There was a snippet on ESPN this morning comparing this Yank team to the last time they did this. I think it was in 1953.

Yogi Berra, Jerry Coleman, Billy Martin, Gil McDougald, Johhny Mize, Phil Rizzuto. Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle. Oh and did I mention Whitey Ford and Allie Reynolds on the mound?

This Yankee team isn't that good but on paper, they sure are good.

Having said that, there's no way the Yanks can keep up the current pace.

Having said that, there's no way the Yanks can keep up the current pace.

I remember the 1984 Tigers Starting the Season at 35-5...and going on to Win 104 Games and a WS Championship.

So, who knows? As much as I dislike the NYY, it's good for Baseball.

there's no way the Yanks can keep up the current pace

Sure there is -- seeing our starter going lights out holding them to one hit and eight Ks over six innings, we can always yank him outta there & watch the roof fall in --
that's the MLB of today -- it's not about winning, it's about preventing the possibility of injury, as these spoiled multi-millionaires whine, piss & moan their way to the DL for whatever it is they think is ailing them -- frustration to the nines

[Edited on 5/11/2018 by Stephen]

 

David I guess is going to take his turn tmrw in Tor -- whether or not we can depend on him, who knows -- guessing his carpal tunnel will again kick up this season, but maybe our $217 million man has a few good starts left in him

The headline this morning shouted it out -- "Smith Proving The Answer in Bullpen" -- that is what it takes nowadays -- a multi-year process -- Carson is pitching well after a 2 yr absence -- mayb Tyler Thornburg will too in 2019, he's into the second year of his rehab after missing last season

A tale of 2 veterans -- Justin Verlander, 35 (4-1) vs. Cole Hamels, 34 (1-4) -- Justin has been rejuvenated since joining Houston -- elsewhere, 33-year-old former aces Clay Buccholz and Tim Lincecum are attempting comebacks & in the minor league systems of the D-Backs & Rangers

What about Rafael Palmiero? He too wants to come back, at age 53 -- & why not, he's one of only 6 players w/500 HR and 3,000 hits -- let's go Sox

[Edited on 5/11/2018 by Stephen]

Re Yanks gleyber is the unknown. Can he keep this up? Except for severino the pitching (starting) is frAgile at best. I don’t like Stanton and Judge in same lineup. Too similar to each other

MAKES SENSE TO ME -- anything to downsize the game & make it more accessible & fan friendly
______________________________

Jim Kaat Says 7-inning Games Would Enhance Pitching Staffs, Bring In New Fans

Jim Kaat has been around baseball for most of his 79 years, and he doesn't like what he sees in the game today.

So Kaat, a left-handed pitcher whose MLB career began in 1959 and spanned four decades, offered up a radical plan to improve the sport in The Athletic on Friday.

Seven-inning games.

Katt, who has worked in the broadcast booth since 1986 with the Yankees, Twins, NBC and ESPN, and still does an occasional game for MLB Network, says the league's pace of play rules are not enough -- "a little blip on the screen."

Now a special assistant to the Minnesota Twins, Kaat offered up these arguments for his plan:

• It would restore the importance of starting pitchers: "Go five," Kaat said, "and then turn it over to the setup man and closer."

• It would reduce the size of pitching staffs: "When I broke in, there were 16 teams, eight in each league," Kaat said. "You had basically 10 pitchers on a staff, 160 in all of the major leagues. Now you have almost 400."

• It would help bring back four-man rotations, allowing some of the biggest stars in the game to pitch more often: "We went every four days back when we were pitching 300 innings," Kaat said. "These guys are bigger, better, stronger. It would just be a matter of training them."

Kaat dismissed the notion that seven-inning games would render obsolete the history books and the stats that drive so many baseball fans.

"To me, the record book has been distorted over the years in so many ways -- expansion, the DH, 13-man pitching staffs, steroids, can't brush hitters off the plate, livelier bats, hitters diving into the ball," Kaat said. "Craig Kimbrel just got his 300th save. That's a great accomplishment. But 300 saves when Kimbrel does it is a lot different than when Bruce Sutter did it."

Kaat thinks his plan would shorten games and bring in more fans. He says it might keep players healthier. And most important, it might make the game more interesting.

"It's become a home run derby, with more strikeouts," Kaat said. "The fans and players deserve better."

[Edited on 5/11/2018 by Stephen]

It would reduce the size of pitching staffs: "When I broke in, there were 16 teams, eight in each league," Kaat said. "You had basically 10 pitchers on a staff, 160 in all of the major leagues. Now you have almost 400."

You're probably not going to convince a lot of pitchers to support their own downsizing. Personally, I don't really have a problem with the length of games.

Many fans do (esp older fans) -- 1-0 and 2-1 games routinely take 3+ hours
Yes downsizing would mean less money -- that's what I have little problem with personally --
a player recently espoused the idea of a shorter season too -- again, I understand that that's taking $ out of people's pockets, but it's too much of it that has screwed the game up -- MLB is too much of everything -- the GAME has become something Messers. Cartwright and Doubleday didn't envision -- it's become a money industry

Efffff the Yankees go Sox. That is all.

It's only May so obviously a lot of ball to be played. However, if I am on the outside looking in, I think the Yanks are a tad better.

Shame they have that one game play in thing. I hate that. One of those teams could win 90 - 95 games and be done after one day by the Twins or someone like that. Hell my Tiggers are somehow in it at the moment.

I liked it when we had the League Championship series. Then World Series.

Oh wait, there was $$$$$ to be made.

Robinson Cano is a cheater? Wow!

Shame they have that one game play in thing. I hate that. .

I'm not a fan either. Play a series, not just a game.

Two out of three is even plausible. Give the team with the best record two games at home and if it is tied go back to the other team's stadium. Or do it the other way around so the best team gets the deciding game at home. Heck, let the best team choose what they want to do.

Pretty easy to do something like this. It wouldn't be like coordinating The Super Bowl. Hell Sunday the Braves played a game in Miami, flew to Chicago, played a makeup game there with the Flubs and then flew home to Atlanta to start a three game series with, yes you guessed it, the Flubs.

Makes sense, right?

The only beneficiary of one and done is seemingly Madison Bumgarner

Or David -- a great milestone last night, a CG (Complete Game) -- his fourth in last 3 years (since joining Sox) -- said he felt fine afterward -- maybe he has a few more in him & not just one&done -- any-way, O's are great for what ails ya -- let's go Sox

Clay Returns Sunday -- Sox fans want to see him do well -- he's w/a good team, AZ

[Edited on 5/18/2018 by Stephen]

Yep, Tiggers are four games under .500 and only a game and a half out of first. Nuts, huh?

The Giants are also 1/2 game under 500 and only 3 games out. I don't expect this to last unless Madbum comes back strong and Cueto heals quickly.

Three observations
1 - The Dodgers may have the worst team/dollar in the history of MLB
2 - Daniel Murphy is sorely missed in Washington. They keep pitching around Harper who is either going to kill himself or someone else
3- I think Didi Gregorious has a significant injury. Too long/too deep for just a slump

KC, Balt & ChiSox have same records
ChiSox 8.5 outta 1st place in Cntrl
Orioles 17 out in East -- yes an imbalance there
you never know -- they won their wknd series against lowly TX -- now, a quick sweep of low-lier 😮 Orioles, & Just Like That -- ChiSox, yep CHI-Sox -- would be in the hunt

SO WHAT -- w/JBJ, Sandy & Christian not having-yet hit, & w/Dustin back this week (hopefully)...
NY hasn't yet seen best of BoSox --
Carson blamed fatigue brought on by misuse for his return to rehab (espn article) -- refrain from comment Stephen/I don't walk in his shoes etc., & Let's Go Sawx, they love us down there (TB), "Sox-Nation" fan base solid there, time to go on a streak

[Edited on 5/21/2018 by Stephen]

Lenny Dykstra threatens to kill Uber driver. What will that guy do next?

Really disappointed to see Hanley DFA'd -- didn't see that coming at all -- Hanley was great & hopefully will continue to be -- let's go Sox

Yeah that surprised me. If I understand it, the Sux are still on the hook for the rest of his contract unless someone else picks him up (doubtful).

Not quite as bad as giving Sandoval all that $$$ but still...

Boy oh boy are the local papers ripping Wellington Castillo a new one. I mean, they are the worst team in baseball so I'm not sure that it really matters.

I do get a chuckle out of Rick Renteria's take on things though. He can spin any bad situation in a good light.

If I cared for the White Sux I would be really pissed with them.

I am starting to get concerned about the Flubs. They should be way over .500 and they obviously are not. I think they even took three out of four against Milwaukee last month.

I am starting to get concerned about the Flubs. They should be way over .500 and they obviously are not. I think they even took three out of four against Milwaukee last month.

Hopefully they stay at the bottom where the Cubs are supposed to be! 😉 Brew Crew are in a nice spot, they've been putting up some big numbers against decent teams in May. (And for the record, they were 1-7 against the Flubs in April but that might as well have been a lifetime ago.)

I am starting to get concerned about the Flubs. They should be way over .500 and they obviously are not. I think they even took three out of four against Milwaukee last month.

Hopefully they stay at the bottom where the Cubs are supposed to be! 😉 Brew Crew are in a nice spot, they've been putting up some big numbers against decent teams in May. (And for the record, they were 1-7 against the Flubs in April but that might as well have been a lifetime ago.)

Just think if was the other way around. Or even 4 -4. Flubs would REALLY be out of it.

My Tiggers are 3.5 games out of first place. And they are 6 games under .500 😮

So my Tiggers get to face Ohtani tonight. I was supposed to go back to Detroit yesterday but I didn't go. I have to go there there Friday. Maybe he will DH and I can catch a game.

Yes, Anthony Rizzo cheated - too bad it took MLB a day or 2 to figure it out.....

I can't believe it was such big news. A guy stuck his foot out a tad? Judgement call I guess. That isn't cheating. Might call him out but he didn't cheat.

A runner ran almost six feet out of the baseline last week trying to avoid a tag at second base. Did he cheat?

And they didn't call it nor did they review that one.

Cheating may have been the wrong word, but he obviously went out of his way to clip the catcher - which is against the "new" rule that is supposed to protect catchers......