The Official 2012 MLB Thread
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Kin
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It's been talked about quite a bit recently but I can't help but be interested in the upcoming AL MVP decision. It really does look like it's going to be a pretty historic battle of new school vs. old school evaluation when deciding between Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera.
Cabrera is probably going to win the triple crown and stands currently hitting .331 with 44 HR and 139 RBI's. Trout currently has a 10.7 bWAR and 10.3 fWAR which are numbers that are up there with the best seasons of Willie Mays, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig and better than any season from Hank Aaron or Joe Dimaggio. Cabrera, by contrast, has a bWAR of 6.8 which ranks him 4th in the American League behind Trout, Justin Verlander and Robinson Cano and ranks about even with Jose Bautista's 2010 season.
I don't know how it'll play out but either way one group is going to be mad.
Cabrera is probably going to win the triple crown and stands currently hitting .331 with 44 HR and 139 RBI's. Trout currently has a 10.7 bWAR and 10.3 fWAR which are numbers that are up there with the best seasons of Willie Mays, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig and better than any season from Hank Aaron or Joe Dimaggio. Cabrera, by contrast, has a bWAR of 6.8 which ranks him 4th in the American League behind Trout, Justin Verlander and Robinson Cano and ranks about even with Jose Bautista's 2010 season.
I don't know how it'll play out but either way one group is going to be mad.
maplesyrup
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Pretty cool we'll likely have our first triple crown winner in 45 years. - First in my lifetime.
GhostofPotvin29
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Nik? said:
I'll substitute this one instead then:
Champ Kind
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Nik? said:
I've got my bias regarding baseball statistics, but I thought Richard Griffin made a good point yesterday regarding AL MVP. He thinks playing for a playoff team is, or should be, a prerequisite for MVP consideration. If not, Griffin contends it's not really a Most Valuable Player award, but rather a Outstanding Player award. Might be semantics, but I tend to agree with the nuances he's identified. At any rate, this line of thinking would, obviously, give MC the clear advantage.
Kin
New member
Champ Kind said:
I think that's a dubious argument at the best of times but in this situation, where the Angels have a better record than the Tigers, it seems to be saying that Miguel Cabrera was a more valuable player because the Royals, White Sox, Twins and Indians weren't very good teams. Convoluted, I think, is a nice way of putting that.
Braves seem to be throwing away their chances to move on in the playoffs. Three errors by the infield leading to four unearned runs. 6-2 Cards at the moment.
Edit: HUGE (incorrect?) call by the umps in the bottom of the 8th with one out - they called an infield fly on a ball that ended up dropping in the outfield. Instead of the bases loaded with one out, it is 2nd and 3rd with two out. Braves down 6-3. One announcer convinced that the play should be overturned, the other not so sure any more....
Edit: HUGE (incorrect?) call by the umps in the bottom of the 8th with one out - they called an infield fly on a ball that ended up dropping in the outfield. Instead of the bases loaded with one out, it is 2nd and 3rd with two out. Braves down 6-3. One announcer convinced that the play should be overturned, the other not so sure any more....
GhostofPotvin29
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All of the MLB people I follow on Twitter were convinced it was a terrible call.
bustaheims
Active member
Potvin29 said:
I didn't see it, but, from the sounds of things, it was a bad call because of how it played out, but, not necessarily the wrong call. An infield fly is supposed to be called on any pop up/flyball in fair territory that an infielder can catch without an extraordinary effort. It doesn't necessarily have to have been a ball that would have landed in the infield. If the umpire felt the infielder legitimately believed the infielder on the play was going to be able to make a fairly routine play on the ball before being called up by his teammate in the outfield, he technically made the right call.
Kin
New member
I'm torn on it. I think that it's a case where it was probably the right call textbook wise but there was absolutely no chance that the shortstop could have dropped the ball intentionally for the DP so the rule didn't have a ton of practical value.
But, and this is where I think it gets complicated, it does sort of look like the shortstop backed off the ball because he confused the umpire's call with the LF calling him off the play. So while I'm not sure the Infield Fly rule applies I think that, absent the call, the ball gets caught and there's no big deal that gets made.
Although it was nice for the Atlanta fans to prove, yet again, that they're the worst fans in baseball.
But, and this is where I think it gets complicated, it does sort of look like the shortstop backed off the ball because he confused the umpire's call with the LF calling him off the play. So while I'm not sure the Infield Fly rule applies I think that, absent the call, the ball gets caught and there's no big deal that gets made.
Although it was nice for the Atlanta fans to prove, yet again, that they're the worst fans in baseball.
I guess I never expected that the infield fly rule could be called on a ball that carried a good ways into the outfield. You learn something new every day.
Also, the Rangers collapse is now complete. Nathan came in and threw some gas on the fire and turned a two run deficit into a 5-1 game. Hamilton goes out with a whimper at 0-4, and the Rangers couldn't score more than one run on a guy who had an ERA over 6 against them in his career.
Also, the Rangers collapse is now complete. Nathan came in and threw some gas on the fire and turned a two run deficit into a 5-1 game. Hamilton goes out with a whimper at 0-4, and the Rangers couldn't score more than one run on a guy who had an ERA over 6 against them in his career.
hockeyfan1
New member
Here's the way the infield fly (rule) is to be interpreted...
Text of the infield fly rule from Rule 2.00 of the Official Baseball Rules:
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly, if Fair."
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder -- not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire's judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05(l). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/10/05/braves_infield_fly_rule_nl_wild_card_game_cardinals/
Text of the infield fly rule from Rule 2.00 of the Official Baseball Rules:
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly, if Fair."
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder -- not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire's judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05(l). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/10/05/braves_infield_fly_rule_nl_wild_card_game_cardinals/
maplesyrup
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I'd really like to see one of Baltimore or Oakland make it to the WS. I think with a little luck, the Jays can be right where these guys are.
Corn Flake
New member
Wow.. Texas is out and Baltimore is in. This new 1-game Wild Card already feels pretty goofy. A 1 game round in baseball is about equivalent to a game of rock paper scissors.
But I guess Texas gets what they deserve after being swept by Oakland in the last series of the season. Man... talk about an implosion. Nolan Ryan is going to be yelling and punching things for weeks after this.
But I guess Texas gets what they deserve after being swept by Oakland in the last series of the season. Man... talk about an implosion. Nolan Ryan is going to be yelling and punching things for weeks after this.
maplesyrup
New member
Lupul tweeted last night that the NHL should follow suit. #8 plays #9 in a one game playoff. Thoughts?