunting tasks, and it's not worth the travel to NYC to finish off the 9th inning of a game to find out which one you get - compared to the negative effects of all that travel from Pittsburgh to NY to wherever.

even worse, the situation is squarely on the shoulders of a Mets field crew that either misread a weather report - or more likely, didn't take precautions to take care of the field in case the forecast was wrong.

639. Howie Menckel Posted: September 30, 2023 at 08:54 PM (#6142900)

re Angel Hernandez's latest boner:

has the consultation to the 3rd (or 1st) base umpire become automatic now?

not only could the home plate ump presumably tell what really happened on Harper's non-swing, asking for help on a call from Hernandez is like ..... ok, that's the next contest !

:)

640. Bote Man Posted: September 30, 2023 at 09:02 PM (#6142901)

On Pirates TV, Greg Brown (who is not my favorite announcer) is going on about Tim Jones who made his debut on 4 September, 1977 appeared in relief twice, then started the first game of a double-header on the final day of the 1977 season without allowing a run through 7 innings.

He was traded in the off-season to the Expos and never played again, apparently. So a 1-0 record and a WHIP of 0.700 for his MLB career, such as it was.

Weird, but neat.

641. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: September 30, 2023 at 09:16 PM (#6142902)

Marlins up 6-2 late, so it looks like it won't matter what happens in Milwaukee or St. Louis.

642. Howie Menckel Posted: September 30, 2023 at 09:23 PM (#6142903)

need a modern-day K-Rod?

it could be Orion Kerkering - yes, that's a real person.

2022 5th-round pick out of South Florida who sailed through basically every rung in the Phillies' organization this year. just made his 3rd appearance in the majors (K'd 2 Mets), and his MGR said after just one outing this week that he wants this 22-year-old kid on the postseason roster.

Phillies don't exactly have a lockdown closer, so.......

643. Cris E Posted: September 30, 2023 at 09:41 PM (#6142907)

The next time Manfred has a Q&A I'd love to see an omnibus umpiring question that more or less included:
- acknowledged the improvement in umpire conditioning (no more Eric Gregg-like figures out there)
- pointed out the problems with Angel and what he represents in a era when umpires can and are empirically measured in public
- inquired if automated balls and strikes need to be negotiated with the umpire union
- and inquired when the next umpire contract is due for review

644. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: September 30, 2023 at 09:48 PM (#6142908)

Good by Chicago. Hello Miami

645. Tom Nawrocki Posted: September 30, 2023 at 10:25 PM (#6142913)

Had no idea that Dallas Keuchel was working these days as a mop up man for the Twins.

646. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 30, 2023 at 11:51 PM (#6142925)

A final post to put you out of your misery

I had said Devers like 75 posts ago…glad I didn’t spend time checking afterwards to figure out who it really was after you said that one was still open <shrug>

647. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 30, 2023 at 11:57 PM (#6142928)

Some guesses for the other 5 teams without a 30/30:

Rays
Angels
White Sox
Brewers
Phillies?

648. The Duke Posted: September 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM (#6142929)

The reds pitcher tonight threw 12 pitches, all balls. Walked the bases loaded and got taken out. They mentioned that John Maines threw 12 straight balls in 2010 but it looks like he went 5 innings.

Question being:

Has any pitcher ever not thrown a strike in a starting role? I gotta think 12 straight balls and then being yanked has to be a record

649. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:02 AM (#6142930)

Ok so I looked and the Brewers and Phillies are definitely wrong. The others might be right.

650. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:08 AM (#6142931)

651. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:11 AM (#6142932)

Here’s another question that surprised me when I saw it:

Acuna’s 380 total bases this season are the third most by an active player (i.e., most TB in a season by a currently active player). Who are the other 9 guys in the top 10 (Hint: two of them are also this season, and it is indeed 9 different guys).

652. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:17 AM (#6142934)

Some guesses for the other 5 teams without a 30/30:

Rays
Angels
White Sox
Brewers
Phillies?

Rays and White Sox are correct.

Angels are not. I can understand forgetting about Bobby Bonds in 1977, but Trout's rookie year in 2012 is a pretty obvious one. ;-)

Brewers are not correct (Tommy Harper, Ryan Braun twice, Christian Yelich), and neither are the Phillies (Bobby Abreu twice, Jimmy Rollins)

3 more left!

653. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:20 AM (#6142935)

Acuna’s 380 total bases this season are the third most by an active player (i.e., most TB in a season by a currently active player). Who are the other 9 guys in the top 10 (Hint: two of them are also this season, and it is indeed 9 different guys).

I think the 2 with more than 380 are Charlie Blackmon in 2017 and Aaron Judge last year.

Guesses for the others in the top 10:

Freddie Freeman this season
Matt Olson (ditto)
Nolan Arenado in his Coors heyday
Miguel Cabrera in his prime seems like an obvious one, right?
Paul Goldschmidt?
Stanton in his 59 HR season?
Jose Ramirez when he had like 56 doubles and 36 homers (or were those in different years)?

654. Tom Nawrocki Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:25 AM (#6142936)

I'll guess Mookie in 2018 and Miguel Cabrera the year he won the Triple Crown.

655. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:28 AM (#6142937)

I honestly thought Trout didn’t quite hit 30 HR his rookie year. Turns out he just hit 30, and that was his only 30/30 season.

656. Howie Menckel Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:29 AM (#6142938)

Tommy Harper

wanted to doublecheck on Harper and.....

1969 --- 9 HR, 73 SB, 89 OPS+
1970 - 31 HR, 38 SB, 146 OPS+

first one was with the Seattle Pilots, the second was the franchise's first year in Milwaukee

changes in latitude yada yada yada!

that has the only year he ever hit 20 HR, but he cleared 30 SB two other times (with the Reds, and with the Red Sox)

657. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:33 AM (#6142939)

Blackmon, Judge, Olson, Freeman, Cabrera, Betts, and Stanton are correct. 2 more remaining.

Arenado has seasons 12, 13, 15, and 22 but isn’t in the top 10.

Neither are Goldschmidt or Ramirez.

658. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:35 AM (#6142940)

Miguel Cabrera the year he won the Triple Crown.

I always found it interesting that Miggy's Triple Crown year was his WORST overall hitting season in the 4 year span from 2010-2013:

2010 - .328/.420/.622 (178 OPS+)
2011 - .344/.448/.586 (179 OPS+)
2012 - .330/.393/.606 (164 OPS+) - TRIPLE CROWN
2013 - .348/.442/.636 (190 OPS+)

(led league)

659. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:36 AM (#6142941)

Aaron Judge 2022 - 391
Charlie Blackmon 2017 - 387
Ronald Acuña 2023 - 380
Miguel Cabrera 2012 - 377
Giancarlo Stanton 2017 - 377
Matt Olson 2023 - 365
_______________ - 363
Freddie Freeman 2023 - 360
Mookie Betts 2016 - 359
________________ - 359

660. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:43 AM (#6142942)

#657 - Yelich and Bellinger?

661. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:48 AM (#6142943)

Oh, Vlad Jr during his 48 HR, MVP runner up season!

662. The Duke Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:53 AM (#6142944)

We need a playoff bracket predictions thread. I think I know how it will go for me. I've got Astros and Phillies in a Series rematch on my first take but I want a day to think more on the orioles

663. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 12:58 AM (#6142945)

Vlad Jr is correct, the others aren’t.

664. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 01:00 AM (#6142946)

Then how about Marcus Semien, the year he hit 45 homers (teammates with Vlad and his 48 dingers that year, right?)? He plays every game and always seems to lead the league in plate appearances and/or at bats, so he could be up there.

665. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 01:03 AM (#6142947)

Not Semien

I will guess Padres as not having a 30/30 guy. They are always on those lists of “teams that have never had a ______”

666. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 01:13 AM (#6142948)

I will guess Padres as not having a 30/30 guy. They are always on those lists of “teams that have never had a ______”

Yeah, the Pads are a good bet on all those lists (like, teams that have never had a guy hit more than 163 career homers for them!).

And yes, they are correct on this list as well, at least temporarily. Tatis Jr has seasons of 42/25 (in 130 games) in 2021 and 25/29 this season (in 139 games), so he's a decent bet to end that streak one of these years (and to pass Colbert's HR record, although Machado will get there first).

2 more teams without a 30/30 season...

667. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 01:58 AM (#6142952)

Never had a 30-30 guy?
Arizona Gardensnakes.
And the Duh-TROY-it Tiggers?

668. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 03:10 AM (#6142953)

Never had a 30-30 guy?
Arizona Gardensnakes.
And the Duh-TROY-it Tiggers?

Yep, those are the last 2.

I can't think of anyone who even came close for the Tigers. My best guess was Granderson, but he was a ways away with seasons of 23/26 and 30/20 (also a 41/25 with the Yankees).

For the D-Backs, Goldschmidt had that surprise 32 SB year, but that was one of the rare seasons when he DIDN'T hit 30 homers (24). He also reversed it another year and went 33/21. Of course, Corbin Carroll is at 25/54 as a rookie, so he could easily make this all a moo* point sometime down the line.

* Like a cows opinion. It doesn't matter.

669. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 03:23 AM (#6142954)

So the final tally on 30/30 seasons is:

7 - Giants
6 - Braves, Mets
4 - Brewers
3 - Yankees, Guardians, Reds, Rockies, Dodgers, Phillies, Nat/Spos, Rangers
2 - Orioles/Browns, Angels, Pirates, Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays, Mariners, Marlins, Red Sox
1 - A's, Royals
0 - White Sox, Cardinals, Tigers, Twins, Padres, Rays, D-Backs

2 - split between 2 teams

670. JJ1986 Posted: October 01, 2023 at 09:24 AM (#6142959)

The Blue Jays should lose on purpose today, right?

671. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 09:36 AM (#6142962)

Kirk Gibson came very close for the Tigers a few times:

1984 - 27 HR / 29 SB
1985 - 29 / 30
1986 - 28 / 34
1987 - 24 / 26

672. The Duke Posted: October 01, 2023 at 10:25 AM (#6142966)

So we need a playoff omnichatter as September comes to a close

673. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 01:30 PM (#6142990)

To finish up this one from last night:

Aaron Judge 2022 - 391
Charlie Blackmon 2017 - 387
Ronald Acuña 2023 - 380
Miguel Cabrera 2012 - 377
Giancarlo Stanton 2017 - 377
Matt Olson 2023 - 365
Vlad Guerrero Jr. 2021 - 363
Freddie Freeman 2023 - 360
Mookie Betts 2016 - 359
Rafael Devers 2019 - 359

674. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:01 PM (#6142998)

#673 - Yeah, I wouldn't have guessed Devers. My final guess would have been JD Martinez in 2018 when he hit .330 with 43 homers, but BREF shows that he "only" had 358 total bases that season.

675. The Yankee Clapper Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:23 PM (#6143000)

Showalter not returning next season.

EDIT: More here:

“We are heading in a new direction, with a new President of Baseball Operations, and we let Buck know we’ll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our team, including leading us to a 101-win season and postseason berth last year. The commitment and heart that Buck brings to the game will be felt by our organization for years to come. We wish Buck all the best in the next chapter of his career.”

Tough business.

676. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:47 PM (#6143004)

#672 - I need one more day of closure on the regular season before I'm ready to think about the playoffs! There's a good ESPN article written by David Schoenfield detailing all the regular season milestones still on the line heading into this final day of games:

-Braves need 3 homers to surpass the 2019 Twins record of 307(!). I had no idea the record was so high (especially cuz I couldn't think of a single slugger on that Twins team without looking it up). Braves are also slugging .501 as a team, so with a good game today they'll become the first team ever to slug .500 overall. So basically, their team AVERAGE is a typical Manny Machado or Eddie Murray season.

-Freddie Freeman needs a double to become the first player since 1936 with 60 in a season. There's been more 60 homer seasons than 60 double seasons.

-Bobby Witt needs a stolen base to join Eric Davis (1987), Bonds (1990), and Acuna as the only players to go 30/50 in a season.

-Kyle Tucker needs a homer to become the 5th 30/30 player this season, which would break the tie with 1987, 1996, 1997, and 2011 to set a new record. Not sure if anyone is on the verge of adding to this one, but there's also eighteen 20/20 players this year, just 1 short of the record set in 1999.

-Maybe no one cares about batting average anymore (except me!), but we have a good old fashioned batting race in the A.L., with Corey Seager and Yandy Diaz essentially tied at .330. Seager is at a fractionally higher .330 though (.3298 to .3295), so we'll see if any "resting" shenanigans occur

677. PeteF3 Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:56 PM (#6143006)

RIP Tim Wakefield.

678. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 03:12 PM (#6143010)

Acuna also has 149 runs scored, so he needs 1 today to join Bagwell in 2000 as the only 150 run players in the last 70+ years (before Bags, Teddy Ballgame was the last).

Edit: RIP Wakefield. That really sucks. :-(

679. Mr. Hotfoot Jackson (gef, talking mongoose) Posted: October 01, 2023 at 03:17 PM (#6143012)

What a shame. I'm partial to any & all knuckleballers, but Wakefield was among the very best.

Morbid of me, I know, but as I noted in the Wakefield-Schilling thread, I find myself wondering whether any previous MLB veterans died on the final day of the regular season.

680. NaOH Posted: October 01, 2023 at 03:26 PM (#6143013)

Morbid of me, I know, but as I noted in the Wakefield-Schilling thread, I find myself wondering whether any previous MLB veterans died on the final day of the regular season.

Tommy Boggs died on the final day of last season, so I imagine it's happened plenty of times if going back just one year yields a match.

681. Bote Man Posted: October 01, 2023 at 04:02 PM (#6143017)

The Reds pitcher tonight threw 12 pitches, all balls. Walked the bases loaded and got taken out.

How can these guys lay off pitches that close???

682. Walt Davis Posted: October 01, 2023 at 04:18 PM (#6143019)

It's a shame about Wakefield ... and a few years younger than me which is always sad.

I don't know where it ranks among long-running franchises but the Tigers have only 54 seasons of 30+ steals. And 34 of those seasons came before 1920. Other than Gibson, the only Tigers with some power who made it to 30 SBs were Juan Encarnacion (career high 24, 19 with the Tigers) and Trammell (seasons of 28/21 and 21/25 but just 14 in his 30 steal season).

683. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 04:43 PM (#6143023)

676. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:47 PM (#6143004)
-Kyle Tucker needs a homer to become the 5th 30/30 player this season

Did he just get it? With an inside the parker?

684. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 04:47 PM (#6143025)

676. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:47 PM (#6143004)
-Maybe no one cares about batting average anymore (except me!), but we have a good old fashioned batting race in the A.L., with Corey Seager and Yandy Diaz essentially tied at .330. Seager is at a fractionally higher .330 though (.3298 to .3295), so we'll see if any "resting" shenanigans occur

It's not shenanigans, Yandy Diaz is gimpy. He and Randy Arozarena are not in the Sunday lineup today, resting (like many) for the playoffs which will start on Tuesday. But it might work out okay for him? Seager is apparently 0-3 so far today?

685. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 04:51 PM (#6143026)

#684 - Seager is the one I was thinking of. With the lead and with Diaz gimpy and unlikely to play, I suspected that Seager might sit out today. And it would've made sense, as it looks like he may have played his way out of the batting title (again, I have no idea how much players care about this anymore).

Edit: Obviously not being terrible the last couple of weeks would've rendered the decision about whether to engage in shenanigans irrelevant, since Seager was cruising along with a .344 batting avg and a comfortable lead as late as Sep 15th.

686. base ball chick Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:02 PM (#6143028)

683. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 04:43 PM (#6143023)
676. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 02:47 PM (#6143004)
-Kyle Tucker needs a homer to become the 5th 30/30 player this season

Did he just get it? With an inside the parker?

- right now thr scorer has called it a triple and scored on error - although mccarthy didn't bobble the ball or throw it when he did get hold of it. it i total horseshtttt seeing as how i've seen a LOT worse plays that were NOT called an error

687. sanny manguillen Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:12 PM (#6143030)

, I find myself wondering whether any previous MLB veterans died on the final day of the regular season

We're running about 100 deaths a year among former major leaguers, with a bulge in 2020-21, so a former major leaguer probably dies on a specific day of the year about once every 3-4 years. Most, of course, weren't prominent players.

688. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:14 PM (#6143031)

#686 - ESPN boxscore is showing it as a homer.

689. NaOH Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:23 PM (#6143033)

Looks like the Astros will win the division. So checking the March predictions thread, of the few who participated, RoyalsRetro and Where Have You Gone Brady Anderson did best with five correct picks of division winners and wild card teams.

690. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:30 PM (#6143034)

The Seattle Mariners lost last night, finally eliminated from the playoff hunt.
They won the night before, with a two run hit to win the game, when they were down to their final strike.
Today they did not lay down. They fought like lions again, behind the pitching of George Kirby, to take down the Texas Rangers 1-0. (Some guy named Campbell got the save (aided by the shadows) by getting Semien, Seager, and Garver, with a runner on first.)
If Houston holds on to their 8-0 lead in Arizona, Texas is knocked off the perch of the AL West.
Their freefall continues, they are now a wildcard team, with a bullpen that is a tyre fire.
Houston will take the division crown, with the same record as Texas, because of their head-head tie breaker record. And will suddenly get a bye through the first round.
If Tampa holds their 12-7 lead over Toronto in the 8th, they will host Texas, and Toronto will play Minnesota.
Wow.

691. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:47 PM (#6143035)

In the Toronto 8th, Brandon Belt launches a homer, and Bo Bichette laces a triple.
(And swim stumbles into third, much less elegantly than Burt Lancaster described hitting a triple as Moonlight Graham.)

I'm thinking...we've had player-pitching alerts in the past, but turnabout is fair play, isn't it? How about Toronto makes sure their pitchers are ready to bat? Let's see a plate appearance by Hyun-Jin Ryu?! What about Yimi Garcia, we want to see his "big daddy hacks" trailing 12-8! (Context: A Toronto loss means they face the Twinkies in the playoffs.)

692. The Yankee Clapper Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:51 PM (#6143038)

Joey Votto was ejected today in what may be his final game. How often does that happen?

693. The Duke Posted: October 01, 2023 at 05:51 PM (#6143039)

Waino gets two pinch hitting appearances and plays a country and western concert on the last weekend. Joey Votto gets tossed from his last game in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes

One of these farewells in Stl went better than the other

694. Snowboy Posted: October 01, 2023 at 06:01 PM (#6143041)

Houston wins 8-1, they take the AL West crown.
Tampa Bay wins 12-8, they will host Texas.
Toronto loses, but their clubhouse is still full of champagne, and guys wearing goggles. They will go to Minnesota.

695. The Duke Posted: October 01, 2023 at 06:14 PM (#6143044)

With Wainwright gone the longest tenured one team player on the Cardinals is Tyler O'Neil with Dakota Hudson a couple months behind both having started in 2018. There's a reasonable possibility both could be fine before formally assuming the title.

696. The Duke Posted: October 01, 2023 at 06:26 PM (#6143046)

82-80 for the Padres and an epic September. There's a lot teams happy they didn't make the playoffs

697. Tony S Posted: October 01, 2023 at 08:29 PM (#6143056)

first one was with the Seattle Pilots, the second was the franchise's first year in Milwaukee

changes in latitude yada yada yada!

Well, in this case it was change in longitude :)

698. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 10:34 PM (#6143066)

Looks like none of the milestones on the line ended up happening. Braves finished 1 HR short of the season record. Freeman didn't get his 60th double. Witt didn't get his 50th SB. And apparently they did take away Tucker's 30th homer (and thus his 30/30 season) and make it a triple and an error after initially scoring it as an inside the park homerun.

699. Booey Posted: October 01, 2023 at 10:36 PM (#6143068)

Oh, and Acuna didn't get his 150th run scored.

700. The Duke Posted: October 01, 2023 at 11:14 PM (#6143074)

End of season front office pronouncements already beginning:

Giants and Mets: fire managers

Cardinals: manager says problem children need to be "weeded out". Hmmmm

Yankees: hitting coach says he's been offered a job, so Boone is back?

Cubs: Owner likes Ross. Wants Hendricks back but "that's not my decision". Yeah right. Says payroll is staying flat. Hmmmm

Padres: cutting payroll. Also cutting GM?

Can't wait to hear other front offices of the losers weigh in

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