On May 10 2013 17:20 TheAmazombie wrote: So I am usually one that will stand on the side of the umpires for blow calls and such because it is a really hard job and some calls are so close that is is near impossible to be 100% with them, and usually upon replay they are, but the home run issue the other night was just blown, and now this issue in the Angels game where the umps clearly didn't know the rule, at any time any one of them could have pulled out their rule book to be sure, and just plain let the illegal pitching change happen...
Later Bo Porter says that as he understood it, he could change if the batter changed, but here is the actual rule:
(b) If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief's judgment, incapacitates him for further play as a pitcher.
(c) If an improper substitution is made for the pitcher, the umpire shall direct the proper pitcher to return to the game until the provisions of this rule are fulfilled. If the improper pitcher is permitted to pitch, any play that results is legal. The improper pitcher becomes the proper pitcher as soon as he makes his first pitch to the batter, or as soon as any runner is put out.
Rule 3.05(c) Comment: If a manager attempts to remove a pitcher in violation of Rule 3.05(c) the umpire shall notify the manager of the offending club that it cannot be done. If, by chance, the umpire-in-chief has, through oversight, announced the incoming improper pitcher, he should still correct the situation before the improper pitcher pitches. Once the improper pitcher delivers a pitch he becomes the proper pitcher.
He must face at least that batter or any substitute batter...it seems pretty friggin clear to me and to every announcer and anyone else that understands the game...this is not a "gray area," it is clear.
Am I missing something here or did they just plain fuck this one up? Even though the protest was rescinded due to the Angels winning, I still feel that MLB needs to issue a statement on this one...
umpires should have the entire rule book memorized. the amount of memorization required by a physician or an accountant still dwarfs this requirement. and for what they are paid it is a small request.
no excuse for this
Exactly...the rules are not too difficult, plus aren't they all supposed to carry a copy of the rule book in their back pockets for instances such as this, when they may not be 100%? I read a quote that hit home where the writer said "Out of the 6 people on the field who are paid first and foremost to know the rule book, the 4 umps and 2 managers, only Scioscia appeared to know what he was doing."
What I would do to see the Reds take a team with a winning % > .500 to town. This team can't do jack diddly right now against any team that they'll be facing if they make the playoffs. They've beat the living shit out of teams at home though, which I've been really loving.
So the Astros President/CEO resigns...don't know much about him but there will be pressure for Nolan Ryan to leave the Rangers to get full control and power of rebuilding the Astros, rather than playing second fiddle for the Rangers.
I know, "human element", blah blah blah. I do watch baseball for the human element. The element of the players. Not of the umps.
At least, I'd be curious to see it tried out. It would feel weird not seeing an ump standing behind the catcher, but i think it'd be worth investigating to see if the consistency merits the change. You could still keep umps in the field. Just have robots call balls and strikes.
I'm sure this has already been discussed to death, i just wanted to give my opinion as it is currently
On May 15 2013 11:51 itkovian wrote: I'm ready for robots.
I know, "human element", blah blah blah. I do watch baseball for the human element. The element of the players. Not of the umps.
At least, I'd be curious to see it tried out. It would feel weird not seeing an ump standing behind the catcher, but i think it'd be worth investigating to see if the consistency merits the change. You could still keep umps in the field. Just have robots call balls and strikes.
I'm sure this has already been discussed to death, i just wanted to give my opinion as it is currently
We've had that before, it was called Questec. The pitchers and batters didn't like it because of its various flaws, such as borderline breaking pitches, glitches in the system, camera angles to review, and the operator setting the strike zone. Until these kinks work out, the system shouldn't be used.
Curt Schilling broke a Questec machine once, and he was fined. The umpires hate it as well.
I have a hard time imagining that there isn't some form of technology that can call balls and strikes better than a pair of human eyes. But if that's the case, then I suppose its worth waiting until the technology is precise enough before testing it
The MLB could help fund a few projects to develop new technology, then test them in the minors and pick whichever one works best. I'm willing to bet that there are plenty of engineering students who are baseball fans out there.
A lot of it also has to do with the way stadiums are built, and how getting proper camera positioning for Questec would be difficult. If the base coaches interfere with the camera, the system is basically pointless.
The major problem with Questec was that pitchers were not getting those borderline calls that the veterans would usually get. I remember Tom Glavine, when he was with the Mets at the twilight of his career (Shea was a Questec Park), performed badly compared to non-Questec parks. Also, late-breaking pitches would be called a strike due to the fact that the ball nicked the corner of the plate, even if the pitch is caught in the opponent's batter box. Of course, this factor could be adjusted with the system, but I would prefer baseball to not use replay on subjective calls (balls and strikes).
I think the current system of Questec is to review the umpire's calls and make sure that they are calling the strike zone correctly. If I remember correctly, ~80% of the calls are correct; I guess it's up to the fans to say whether this is good enough, or should the system be used.
Not sure if this is the wrong place to post this, but I didn't see a fantasy baseball discussion thread so hopefully I won't incur too much wrath if you guys hate posts like these.
This is my first season playing fantasy baseball and I don't consider myself very knowledgable about the players and their histories. I got offered 2 trades today that I'd love second opinions on.
The first one is I get Madison Bumgarner for Jon Lester and Alexi Ogando
The second is I get Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Howard for David Wright and Alexi Ogando.
Here's a screenshot of my team if that helps: http://i.imgur.com/vTU9L3m.png Not shown in that screenshot that I also have are: Matt Cain, CC. Sabathia, Anibal sanchez, and Mat Latos
On May 15 2013 13:58 Phelix wrote: I think the current system of Questec is to review the umpire's calls and make sure that they are calling the strike zone correctly. If I remember correctly, ~80% of the calls are correct; I guess it's up to the fans to say whether this is good enough, or should the system be used.
That's actually a dishearteningly low percentage. I was hoping they were around 90 or 95 percent correct.
So some people are calling for Mattingly's head, I don't really know why though. If anything fire that tool Ned Coletti!
It is hard to defend him when he sends out Kershaw for like 130+ pitches two nights ago though. Kershaw is such a beast, yet he snuck up on people since he plays in the West. I have been able to watch him since he had buzz from the minors and the guy is an ultimate competitor and a genuine great guy. If the Dodgers don't resign him and blame it on cost then all those moves they made to take a boatload of money will seem so stupid (even more).
On May 15 2013 14:23 Doughboy wrote: Not sure if this is the wrong place to post this, but I didn't see a fantasy baseball discussion thread so hopefully I won't incur too much wrath if you guys hate posts like these.
This is my first season playing fantasy baseball and I don't consider myself very knowledgable about the players and their histories. I got offered 2 trades today that I'd love second opinions on.
The first one is I get Madison Bumgarner for Jon Lester and Alexi Ogando
The second is I get Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Howard for David Wright and Alexi Ogando.
Here's a screenshot of my team if that helps: http://i.imgur.com/vTU9L3m.png Not shown in that screenshot that I also have are: Matt Cain, CC. Sabathia, Anibal san chez, and Mat Latos
It's fine to post about fantasy here, I think the TL leagues died off so you don't hear about it much anymore (I might be wrong). I wouldn't make either trade. First trade isn't particularly great. Bumgarner for Lester without Ogando would be reasonably fair, because I think chances are both keep performing at their present rate. Unless Ogando is sitting on the bench and you don't need him and you think Bumgarner is vastly superior to Lester, it doesn't make any sense to make that trade.
2nd trade is even worse. You don't even have a corner infielder slot, so you have no need for Sandoval or Howard, since you already have Fielder and Wright (who are both vastly superior). You'd be slightly upgrading your utility slot at the cost of a loss at 3rd base (Sandoval might be doing better now if you ignore steals, but historically Wright is way more valuable and that's probably not going to change this year), and that's completing ignoring you have to give up Ogando too. Not even close to worth it. Doesn't help Howard is in the twilight of his career and is an albatross at this point.
On May 15 2013 14:23 Doughboy wrote: Not sure if this is the wrong place to post this, but I didn't see a fantasy baseball discussion thread so hopefully I won't incur too much wrath if you guys hate posts like these.
This is my first season playing fantasy baseball and I don't consider myself very knowledgable about the players and their histories. I got offered 2 trades today that I'd love second opinions on.
The first one is I get Madison Bumgarner for Jon Lester and Alexi Ogando
The second is I get Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Howard for David Wright and Alexi Ogando.
Here's a screenshot of my team if that helps: http://i.imgur.com/vTU9L3m.png Not shown in that screenshot that I also have are: Matt Cain, CC. Sabathia, Anibal san chez, and Mat Latos
It's fine to post about fantasy here, I think the TL leagues died off so you don't hear about it much anymore (I might be wrong). I wouldn't make either trade. First trade isn't particularly great. Bumgarner for Lester without Ogando would be reasonably fair, because I think chances are both keep performing at their present rate. Unless Ogando is sitting on the bench and you don't need him and you think Bumgarner is vastly superior to Lester, it doesn't make any sense to make that trade.
2nd trade is even worse. You don't even have a corner infielder slot, so you have no need for Sandoval or Howard, since you already have Fielder and Wright (who are both vastly superior). You'd be slightly upgrading your utility slot at the cost of a loss at 3rd base (Sandoval might be doing better now if you ignore steals, but historically Wright is way more valuable and that's probably not going to change this year), and that's completing ignoring you have to give up Ogando too. Not even close to worth it. Doesn't help Howard is in the twilight of his career and is an albatross at this point.
It's fine to ask for advice on Fantasy Baseball.
First trade is a possibility on your confidence that MadBum is going to outperform both Lester and Ogando. Well, you do have lots of starting pitching, and the fact that the innings cap will probably hurt you in the long-run. Overall, I would tepidly make the trade because I love MadBum, but it's unlikely that both will be keeping up their performances.
Second trade, I would never do because I will try to avoid aging veterans coming off surgery, which is what Ryan Howard basically is at ths point. Wright and Sandoval have similar value, so a Howard for Ogando trade is one I would not accept. Plus, based on your positional needs, neither would be necessary as you would be swapping 3B, and already have a good 1B.
On May 15 2013 13:58 Phelix wrote: I think the current system of Questec is to review the umpire's calls and make sure that they are calling the strike zone correctly. If I remember correctly, ~80% of the calls are correct; I guess it's up to the fans to say whether this is good enough, or should the system be used.
That's actually a dishearteningly low percentage. I was hoping they were around 90 or 95 percent correct.
It's hard to ump when you have to judge the height and plate with pitches that come in at less than half a second for an average pitcher with a fastball. To make that judgement call can being correct, I cut them some slack. Bad calls happen to both teams, so it's just part of the game.
Plus, yelling at a umpire vs. yelling and beating the Questec machine/operator wouldn't be the same.
They are allegedly considering having an official in a booth, and having umps wear headsets like soccer referees.
In bad news, David Price is on the 15-day DL with a strained triceps in his throwing arm.
And why isn't Manny Machado getting more attention? 20 year old kid is hitting .343/.379/.541 and leads the majors in hits and is first in the AL in WAR. He's blowing Mike Trout and Bryce Harper out of the water.
well, i wouldn't say blowing them out of the water. he has a lot of hits but not great obp for that average, nor spectacular slugging. harper has been through a pretty big cold streak recently and his OPS is still way higher than Machado. That said, yes, Machado is very good.
I went in to work when the Tigers were winning 5-1 in the fifth and Cabrera already had 2 homers. I check now and see he had 3 but they lost 11-8. Way to blow it on national TV.
The 8 game losing streak is over! In extra innings too, how exciting. Now the Ms just need to go on a 9 game win streak to get back to even. no big deal.
EPT
