Random Baseball Musings

[Cubswin11]

I just wonder what happens if a runner is rounding third and the catcher decides to block the plate. If the runner pulls up in order to not cause an illegal collision.....then what? You have to try to go around the catcher? Runner gives himself up? Ump gives him the run due to some sort of "blocking the base path" rule?

I'm guessing the catcher won't be able to completely block the plate under the new rule(s) and have to allow the runner to be able to at least slide into a portion of it? Though obviously that still leaves a lot of ambiguity/subjective areas for the umpire to interpret.

[Guest]

I just wonder what happens if a runner is rounding third and the catcher decides to block the plate. If the runner pulls up in order to not cause an illegal collision.....then what? You have to try to go around the catcher? Runner gives himself up? Ump gives him the run due to some sort of "blocking the base path" rule?

 

I would have to imagine this would be the case. Obstruction.

[Banedon]

After watching this year's NFL games, I have no faith that they can properly implement a rule that will be ruled on consistently by numerous umpiring crews.

 

Well one...why would what the NFL does have bearing on the MLB? You don't think they can judge a collision at home plate because they can't figure out what a catch is in the NFL?

 

And two, this is (apparently) the same rule that is already in play at 3 other bases. Are you outraged over those?

 

No faith does not equal outrage.

 

Collisions at home plate are not equal to making a catch in football. Collisions at home plate can be considered somewhat equal to collisions in football, like the defenseless receiver rule or contacting the qb at the shoulder or above or down at the knees. When a guys foot gets tangled up on the slide, the umpiring crew will have to make a determination as to whether the runner caused the contact with a questionable slide or the catcher caused the contact with a partial blockage of the plate. If you think these will just be simple black and white calls, you are likely mistaken.

 

Calls like this are subjective as to intent, and they blow those constantly with the new rules in football. I don't really see how they can avoid it in baseball. The umpires blow calls in baseball now as it is and now they have something else they have to watch for, which probably means more missed close calls at the plate.

 

I really think you're making this out to be far, far more complicated than it will be. How many plate collisions occur each year in baseball? Is that a stat that's kept somewhere? I can't imagine it's really all that many.

[Cubswin11]

Simple solution, go to dodgeball rules for runners attempting to score at home. They just have to be hit with the baseball and can't be tagged. Therefore no reason for the catcher to be blocking the plate as he can't catch the ball and tag the runner.

[bukie]

Really? People have a hold up on what will happen if the catcher blocks the plate? If only they had rules in place to cover that situation at other bases they could apply to that one.

[J.R.]

I don't know why but I can't stop laughing at this

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/rhx2s1X.png

 

On a semi-related note, I haven't watched BBTN since I got MLB Network, and I so don't miss it.

Same here.

[Banedon]

Really? People have a hold up on what will happen if the catcher blocks the plate? If only they had rules in place to cover that situation at other bases they could apply to that one.

 

Right. We're fine with judgement calls all over the place in baseball. Did the ball beat the runner? Infield fly? Balks? But a home plate collision...that's too subjective.

[Guest]

Catcher can't stand in the baseline or impede the runner from touching home. The runner cannot run out of the baseline to avoid the tag and must slide or if not make no contact with the catcher while on his feet.

 

Problem solved

[jersey cubs fan]

Catcher can't stand in the baseline or impede the runner from touching home. The runner cannot run out of the baseline to avoid the tag and must slide or if not make no contact with the catcher while on his feet.

 

Problem solved

 

No reason to say "no contact". A guy running through home plate who brushes by the catcher should not be penalized.

 

 

You can't lower your shoulder.

[Careless]

For 20 seasons, hitter production began to decline significantly around age 30. Over the past seven seasons, the decline has occurred immediately.

A problem exist when using wOBA in the recent lower scoring environment. The league wOBA in 2006 was .337, and in 2013 it was at .318. That’s a drop of 19 points in seven seasons, or 2.7 points per season. Players will have the appearance of aging from season to season.

With wRC+, the most recent aging curve doesn’t immediately begin declining like the wOBA curve. Instead, it remains constant until it begins to decline.

[Pushfrog98]

I think the Cubs could use a 5'3" 375lb utility IF...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/rudolph.html

[fromthestretch]

I think the Cubs could use a 5'3" 375lb utility IF...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/rudolph.html

 

The "similar batters" section is great.

[Guest]

http://www.obstructedview.net/commentary-and-analysis/bill-james-great-frequency-of-defensive-shifts-will-probably-end-in-about-five-years.html

 

If you can bunt for a hit, it almost always makes sense to do it. That’s why this era we are in, with the great frequency of defensive shifts, will probably end in about five years. Young power hitters will figure out that they can hit .700 against it by bunting, and they’ll start bunting, and force managers to abandon the shift. It only works because people don’t bunt.

 

By the way, I made a similar point this spring, and added that “sometime this year, I expect to see some hitter bunt for a double.” I didn’t see it all year, and I was thinking I would have to acknowledge my error on that one, and then, the last time the Red Sox played the Yankees, Robby Cano bunted for a double up the left field line. ​

[Cubswin11]

It was a very good year for Major League Baseball; as in historic. According to a source speaking on condition of anonymity, for 2013 MLB gross revenues will exceed $8 billion for the first time, ever. While exact figures were not revealed, baseball will end 2013 with revenues between $8-$8.5 billion.

 

Last year, revenues were above $7.5 billion. While attendance has been ostensibly flat for the league, the continuing growth in television revenue is a key reason for the rapid escalation.

 

And, it’s very possible that MLB could see revenues in the $8.5-$9 billion range by this time next year. The league will see revenues double for new broadcast deals with their national network partners FOX, ESPN, and TBS that will add an additional $788.3 million a year to the league’s coffers.

 

In related news, sources indicate that the massive Dodgers television deal that has been reported to be anywhere from $7-$8 billion over 20 years appears to be on track for approval by the league. At this stage, issues around the revenue-sharing component have been resolved and it’s down to other issues. The deal is expected to be cleared by the league before the start of the 2014 season.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2013/12/17/major-league-baseball-sees-record-revenues-exceed-8-billion-for-2013/

[OleMissCub]

I think the Cubs could use a 5'3" 375lb utility IF...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/rudolph.html

 

The "similar batters" section is great.

 

JT Snow could play some sick defense back in the day. When he came to the NL he started taking the Gold Gloves from Gracie.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/the-atlanta-braves-are-about-to-get-teabagged-1485695970

 

Tea Party to the rescue in Atlanta?

[Guest]

Heard on MLB Tonight @HeardOnMLBT

"Trumbo is a better all-around hitter than Goldschmidt." - Mitch Williams

[Guest]

Heard on MLB Tonight @HeardOnMLBT

"Trumbo is a better all-around hitter than Goldschmidt." - Mitch Williams

 

Actually saw this segment. They had the studio guys create a lineup for the D-Backs. Mitch went with this: Parra/Hill/Prado/Trumbo/Goldschmidt/Montero/Pollack/Didi

[Formerly Snayke]

It was a very good year for Major League Baseball; as in historic. According to a source speaking on condition of anonymity, for 2013 MLB gross revenues will exceed $8 billion for the first time, ever. While exact figures were not revealed, baseball will end 2013 with revenues between $8-$8.5 billion.

 

Last year, revenues were above $7.5 billion. While attendance has been ostensibly flat for the league, the continuing growth in television revenue is a key reason for the rapid escalation.

 

And, it’s very possible that MLB could see revenues in the $8.5-$9 billion range by this time next year. The league will see revenues double for new broadcast deals with their national network partners FOX, ESPN, and TBS that will add an additional $788.3 million a year to the league’s coffers.

 

In related news, sources indicate that the massive Dodgers television deal that has been reported to be anywhere from $7-$8 billion over 20 years appears to be on track for approval by the league. At this stage, issues around the revenue-sharing component have been resolved and it’s down to other issues. The deal is expected to be cleared by the league before the start of the 2014 season.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2013/12/17/major-league-baseball-sees-record-revenues-exceed-8-billion-for-2013/

 

Yet there are people who think the Mariners made some sort of fatal error by giving Cano $240 million.

[XZero771679666304]

Heard on MLB Tonight @HeardOnMLBT

"Trumbo is a better all-around hitter than Goldschmidt." - Mitch Williams

 

Actually saw this segment. They had the studio guys create a lineup for the D-Backs. Mitch went with this: Parra/Hill/Prado/Trumbo/Goldschmidt/Montero/Pollack/Didi

 

Yeah, I was watching that as well, and had to rewind and watch it again because I thought I misheard him. Ex-player "experts" are worthless more often than not, but Wild Thing is always a special kind of stupid.

 

Most of their other ex-players are far more tolerable.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22441

[Banedon]

MLB Payrolls visualized

 

http://mrphilroth.com/mlbpayrolls/

[jersey cubs fan]

MLB Payrolls visualized

 

http://mrphilroth.com/mlbpayrolls/

 

Cubs look competitive in 2020.

[SouthSideRyan]

Can't expect to compete until we get those big money contracts off the books.

 

Additionally, I did not know we had an option on Sweeney in '16

[TruffleShuffle]

Heard on MLB Tonight @HeardOnMLBT

"Trumbo is a better all-around hitter than Goldschmidt." - Mitch Williams

 

Actually saw this segment. They had the studio guys create a lineup for the D-Backs. Mitch went with this: Parra/Hill/Prado/Trumbo/Goldschmidt/Montero/Pollack/Didi

 

yeah i'd bat martin prado third and paul goldschmidt fifth, great plan :lol: