July 27, 20204 yr 3 hours ago, taestell said: If people want sports to happen this year, I don't see any other way than having the players and staff completely isolate themselves from the outside world for the duration of the season. There needs to be a clearly delineated bubble and no crossing from outside to inside the bubble. I understand that it sucks to be away from family for that long, but the players are being paid handsomely for this "sacrifice." I would compare it to an actor who has to move to a foreign country for 3-4 months for the filming of a movie and be away from family for that duration. Alternatively, I don't see an issue with the player's family staying inside the bubble with them for the entire duration, as long as they aren't going back and forth. They could use less fields if they played 3-4 games per day on the same field. Have them start at 9 in the morning and run until late. I work away from home for months on end. If someone wanted to give me an MLB contract, I'd gladly stretch it to 6 months if it meant playing the game I love, making millions and keeping my family safe and secure.
July 28, 20204 yr 21 hours ago, skiwest said: Then there is RBI vs RBIs. when i was a kid it was ribbies. that was the way it was and that was the way we liked it. ⚾
July 29, 20204 yr MLB postpones all Marlins games through Sunday: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29553630/mlb-postpones-all-marlins-games-sunday
July 29, 20204 yr 6 minutes ago, Columbo said: MLB postpones all Marlins games through Sunday: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29553630/mlb-postpones-all-marlins-games-sunday One of the talking heads brought up a good point, the only reason this isn't catastrophic is because nobody cares about this team.
July 29, 20204 yr ^ i can't believe the yankees went charging over there to philly right after the marlins left. to try to be safe, they brought their own staff, so they don't have to interact with any ballpark staff.
July 29, 20204 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 31, 20204 yr More "The MLB" coronavirus news: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29564493/source-another-marlins-player-tests-positive-coronavirus-raising-total-19 -- Marlins number of positive cases up to 19. Season still on hold until Sunday. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29564864/phllies-halt-activity-stadium-positive-tests-coronavirus -- Philadelphia, the team that played the infected Marlins team last weekend, now has two positive cases after a member of the coaching staff and a member of the home clubhouse staff tested positive for the coronavirus. The Phillies season has also been on hold since their weekend series with the Marlins. A four-game series with the Yankees was postponed. Now, a three-game weekend series with the Blue Jays has been postponed.
July 31, 20204 yr More "The MLB" coronavirus news: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29570869/source-mlb-calls-cardinals-brewers-game-due-coronavirus -- Tonight's Cardinals-Brewers game called off due to 2 positive coronavirus tests with the Cardinals. Cardinals become the third team with active COVID cases along with the Marlins (now up to 21) and the Phillies with 3. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29571468/mlb-postponements-line-how-positive-coronavirus-tests-impacted-schedule -- Tonight's 15-game schedule has 3 postponed due to positive tests. That's 20 percent of the scheduled games. And it all goes back to the Marlins-Phillies decision to play last Sunday - even though multiple Marlins tested positive 90 minutes before game time(!) MLB actually allowed the two teams to vote on whether they would play the game instead of shutting it down(!) What good are the MLB COVID protocols, if players can just say "I feel fine, let's play ball"? https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29572885/sources-mlb-commissioner-warns-shutdown-players-do-better-job-managing-coronavirus -- The MLB commissioner warns of a league shutdown as early as Monday if the coronavirus isn't better managed within the teams.
August 2, 20204 yr This whole "we don't need no bubble" strategy for The MLB is continuing to work well: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29583408/reds-put-joey-votto-injured-list-no-reason-given -- Reds' Joey Votto on IL with self-reported coronavirus symptoms. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29584055/mets-unable-get-contact-yoenis-cespedes -- New York Mets' Yoenis Cespedes has opted out of the 2020 season after he did not report for Sunday's game in Atlanta and the team couldn't contact him. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29584566/sources-multiple-new-cardinals-test-positive -- The St. Louis Cardinals have multiple new positive results for the coronavirus within the organization as a result of Saturday's testing. And Sunday's schedule has 4 COVID postponements out of 17 games. Two of which were a STL-MIL doubleheader that was scheduled to make up for previous postponements. The MLB has already gone to 7-inning doubleheaders for 2020. Do I hear 5-inning tripleheaders?
August 4, 20204 yr St. Louis' four-game series vs Detroit postponed this week amid covid outbreak of 7 players and 6 staff on the Cardinals: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29590369/cardinals-tigers-postponed-due-virus-outbreak
August 4, 20204 yr On 8/2/2020 at 5:36 PM, Columbo said: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29583408/reds-put-joey-votto-injured-list-no-reason-given -- Reds' Joey Votto on IL with self-reported coronavirus symptoms. Apparently Votto didn't have the coronavirus(!)
August 6, 20204 yr The Miami Marlins returned to play last night with a win at Baltimore. That was the Marlins fourth game of this "season". From https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29597242/marlins-blank-orioles-long-awaited-return-following-coronavirus-outbreak "The Marlins put a whopping 17 players on the injured list, and starting second baseman Isan Diaz opted out for the rest of the season. They showed up with an equal number of replacements on their 30-man roster -- some from their minor league camp, others obtained via trade and a few plucked off the waiver wire. They included an Olympic short track speed skating medalist who had yet to play in the majors (middle infielder Eddy Alvarez) and a couple of pitchers named Josh Smith (Josh A. Smith and Josh D. Smith)." The Marlins won to go 3-1 on this "season". Which gives them a .750 winning percentage for 1st in the NL East - and 1 game behind Atlanta who is 8-4. ❓❓❓ Because this is "The MLB" in 2020.
August 6, 20204 yr Also "The MLB" in 2020. The PIT/MIN game at Minneapolis was delayed because of a drone:
August 13, 20204 yr well they have attempted to play 20 games so far, but there is like a 7 games swing between teams regarding number of games played. are they going to be able to get to some fair completion of the season? i have been watching games and seen the tribe a few times, but mostly just having them on to have them on. when i pay attention it gradually makes me a nervous wreck. what a bizarre season.
August 14, 20204 yr I can't believe it, but the MLB's eff-d up janky 2020 season is continuing to chug along like a weezy old coal fired train engine. And I can't believe it, but I'm actually getting mildly interested in this eff-d up janky 2020 season(!) Here's the AL standings going into the Friday 8/14 games: Not too many postponed games in the AL, so the teams are pretty even in games played. The biggest surprise is Boston having the worst record. Although Toronto is just about as bad in the east. But don't worry Blue Jays fans, things will surely get better now that the team is playing their first "home games" in Buffalo: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29647691/toronto-blue-jays-fans-find-unique-ways-celebrate-mlb-return-buffalo
August 14, 20204 yr But to truly appreciate the MLB's eff-d up janky 2020 season, one should go to the vaunted senior circuit of the National League: The Marlins are still playing, and not too badly. Good enough for first in the east. You just know that this team with the janky roster is perfect for this janky season and will win their third franchise World Series in 2020. It's inevitable. Just hand them the coronavirus trophy now(!) But as badly infected as we thought the Miami Marlins were - that's nothing compared to the St. Louis Cardinals. These former paragons of how to operate an MLB franchise have been laid low by the covid. While the formerly highly infected Marlins are now up to 12 games played compared to division-mates that have 20 games played -- St. Louis has only played 5 games so far(!) (That's zero games played since July 29th!) The 5 GP for STL compares to 19 GP for division-mate Cincinnati. But don't worry, the Cardinals are planning to resume their schedule against the Chicago teams this weekend. But not today, because they've postponed Friday's game at the White Sox to "give themselves an additional day", according to the MLB. But again, don't worry, STL has a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday(!) I'm sure that won't get covid-postponed. And sure, STL will have a few games to make up. But they've got 44 days to play their remaining 55 games - which is totally doable if the MLB goes with my 5-inning triple-header idea. Do I hear 3-inning quadruple-headers?
August 15, 20204 yr Glory be! The Cardinals-White Sox games are being played today. Which would make today the first day without a covid-postponed MLB game since July 29. Or, it would have been - but then a Reds player tested positive before today's scheduled game and now the Saturday and Sunday games between the Reds and the Pirates are postponed: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29666852/source-reds-pirates-game-saturday-postponed-positive-test Better luck next weekend The MLB.
August 16, 20204 yr On 8/15/2020 at 3:21 PM, Columbo said: The Cardinals-White Sox games are being played Looks like the Cards pitching wasn't quite ready for the return-to-play. Or maybe it was just #77? ⚾
August 17, 20204 yr 17 hours ago, Columbo said: Looks like the Cards pitching wasn't quite ready for the return-to-play. Or maybe it was just #77? ⚾ This was #77's major league debut(!) https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29675534/cardinals-pitcher-roel-ramirez-allows-four-home-runs-row-mlb-debut
August 17, 20204 yr https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29679112/broken-curfews-covid-outbreaks-bubble-ball-passan-mlb-latest-2020-battles The MLB's 2020 coronavirus season keeps wheezing along. It's looking more like they'll make it to the 60-game goal they set for themselves. If they do, the playoffs will likely be in a bubble location. At least that's the possible plan according to the lengthy ESPN article linked above. Despite getting 1/3 the way through this 60-game "season" - it hasn't really gone smoothly for the MLB. This non-bubble set-up hasn't been a great model for other leagues to follow. But it has held up so far, despite the breakdowns with the Marlins and the Cardinals. However, the Ohio MLB teams haven't exactly been covering themselves with coronavirus glory lately either: CLE -- https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29679378/sources-choices-mike-clevinger-zach-plesac-break-protocol-caused-rift-cleveland-indians CIN -- https://www.wcpo.com/sports/baseball/reds/reds-pirates-wont-play-monday-awaiting-covid-test-results
August 18, 20204 yr On 8/15/2020 at 3:21 PM, Columbo said: Reds player tested positive before today's scheduled game and now the Saturday and Sunday games between the Reds and the Pirates are postponed: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29666852/source-reds-pirates-game-saturday-postponed-positive-test On 8/17/2020 at 2:05 PM, Columbo said: CIN -- https://www.wcpo.com/sports/baseball/reds/reds-pirates-wont-play-monday-awaiting-covid-test-results https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29687640/reds-royals-game-tuesday-postponed
August 22, 20204 yr ^ Welp, the Reds got their season restarted on Wednesday and finished their series in KC with a doubleheader. Then they traveled to STL to start a four-game series featuring two completely covid-free on-field rosters (hopefully). Which would have made Thursday, August 20 the beginning of full covid-free schedule for MLB. Or, it would have been - but then two members of the Mets organization tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the postponement of their Thursday Aug. 20 game in Miami, and eventually their entire weekend Subway Series at Citi Field with the Yankees. Better luck next weekend The MLB.
August 27, 20204 yr Wednesday night had a full slate of non-covid infected games on tap, until it didn't. Brewers/Reds first agreed to not play, following today's postponed NBA games. Then Mariners/Padres and Dodgers/ Giants also agreed not to play in solidarity with the Brewers and Bucks: https://sports.yahoo.com/brewers-walk-out-in-solidarity-with-bucks-protest-of-jacob-blake-shooting-220448451.html
September 2, 20204 yr MLB Fans: Won't trying to play 60 games in 66 days be difficult on the pitching staffs? The MLB: Nah, we'll give em a few more pitching spots for this "season" and they'll be fine. Some games from yesterday at the middle point of this 2020 "season": And of course, yesterday's obligatory coronavirus postponed game:
September 10, 20204 yr More 2020 blowout baseball yesterday: MIL blew out DET 19-0 in Comerica Park(!) But that wasn't the biggest blowout yesterday. For that we need to travel further south to tony Gwinnett County where the Gwinnett(Atlanta)Braves beat the Miami(formerly Florida/formerly covid)Marlins 29 to 9(!!!) The Braves 29 runs fell one short of tying the record for most runs in a game (30 by Texas at Baltimore in 2007) and was matched only by the 1950 Red Sox and 1955 White Sox in MLB's modern-era since 1900. The entire Braves roster feasted on some awful Marlins pitching (check out the box score), but the MVP was none other than former Reds outfielder Adam Duvall(!) Yeah, that Adam Duvall that the Reds acquired in the Cueto trade from SF. That Adam Duvall who had two pretty good HR-producing seasons in 2016 and 2017 and then a terrible .205 season in 2018 that saw him traded to the Braves in a deadline deal. Duvall only played in 41 games for the Braves in 2019, in which he had 10 HR's and 19 RBI's. And he wasn't doing much better in 2020 with 10 HR's and 20 RBI's in 40 games this season going into last night's game. But then the 32-year-old Duvall had a career-game with 3 HR's and 9 RBI's. His last HR, a seventh-inning grand slam that gave host Atlanta a 29-9 lead, which ended up being the final score. The Braves were down 2-0 until the bottom of the second, when they exploded for 11 runs that sent 14 batters to the plate. This was the most runs in Braves franchise history (Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta) since 1900. They topped the old record by six runs. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29848967/braves-tie-second-most-runs-mlb-history-29-9-win-marlins https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29849231/the-amazing-numbers-atlanta-braves-29-run-outburst https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=401226319 https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/32664/adam-duvall
September 18, 20204 yr https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29891648/sources-mlb-mlbpa-agree-hold-playoffs-bubble-setting MLB's division series, league championship series and World Series all will be part of bubble settings designed to minimize exposure to COVID-19, which has caused 45 postponed games (to date) during their abbreviated 2020 "season". MLB's postseason -- expanded from 10 to 16 teams this year -- begins with the top four seeds in each league hosting a wild-card series in their regular-season home ballparks. The best-of-three matchups begin in the AL on Sept. 29 and the NL on Sept. 30. The final eight teams will shift to bubble environments. The NLDS will be played at the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros ballparks. The ALDS will be played at the San Diego and LA Dodgers ballparks. The NLCS will be played the Texas Rangers ballpark and the ALCS will be played at San Diego ballpark. The 2020 World Series will be played entirely at the Texas Rangers' new ballpark and MLB hopes fans can attend. After playing the entire 2020 regular season in empty ballparks, MLB hopes to be allowed to have about 25% capacity for postseason games at Arlington, where total capacity is 40,300.
September 28, 20204 yr I've been razzing MLB as "The MLB" this 2020 season because I was dubious that they'd finish this 60-game "season" that they scraped together. But lo and behold, The MLB did it(!) Below are the final standings for all the AL and NL divisions. The most amazing thing is that all but two teams actually reached the 60-game mark. Only the heavily COVID impacted St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers didn't. STL had a postponed doubleheader with DET scheduled today, if it was necessary. But it wasn't, so STL and DET finished 58 games in this "season": As for the modified 2020 playoffs - the brackets are below: Both of Ohio's teams made the playoffs: - Cleveland finished second in the AL Central with a 35-25 record and will host the Yankees in a best-of-three Wild Card Series. - Cincinnati finished third in the NL Central with a 31-29 record and will travel to Atlanta for their best-of-three Wild Card Series. So congrats "The MLB". You did it. I will now refer to you as the proper "MLB". Unless some of the playoff teams test COVID-positive and blow up these 2020 playoffs. Then it's back to being "The MLB". ⚾?
September 28, 20204 yr Between a potential Chicago series, the Indians having the best pitching in baseball, Beiber and Bauer as CyYoung front runners, and that the season actually finishing - it's been a pleasant surprise.
September 28, 20204 yr Is it just me or is this drawing hilariously bad? My first question was where are the Reds? Then I realized there are quite a few teams missing. And then I looked at all the faces. Blake Snell is my favorite.
October 5, 20204 yr ⚾ Welcome to Bubble Baseball ⚾ The best-of-3 wild card round is over and the best-of-5 league division series begins today. The ALDS start today with Houston vs Oakland and NYY vs TB in the California ballparks. The NLDS start tomorrow with Miami vs Atlanta and SD vs LA in the Texas ballparks. As for our Ohio teams performance in the wild card round. If you could've combined the Indians hitting (they scored 12 runs in 2 games) with the Reds pitching (they allowed only 2 runs in their first 20 innings of the playoffs) then you could've assembled a superteam. But since you can't, the Indians got outscored 22-12 and the Reds scored 0 runs in 22 innings and both teams got swept in two(!)
October 11, 20204 yr ⚾ Bubble Baseball - League Championship Series ⚾ ALCS - Houston vs Tampa Bay (at Petco Park in San Diego) best-of-7 series begins tonight: The nasty cheating Astros who finished 29-31 have advanced into the ALCS. And the Astros players who admitted to cheating their way into winning the 2017 World Series would like you to know that they just don't give a frak about what you think about it and want to advance into the World Series to give a middle finger to MLB. NLCS - Atlanta vs Los Angeles (at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX) best-of-7 series begins tomorrow night: The Dodgers were the most heavily favored team before COVID - and they've been the most dominant team after COVID. This bizarre season didn't affect that. One more hurdle to getting back to the World Series and possibly ending their drought since the Dodgers won it all in 1988. With the Astros still alive, a 2017 WS rematch is a possibility(!)
October 12, 20204 yr The Astros should have a multi-year postseason ban and their World Series trophy stripped. If 2020 has been any indicator of how this will go, they will win the World Series this year.
October 20, 20204 yr ⚾ The Bubble World Series ⚾ L.A. Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX The Astros nearly crashed the 2020 Bubble World Series to set up a magically delicious rematch between the Dodgers and the team that cheated away the 2017 World Series from the Dodgers. But although the Rays almost blew a 3-0 series lead over the Astros, Tampa Bay did finally win Game 7 to advance. The Dodgers, however, did pull off a big comeback in the NLCS. The Braves were up 3-1, and had just defeated Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw in Game 4. All they needed was one more win . . . and then the Dodgers win the next three games to advance into the World Series. So no cheaters vs victims rematch. But still some good storylines. The main one being the favorites (L.A.) vs the underdogs (TB). L.A. has high-priced superstars (like Kershaw and Mookie Betts). TB has lower-priced unknowns (like Arozarena and Choi). -- Not familiar with Arozarena and Choi? Arozarena is a 25-year-old Cuban who was on the Rays alternate roster (this year's version of the minors) until the last month of the regular season. Then he hits 7 HR in September and 7 HR in the playoffs - including 4 HR in the 7-game Houston series. Ji-Man Choi is a 29-year-old first baseman who combines the joyfulness of Sean Casey with the physique of a 21st-century Babe Ruth (Choi is listed as 6'-1" and 250 or 260 lbs). As far as who to root for / aka who deserves the WS more? -- The Rays have been to the WS only once in 2008 and lost. But then the Rays were an expansion team in 1998 and have only played 23 seasons. Still, its hard not to root for the plucky underdogs. Especially, an underdog team that built their roster in such a skillful way. For the Dodgers, this will be their third trip to the WS in the past four seasons. They lost to Houston in 2017 and Boston in 2018, in which both teams were involved in sign stealing cheating scandals that likely stole those WS from the Dodgers. So, despite the Dodgers dominance over the years, they haven't won a WS since 1988. As far as which fan base deserves a championship more -- that's a wash. Tampa Bay just won a Stanley Cup in the NHL and the Lakers just won the NBA title. And one final note about this World Series matchup to finish this most unusual 2020 MLB season. Everyone expected this shortened 60-game season and expanded playoff format to produce some asterisk-level results. Instead, this 2020 World Series features the team with the best record in the AL vs the team with the best record in the NL. With the combined winning percentages of both teams being the highest in World Series history(!)
October 20, 20204 yr ^...and it's unwatchable, apparently, if you don't have cable. It's on Fox Sports, which is a cable channel, or $55 as an add-on to youtube, hulu, etc. Meanwhile, the NFL, its playoffs, and the Superbowl are still on free broadcast networks. Maybe Fox Sports outbid the networks, but it's going to kill baseball long-term.
October 20, 20204 yr It's on broadcast Fox - Channel 8 (in Cleveland) Edited October 20, 20204 yr by bjk
October 20, 20204 yr 3 minutes ago, bjk said: It's on broadcast Fox - Channel 8 (in Cleveland) Got it posted before I could. Channel 28 (in Columbus)
October 25, 20204 yr i watched the game last night end to end and wow so glad i did. an absolute back and forth classic with as bonkers an ending as there could ever be. its really funny how it can instantly fall right back into a childs game:
October 26, 20204 yr next year the draft will be in reverse order of this year's standings. so the tribe picks 23rd of 29 and the reds 17.
October 28, 20204 yr It's a good thing for MLB that the Dodgers won Game 6 to finish this 2020 World Series - because if they hadn't, there would have been some serious questions if Game 7 would've needed to be postponed: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30206824/justin-turner-los-angeles-dodgers-pulled-world-series-positive-covid-19-test https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30202748/world-series-2020-oddest-world-series-ends-most-2020-moment-season MLB informed the Dodgers that their starting third baseman Justin Turner tested positive for covid - DURING GAME 6(!!!) Up 3-1 in the 8th inning, the Dodgers took him out. But he was positive and maskless around his team and the opposing team until then. Turner was the first player since the playoffs began to be flagged for covid. But his one positive test and having him in Game 6 might have put Game 7 in jeopardy. However MLB got lucky that the Dodgers won and the 2020 season was now over. Just like "The MLB" was fortunate not to have this 2020 season implode on itself.
October 29, 20204 yr on the, err, positive side, the two best teams were there, it was a good series and the best team won, so all is right in baseball at least.
October 29, 20204 yr post ws mlb power rankings going into free agency: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2914747-mlb-power-rankings-where-all-30-teams-stand-entering-free-agency?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial
November 8, 20204 yr mlb is doing a err, major restructuring of the minor leagues. the ny minor league teams are all moving around: https://www.amny.com/sports/yankees-looking-to-relocate-their-staten-island-minor-league-squad-reports/
November 29, 20204 yr covid winter: https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/ny-baseball-free-agency-20201128-kvpxd243bfgxneas6mp6rwmzfq-story.html
December 10, 20204 yr after the big shakeout — these are all the new minor league teams for mlb: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30484549/minor-league-affiliates-tracker-how-mlb-restructure-shakes-out
December 17, 20204 yr This is pretty amazing! https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/12/16/negro-leagues-stats-mlb/
December 17, 20204 yr speaking of the Negro League, it's actually pretty fascinating how unaware the general public is of the dynamic was between MLB and the Negro League. The Negro League was actually competing pretty well against MLB, and stealing the talent from the Negro League was a huge incentive for MLB to sign black players. It limited the draw of the Negro League and brought some of the best players into MLB. Signing Robinson and other prominent black players killed off the Negro League, and MLB essentially scrapped it for the players they saw as most valuable. There was a pretty interesting video about it in the African American History Museum in DC that I saw in February this year. I've been meaning to follow up on that possibly with the Ken Burns Baseball documentary
January 16, 20214 yr its where big salaries go to die, so i suppose this was inevitable — kluber to the yankees: https://nypost.com/2021/01/15/yankees-agree-to-deal-with-corey-kluber/
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