Sunday, April 29, 2018
Unsportsmanlike conduct: where are taunting and mocking in the rules?
Three unsportsmanlike acts specifically mentioned as such in the MLB rules:
deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base
To pitch at a batter’s head is unsportsmanlike and highly dangerous.
No fielder shall take a position in the batter’s line of vision, and
with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner to distract
the batter.
The rules are at the link below in a PDF file. To find unsportsmanlike I used the browser find menu function. Extended excerpts are below.
Here is the one section and item that seems somewhat analogous to unsportsmanlike conduct in the National Football League (NFL):
6.04 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, an umpire, or any spectator
____________________________
"refer or reflect"? What the heck does that mean? It's so wimpy that it doesn't even categorize the language as negative. And what about gestures? In addition to unsportsmanlike I also searched the baseball rules for taunt and mock. Neither is mentioned.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Taunting. It's time for rules in baseball, too. Thursday, July 31, 2014
Ironically, it's the NFL that has explicit rules against taunting: ...
abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures
The use of baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.
Individual players involved in prolonged or excessive celebrations.
Main stream media types have taken to using the phrase No Fun League (NFL). See what they did there, the main stream media? They used the league's initials to mock it. Pretty clever, huh? They seem to think so because some of them just can't stop saying it. Argh! ...
Taunting has become prevalent in the MBL and it's increasing...
The MBL needs to legislate this by adopting rules on taunting specifically but also rules on general sportsmanship, conduct and appearance. Some players dress like slobs. What the heck? You're at work. Dress appropriately and act accordingly.
____________________
http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf
Rule 5.09(a)(13) Comment: The objective of this rule is to
penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted,
unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline
for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double
play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously this is an
umpire’s judgment play. (See Rule 6.01(j).)
Rule 6.02(b) to 6.02(c)(6)
(c) Pitching Prohibitions
(9) Intentionally Pitch at the Batter.
(1) If, in the umpire’s judgment, such a violation occurs, the
umpire may elect either to:
(A) Expel the pitcher, or the manager and the pitcher,
from the game, or
(B) may warn the pitcher and the manager of both
teams that another such pitch will result in the
immediate expulsion of that pitcher (or a replacement)
and the manager.
To pitch at a batter’s head is unsportsmanlike and highly dangerous.
It should be—and is—condemned by everybody. Umpires
should act without hesitation in enforcement of this rule.
(d) PENALTY: For violation of any part of (c)(2) through (7):
(1) The pitcher shall be ejected immediately from the
game and shall be suspended automatically. In
National Association Leagues, the automatic suspension
shall be for 10 games.
6.04 Unsportsmanlike Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
(a) No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall at
any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the
playing field, or elsewhere:
(1) Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign a demonstration by
spectators;
Rule 6.03(b)(7) to 6.04(a)
82
2018 Official Baseball Rules_2018 Official Baseball Rules 2/27/18 2:16 PM Page 82
(2) Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect
upon opposing players, an umpire, or any spectator;
(3) Call “Time,” or employ any other word or phrase or commit
any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious
purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.
(4) Make intentional contact with the umpire in any manner.
(b) Players in uniform shall not address or mingle with spectator,
nor sit in the stands before, during, or after a game. No manager,
coach or player shall address any spectator before or during
a game. Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at
any time while in uniform.
(c) No fielder shall take a position in the batter’s line of vision, and
with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner to distract
the batter.
PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game and
shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be
nullified.
(d) (4.07) When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from
a game, he shall leave the field immediately and take no further
part in that game. He shall remain in the club house or change
to street clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the
grandstand well removed from the vicinity of his team’s bench
or bullpen.
Rule 6.04(d) Comment: If a manager, coach or player is under
suspension he may not be in the dugout or press box during the
course of a game.
(e) (4.08) When the occupants of a player’s bench show violent
disapproval of an umpire’s decision, the umpire shall first give
warning that such disapproval shall cease.
PENALTY: [If such action continues] The umpire shall order
the offenders from the bench to the club house. If he is unable
to detect the offender, or offenders, he may clear the bench of
all substitute players. The manager of the offending team shall
have the privilege of recalling to the playing field only those
players needed for substitution in the game.
Rule 6.04(a) to 6.04(e)
(page) 83
__________________________________-
Taunting contributes to violence between teams and should be banned. Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Negate play and eject player for mocking opponents. Thursday, March 24, 2016
Manfred, the A-Rod Slayer, opens the door to all manner of bad conduct. Sunday, April 3, 2016
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Would changing the Designated Hitter Rule from starting pitcher to any player help Shohei Ohtani?
Here's the rule Designated Hitter (DH) rule from http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf:
5.11 Designated Hitter Rule
Any League may elect to use Rule 5.11(a), which shall be called the Designated Hitter Rule.
(a) The Designated Hitter Rule provides as follows:
(1) A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers ...
____________________________
There's plenty more junk as you might expect but the point is that the rule always made even less sense than the obvious: it should have been a designated fielder rule. Whatever you want to call it, it should never have been restricted to the pitcher. Even way back when it first started in the old American League in 1973 it obviously did nor allow for a Babe Ruth, someone who could excel at both pitching and hitting.
How much did Babe Ruth pitch and bat at the same time? Monday, April 9, 2018
Babe Ruth batting order position when pitching. Tuesday, April 10, 2018
This seemed irrelevant until 2018 when Shohei Ohtani came to the U.S. from Japan to attempt to excel at both pitching and hitting, i.e., to be another Babe Ruth. So far Ohtani has succeeded. His team the Angels could petition to have the unnecessary restriction removed so that in 2019 Ohtani can bat when he is the starting pitcher in American Conference parks without his team losing the DH.
But here's the problem. The Angels would be faced with having relief pitchers coming to the plate after Ohtani has been removed. When Ruth played complete games by the starting pitcher were common. In 1917, his last season as a full time pitcher, Ruth led the American League with 35 complete games. So far in 2018 the Angels have played 26 games and the starting pitchers have completed none. The starters, including Ohtani, are averaging no more than five innings per start.
Would the Angels be willing to deal with having relief pitchers bat to get Ohtani's bat into the lineup even for only three plate appearances? It's not simply the same as not using the optional DH because it would be replacing their weakest hitter with a better hitter, along with Ohtani batting for part of the game.
Let's say that the Angels designate the catcher as their designated fielder. Here's the likely result:
- Ohtani bats three times but then pitchers or pinch hitters (PH) bat
- the DH bats instead of the catcher.
The Angels would essentially be swapping 1 or 2 PH situations for removing 4 PA by their weakest hitter AND ... have Ohtani bat three times.
Last night Ohtani belted his fourth home run off Yankee starting pitcher Luis Severino. Ohtani now has 4 homers in 44 at bats. That's one every 11 AB. If Ohtani somehow managed 500 AB and homered at that rate he'd hit about 45 home runs. So, yeah, I think the Angels would want that option.
5.11 Designated Hitter Rule
Any League may elect to use Rule 5.11(a), which shall be called the Designated Hitter Rule.
(a) The Designated Hitter Rule provides as follows:
(1) A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers ...
____________________________
There's plenty more junk as you might expect but the point is that the rule always made even less sense than the obvious: it should have been a designated fielder rule. Whatever you want to call it, it should never have been restricted to the pitcher. Even way back when it first started in the old American League in 1973 it obviously did nor allow for a Babe Ruth, someone who could excel at both pitching and hitting.
How much did Babe Ruth pitch and bat at the same time? Monday, April 9, 2018
Babe Ruth batting order position when pitching. Tuesday, April 10, 2018
This seemed irrelevant until 2018 when Shohei Ohtani came to the U.S. from Japan to attempt to excel at both pitching and hitting, i.e., to be another Babe Ruth. So far Ohtani has succeeded. His team the Angels could petition to have the unnecessary restriction removed so that in 2019 Ohtani can bat when he is the starting pitcher in American Conference parks without his team losing the DH.
But here's the problem. The Angels would be faced with having relief pitchers coming to the plate after Ohtani has been removed. When Ruth played complete games by the starting pitcher were common. In 1917, his last season as a full time pitcher, Ruth led the American League with 35 complete games. So far in 2018 the Angels have played 26 games and the starting pitchers have completed none. The starters, including Ohtani, are averaging no more than five innings per start.
Would the Angels be willing to deal with having relief pitchers bat to get Ohtani's bat into the lineup even for only three plate appearances? It's not simply the same as not using the optional DH because it would be replacing their weakest hitter with a better hitter, along with Ohtani batting for part of the game.
Let's say that the Angels designate the catcher as their designated fielder. Here's the likely result:
- Ohtani bats three times but then pitchers or pinch hitters (PH) bat
- the DH bats instead of the catcher.
The Angels would essentially be swapping 1 or 2 PH situations for removing 4 PA by their weakest hitter AND ... have Ohtani bat three times.
Last night Ohtani belted his fourth home run off Yankee starting pitcher Luis Severino. Ohtani now has 4 homers in 44 at bats. That's one every 11 AB. If Ohtani somehow managed 500 AB and homered at that rate he'd hit about 45 home runs. So, yeah, I think the Angels would want that option.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Ohtani has yet to play in cold weather or east of the Mississippi.
Shohei Ohtani has been DH in five road games with these high/low temperatures those days:
March 29 84/49 Oakland, CA
March 29 84/49 Oakland, CA
April 10 71/47 Arlington, TX
April 11 79/50 Arlington, TX
April 12 84/54 Kansas City, MO
April 13 83/54 Kansas City, MO
His two road game as a pitcher:
April 1 74/48 Oakland, CA
April 24 indoors in Houston, TX
His home games are in Anaheim, CA.
Maybe that's why he wanted to play on a west coast team: good weather.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Lie about age: baseball crime against "integrity, sportsmanship, character"?
The author of the following article makes my point but with a questionable ethical position of his own: condoning and supporting a player who lies about his age. See my comments below.
Rubbing Mud: Aging an Angel
by Matthew Trueblood April 24, 2018
Albert Pujols ... was the worst everyday position player in baseball last year, and posted the second-worst WARP in an age-37 season in our database (which goes back to 1950)—if, that is, he was really 37. Though his listed birthdate is January 16, 1980, he’s probably not 38 years old now. Increasingly, the preponderance of evidence—a sufficient amount to merit a change to the official record—suggests that Pujols is 40 years old...
Firstly, let’s make sure to say this: I am not accusing Pujols of what I would consider unethical or truly fraudulent behavior. Pujols’ background and early life story are unique, involving living in the Dominican Republic until mid-adolescence, then immigrating to the United States...
... teams value youth. If two players show up with the exact same body (size and build), skills, and personality, teams might pay twice as much for the younger one. And they might not be willing to sign the older one at all. Scouts use age-versus-level as a heuristic even when a 23-year-old is up for evaluation in the Pacific Coast League. When the players in question are all teenagers and there are several years between the potential signing and a player’s matriculation to the majors, they lean even more heavily on crutches like that.
... Pujols’ age became an issue in 2011 ...
When teams need to make roster decisions that can have consequences for the following several seasons, and are trying to project how one or more players will perform over that long arc, ages matter. When players hit free agency, ages certainly matter. When we try to understand the careers of players, especially as those careers draw near to the end, ages certainly matter. If I were advising a player harboring the secret that he was a year or more older than the baseball world believed, right now, I would tell him to keep that secret, especially if he still had free agency in front of him.
Pujols, of course, doesn’t. He’s already made his fortune, and when previous stars like Vladimir Guerrero and Miguel Tejada have admitted that their listed ages were incorrect (Guerrero was one year older than he’d said; Tejada was two years older), there have been no legal actions taken against them. Still, this is a sensitive topic, and before offering evidence in support of the motion to change Pujols’ age, I want to make clear that I see no malice in the decision made by any player in this sort of position.
So, the balance of probability says that Pujols is now 40.
____________________
The author above is condescending in granting absolution to Pujols and others based on country of origin and economic circumstances.
Hall of Fame criteria: 66% about character, which is all but ignored. Tuesday, January 6, 2015
http://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/bbwaa-rules-for-election
5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon
- the player's record
- playing ability
- integrity
- sportsmanship
- character
- contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.
_________________________
Honor Code: a player will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Thursday, January 10, 2013
Fans should call for an honor code for Major Baseball League (MBL) players and that should take care of the "sportsmanship, integrity, character" qualification for the Hall of Fame.
_______________________
Honor code: "not ... tolerate those who do (lie, cheat, steal)". Friday, January 11, 2013
And cheating is more than using steroids. Cheating includes:
- faking being hit by a pitch
- faking catching a fly ball
- faking tagging a runner
- pitcher intentionally hitting a batter with a pitch
- messing with the bat or ball.
With an honor code teammates must report all violations. Otherwise, what's all the fuss?
It's a tangled web. I've said all along that it's the lying that bothers me.
_____________________
Albert Pujols
Positions: First Baseman, Leftfielder and Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 240 pounds
Team: Los Angeles Angels (majors)
Born: January 16, 1980 (Age: 38 and 100 days) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Draft: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft
Obviously, when the Cardinals drafted Pujols they thought he was 19, not 22. Would it have mattered? Who knows?
When the Angels signed Pujols to that huge ten year contract for his ages 32 through 41 the Angels thought that Pujols was 32, not 35, which would have made the contract for ages 35 through 44, which would have probably meant that either it would not have happened at all or it would have been for maybe half the number of years and less money per season.
Now many people would look at any comparison of performance enhancing drug (PED) use and telling a lie, especially about something as innocuous as age, as absurd. But consider one of the reasons given for their staunch position against PED use:
It's unfair to clean players in that it may deprive another player of a roster spot and/or extra money.
Maybe Pujols got a Cardinal roster spot at age "21" that might have gone to another player who was 24. Maybe the tens of millions of dollars that Pujols is receiving in 2018 at age "38" might ... no, the Angels would not have given that ten year contract to any player for ages 35 through 44; nor would the Angels pay another 41 year old much, if anything.
And what about the team? The Angels probably signed Pujols through his perceived age 41 season for reasons other than what he could contribute as a player. Part of it was deferred compensation from the earlier seasons of the contract when the Angels thought they were getting Pujols at ages 32, 33, 34, 35. At those ages the Angels might have expected to get maybe 75% of the great player Pujols had been with the Cardinals. Did the Cardinals know by then that the 19 year old they had signed in 1999 had actually been 22? Was that a consideration in the Cardinals not matching the offer by the Angels?
Pujols may have also been signed for non playing reasons, maybe to appeal to the southern California population. Being older probably would not impact that unless his character became an issue. At this point it is highly unlikely that if it became generally known that Pujols is actually three years older than his listed age that the Angels would make it into a negative, which would reduce the value Pujols had.
So what about the Hall of Fame? Is this a big enough deal to prevent voters from supporting Pujols? VERY unlikely given that they never considered the admitted drug (cocaine) use by recent inductee Tim Raines. The list of things that would reasonably be considered cheating but have been ignored is long.
No, the one and only offense that is held against a player, preferably if the voters don't like him, is PED use. Now if it became known that Pujols had used PED, well then he might be in trouble. On the other hand even that is swinging away from where it was even five years ago.
Integrity, sportsmanship, character: what would be held against a player for any of these three things?
Rubbing Mud: Aging an Angel
by Matthew Trueblood April 24, 2018
Albert Pujols ... was the worst everyday position player in baseball last year, and posted the second-worst WARP in an age-37 season in our database (which goes back to 1950)—if, that is, he was really 37. Though his listed birthdate is January 16, 1980, he’s probably not 38 years old now. Increasingly, the preponderance of evidence—a sufficient amount to merit a change to the official record—suggests that Pujols is 40 years old...
Firstly, let’s make sure to say this: I am not accusing Pujols of what I would consider unethical or truly fraudulent behavior. Pujols’ background and early life story are unique, involving living in the Dominican Republic until mid-adolescence, then immigrating to the United States...
... teams value youth. If two players show up with the exact same body (size and build), skills, and personality, teams might pay twice as much for the younger one. And they might not be willing to sign the older one at all. Scouts use age-versus-level as a heuristic even when a 23-year-old is up for evaluation in the Pacific Coast League. When the players in question are all teenagers and there are several years between the potential signing and a player’s matriculation to the majors, they lean even more heavily on crutches like that.
... Pujols’ age became an issue in 2011 ...
When teams need to make roster decisions that can have consequences for the following several seasons, and are trying to project how one or more players will perform over that long arc, ages matter. When players hit free agency, ages certainly matter. When we try to understand the careers of players, especially as those careers draw near to the end, ages certainly matter. If I were advising a player harboring the secret that he was a year or more older than the baseball world believed, right now, I would tell him to keep that secret, especially if he still had free agency in front of him.
Pujols, of course, doesn’t. He’s already made his fortune, and when previous stars like Vladimir Guerrero and Miguel Tejada have admitted that their listed ages were incorrect (Guerrero was one year older than he’d said; Tejada was two years older), there have been no legal actions taken against them. Still, this is a sensitive topic, and before offering evidence in support of the motion to change Pujols’ age, I want to make clear that I see no malice in the decision made by any player in this sort of position.
So, the balance of probability says that Pujols is now 40.
____________________
The author above is condescending in granting absolution to Pujols and others based on country of origin and economic circumstances.
Hall of Fame criteria: 66% about character, which is all but ignored. Tuesday, January 6, 2015
http://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/bbwaa-rules-for-election
5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon
- the player's record
- playing ability
- integrity
- sportsmanship
- character
- contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.
_________________________
Honor Code: a player will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Thursday, January 10, 2013
Fans should call for an honor code for Major Baseball League (MBL) players and that should take care of the "sportsmanship, integrity, character" qualification for the Hall of Fame.
_______________________
Honor code: "not ... tolerate those who do (lie, cheat, steal)". Friday, January 11, 2013
And cheating is more than using steroids. Cheating includes:
- faking being hit by a pitch
- faking catching a fly ball
- faking tagging a runner
- pitcher intentionally hitting a batter with a pitch
- messing with the bat or ball.
With an honor code teammates must report all violations. Otherwise, what's all the fuss?
It's a tangled web. I've said all along that it's the lying that bothers me.
_____________________
Albert Pujols
Positions: First Baseman, Leftfielder and Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 240 pounds
Team: Los Angeles Angels (majors)
Born: January 16, 1980 (Age: 38 and 100 days) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Draft: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft
Obviously, when the Cardinals drafted Pujols they thought he was 19, not 22. Would it have mattered? Who knows?
When the Angels signed Pujols to that huge ten year contract for his ages 32 through 41 the Angels thought that Pujols was 32, not 35, which would have made the contract for ages 35 through 44, which would have probably meant that either it would not have happened at all or it would have been for maybe half the number of years and less money per season.
Now many people would look at any comparison of performance enhancing drug (PED) use and telling a lie, especially about something as innocuous as age, as absurd. But consider one of the reasons given for their staunch position against PED use:
It's unfair to clean players in that it may deprive another player of a roster spot and/or extra money.
Maybe Pujols got a Cardinal roster spot at age "21" that might have gone to another player who was 24. Maybe the tens of millions of dollars that Pujols is receiving in 2018 at age "38" might ... no, the Angels would not have given that ten year contract to any player for ages 35 through 44; nor would the Angels pay another 41 year old much, if anything.
And what about the team? The Angels probably signed Pujols through his perceived age 41 season for reasons other than what he could contribute as a player. Part of it was deferred compensation from the earlier seasons of the contract when the Angels thought they were getting Pujols at ages 32, 33, 34, 35. At those ages the Angels might have expected to get maybe 75% of the great player Pujols had been with the Cardinals. Did the Cardinals know by then that the 19 year old they had signed in 1999 had actually been 22? Was that a consideration in the Cardinals not matching the offer by the Angels?
Pujols may have also been signed for non playing reasons, maybe to appeal to the southern California population. Being older probably would not impact that unless his character became an issue. At this point it is highly unlikely that if it became generally known that Pujols is actually three years older than his listed age that the Angels would make it into a negative, which would reduce the value Pujols had.
So what about the Hall of Fame? Is this a big enough deal to prevent voters from supporting Pujols? VERY unlikely given that they never considered the admitted drug (cocaine) use by recent inductee Tim Raines. The list of things that would reasonably be considered cheating but have been ignored is long.
No, the one and only offense that is held against a player, preferably if the voters don't like him, is PED use. Now if it became known that Pujols had used PED, well then he might be in trouble. On the other hand even that is swinging away from where it was even five years ago.
Integrity, sportsmanship, character: what would be held against a player for any of these three things?
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Is a fielder blocking an opponent's view against the rules?
Years ago Bobby Valentine when managing the Mets (1996-2002) sometimes had his first baseman stand between the runner on first and the bag so that if the pitcher threw to first, the runner would have to go around the first baseman to return to first base. Maybe not brilliant but certainly clever, a trait that Valentine embraced about himself.
Fielder in front of mound. Wednesday, April 18, 2018
There may be times when it makes sense to put a fielder in front of the mound:
- protect the pitcher
- actually field balls
- block the batter's view of the pitch.
Face guarding, the ultimate shift. Sunday, May 8, 2016
____________________
It makes a lot of sense. But unlike professional football and basketball, the major baseball league has little patience and less imagination regarding things that might breach protocol, real or imagined.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Start Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Attendance: 48,137
Venue: Coors Field
Game Duration: 3:47
Day Game, on grass
Cubs 10, Rockies 9
Javier Baez introduced common sense near second base in that game. In the first inning Cub third baseman Kris Bryant froze at the plate and was Hit by Pitch in the face. Baez is the Cubs second baseman but in this game Baez started at shortstop. The Cubs scored three runs in the first inning and Baez hit a home run in the second inning so Baez might have been a little full of himself. He's been hitting very well all season.
In the first inning Colorado leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu was safe on an error by Baez and then LeMahieu stole second while Colorado center fielder Charlie Blackmon was batting.
In the bottom of the third inning LeMahieu was safe on a ground ball fielder's choice. Blackmon then singled LeMahieu to second.
With Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado batting Baez thought that LeMahieu was trying to interpret the signs by the Cub catcher to the Cub pitcher. A runner on second has a clear view of the signs. Everyone knows that. It's called sign stealing.
Baez took unusual action. Baez moved in front of LeMahieu in order to block LeMahieu's view of the signs. Baez would then return to normal shortstop position after the signs had completed. Remember, both are second basemen. LeMahieu took exception. The following MLB link contains a two minute video of the incident. Also note that narrative states that the umpire told Baez he had to "get out of the way before the pitch was released". Really? What the heck? Who knew? Note also that before one pitch Baez runs to second base and takes a pickoff throw from the pitcher. LeMahieu gets back safely.
Baez, LeMahieu explain spat at second base
LeMahieu denies Baez's allegation of sign stealing
By Owen Perkins Special to MLB.com April 23rd, 2018
... Baez started using his body to block LeMahieu's view of catcher Victor Caratini, whose signals, Baez claimed, were being relayed by LeMahieu to Arenado.
Baez had never tried the tactic before, but he had seen it used against Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic...
LeMahieu denied stealing signs in a text to MLB.com's Thomas Harding...
... Baez felt the Rockies were using their opportunities to hit Cubs pitching in the Rockies' 5-2 win Saturday, and he didn't want to see it again Sunday...
Second base umpire Vic Carapazza had to intervene, and some players and coaches stepped in to make sure things didn't escalate.
"He was trying to get us out of it," Baez said of the umpire. "He was doing his job. He told me I have to get out of the way before the pitch was released, which I was doing. So I don't know why he was so hyper saying that.
"It didn't get me out of my game. I don't know what it did to them. It's part of the game."
The tension between Baez and LeMahieu rose after Arenado struck out while Baez effectively blocked LeMahieu's view of the catcher. Baez gloated a little to his teammates and wasn't shy about letting LeMahieu hear him.
"Right after the strikeout, I said to the outfield, 'You see the difference when they don't know the signs?'" Baez said. "And then [LeMahieu] said something. … We won the game, and the series."
"All this stuff is part of the game," Maddon says.
BERNSTEIN & MCKNIGHT SHOW APRIL 24, 2018 - 12:15 PM
Two days after Cubs infielder Javier Baez beefed with Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu over attempted sign-stealing Sunday, Chicago manager Joe Maddon called Baez's tactic to stand in front of LeMahieu to block his view toward home plate "brilliant" and expressed his belief that, of everyone in the big leagues, of course it would be Baez who made headlines with the ploy.
"Who else would do it?" Maddon said on the Bernstein and McKnight Show on 670 The Score on Tuesday. "Who else would do it?
"Because he has the balls to do it, quite frankly. I mean, there's a lot guys who would never do that. I think you're going to see it become more prominent now that he's broken the ice. He said that (Andrelton) Simmons did it in the (World Baseball Classic). I talked to him yesterday on the off day, and I thought, 'Man, that is really good.' I never thought of it. I'd never thought of it. Actually when he was doing it the other day, we were yelling at him, 'Get back, get back.' We thought he thought something else was on. But he was just doing what he thought was the right thing in the moment. I love that he's fearless. I love that he's saying, 'Hey, this our team. This is our game. This is how we're going to do it.' At the end of the day, if you're the runner at second base, understand that you're trying to steal signs, we have every right to try to conceal our signs."
____________________
Fielder in front of mound. Wednesday, April 18, 2018
There may be times when it makes sense to put a fielder in front of the mound:
- protect the pitcher
- actually field balls
- block the batter's view of the pitch.
Face guarding, the ultimate shift. Sunday, May 8, 2016
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It makes a lot of sense. But unlike professional football and basketball, the major baseball league has little patience and less imagination regarding things that might breach protocol, real or imagined.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Start Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Attendance: 48,137
Venue: Coors Field
Game Duration: 3:47
Day Game, on grass
Cubs 10, Rockies 9
Javier Baez introduced common sense near second base in that game. In the first inning Cub third baseman Kris Bryant froze at the plate and was Hit by Pitch in the face. Baez is the Cubs second baseman but in this game Baez started at shortstop. The Cubs scored three runs in the first inning and Baez hit a home run in the second inning so Baez might have been a little full of himself. He's been hitting very well all season.
In the first inning Colorado leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu was safe on an error by Baez and then LeMahieu stole second while Colorado center fielder Charlie Blackmon was batting.
In the bottom of the third inning LeMahieu was safe on a ground ball fielder's choice. Blackmon then singled LeMahieu to second.
With Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado batting Baez thought that LeMahieu was trying to interpret the signs by the Cub catcher to the Cub pitcher. A runner on second has a clear view of the signs. Everyone knows that. It's called sign stealing.
Baez took unusual action. Baez moved in front of LeMahieu in order to block LeMahieu's view of the signs. Baez would then return to normal shortstop position after the signs had completed. Remember, both are second basemen. LeMahieu took exception. The following MLB link contains a two minute video of the incident. Also note that narrative states that the umpire told Baez he had to "get out of the way before the pitch was released". Really? What the heck? Who knew? Note also that before one pitch Baez runs to second base and takes a pickoff throw from the pitcher. LeMahieu gets back safely.
Baez, LeMahieu explain spat at second base
LeMahieu denies Baez's allegation of sign stealing
By Owen Perkins Special to MLB.com April 23rd, 2018
... Baez started using his body to block LeMahieu's view of catcher Victor Caratini, whose signals, Baez claimed, were being relayed by LeMahieu to Arenado.
Baez had never tried the tactic before, but he had seen it used against Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic...
LeMahieu denied stealing signs in a text to MLB.com's Thomas Harding...
... Baez felt the Rockies were using their opportunities to hit Cubs pitching in the Rockies' 5-2 win Saturday, and he didn't want to see it again Sunday...
Second base umpire Vic Carapazza had to intervene, and some players and coaches stepped in to make sure things didn't escalate.
"He was trying to get us out of it," Baez said of the umpire. "He was doing his job. He told me I have to get out of the way before the pitch was released, which I was doing. So I don't know why he was so hyper saying that.
"It didn't get me out of my game. I don't know what it did to them. It's part of the game."
The tension between Baez and LeMahieu rose after Arenado struck out while Baez effectively blocked LeMahieu's view of the catcher. Baez gloated a little to his teammates and wasn't shy about letting LeMahieu hear him.
"Right after the strikeout, I said to the outfield, 'You see the difference when they don't know the signs?'" Baez said. "And then [LeMahieu] said something. … We won the game, and the series."
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Cubs' Joe Maddon On Javier Baez's Blocking Of Sign-Stealing: 'Who Else Would Do It? He Has The Balls To Do It'"All this stuff is part of the game," Maddon says.
BERNSTEIN & MCKNIGHT SHOW APRIL 24, 2018 - 12:15 PM
Two days after Cubs infielder Javier Baez beefed with Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu over attempted sign-stealing Sunday, Chicago manager Joe Maddon called Baez's tactic to stand in front of LeMahieu to block his view toward home plate "brilliant" and expressed his belief that, of everyone in the big leagues, of course it would be Baez who made headlines with the ploy.
"Who else would do it?" Maddon said on the Bernstein and McKnight Show on 670 The Score on Tuesday. "Who else would do it?
"Because he has the balls to do it, quite frankly. I mean, there's a lot guys who would never do that. I think you're going to see it become more prominent now that he's broken the ice. He said that (Andrelton) Simmons did it in the (World Baseball Classic). I talked to him yesterday on the off day, and I thought, 'Man, that is really good.' I never thought of it. I'd never thought of it. Actually when he was doing it the other day, we were yelling at him, 'Get back, get back.' We thought he thought something else was on. But he was just doing what he thought was the right thing in the moment. I love that he's fearless. I love that he's saying, 'Hey, this our team. This is our game. This is how we're going to do it.' At the end of the day, if you're the runner at second base, understand that you're trying to steal signs, we have every right to try to conceal our signs."
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Saturday, April 21, 2018
Yankees could have signed Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., top Toronto prospect.
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. was signed as an international free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was NOT drafted.
His father, Vladimir Guerrero, is in the Hall of Fame.
Now Batting in Class AA: Biggio, Bichette and Guerrero
The sons of three former big league stars play together for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
By Tyler Kepner April 20, 2018 nytimes.com
Baseball America ranks Guerrero as the No. 3 prospect in the game ...
signed Guerrero from the Dominican Republic for $3.9 million in July 2015. The next June, they drafted Bichette in the second round from a high school in Florida, and Biggio in the fifth round from Notre Dame.
Brian Cashman strikes out on Gleyber Torres in 2013, then trades Aroldis Chapman to make up for that failure. Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Cashman said the Yankees coveted Torres three years ago, calling him the premier international free agent at the time. Cashman added that he was “disappointed we swung and missed; he was definitely a target for us.”
His father, Vladimir Guerrero, is in the Hall of Fame.
Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman, in his 21st year as GM, could have signed Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.. Like he could have signed Gleyber Torres; by his own admission when he traded Aroldis Chapman for Torres: we "swung and missed" (when Torres was originally signed by the Cubs for $1.7 million; see below). If Hal Steinbrenner were alive, he might have noticed.
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The sons of three former big league stars play together for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
By Tyler Kepner April 20, 2018 nytimes.com
Baseball America ranks Guerrero as the No. 3 prospect in the game ...
signed Guerrero from the Dominican Republic for $3.9 million in July 2015. The next June, they drafted Bichette in the second round from a high school in Florida, and Biggio in the fifth round from Notre Dame.
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8. Badler, Ben (July 2, 2015). "Blue Jays Agree To Sign No. 1 International Prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
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Cashman "swung and missed" on another international free agent player: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Or maybe this time Cashman didn't even swing.
Brian Cashman strikes out on Gleyber Torres in 2013, then trades Aroldis Chapman to make up for that failure. Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Cashman said the Yankees coveted Torres three years ago, calling him the premier international free agent at the time. Cashman added that he was “disappointed we swung and missed; he was definitely a target for us.”
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Yankees drafted Eric Jagielo before Aaron Judge in 2013. Oops. Friday, July 14, 2017
Brian Cashman got Sonny Gray instead of Jon Lester, Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Jose Quintana. Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Cuban Missile Crisis: Cashman giving Chapman $86 million. Monday, August 14, 2017
Brian Cashman got Sonny Gray instead of Jon Lester, Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Jose Quintana. Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Cuban Missile Crisis: Cashman giving Chapman $86 million. Monday, August 14, 2017
Brian Cashman messing up third base 2014-2017: Yangervis Solarte, Chase Headley, Josh Donaldson. Thursday, December 14, 2017
Friday, April 20, 2018
Best hitter on championship teams: Yankees 1996-2000, Reds 1970-1976, Dodgers 1947-1956.
Yankees 1996-2000
Reds 1970-1976
Dodgers 1949-1956
| Rk | Player | PA | From | To | Age | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | GDP | SB | CS | Pos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernie Williams | 145 | 3123 | 1996 | 2000 | 27-31 | 699 | 2687 | 540 | 871 | 156 | 30 | 131 | 535 | 400 | 52 | 412 | 8 | 1 | 27 | 70 | 69 | 36 | .324 | .410 | .551 | .960 | *8/DH |
| 2 | Derek Jeter | 123 | 3514 | 1996 | 2000 | 22-26 | 771 | 3082 | 600 | 996 | 149 | 34 | 78 | 407 | 338 | 11 | 561 | 48 | 23 | 23 | 66 | 108 | 37 | .323 | .396 | .470 | .865 | *6/H |
| 3 | Paul O'Neill | 118 | 3272 | 1996 | 2000 | 33-37 | 746 | 2864 | 422 | 865 | 182 | 7 | 101 | 534 | 351 | 21 | 450 | 8 | 0 | 49 | 100 | 50 | 27 | .302 | .374 | .476 | .850 | *9/HD3 |
| 4 | Tino Martinez | 114 | 3261 | 1996 | 2000 | 28-32 | 769 | 2878 | 434 | 801 | 156 | 9 | 141 | 577 | 325 | 37 | 403 | 22 | 1 | 35 | 81 | 14 | 8 | .278 | .352 | .486 | .838 | *3/HD |
Reds 1970-1976
| Rk | Player | PA | From | To | Age | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | GDP | SB | CS | Pos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Morgan | 163 | 3257 | 1972 | 1976 | 28-32 | 742 | 2610 | 565 | 792 | 146 | 20 | 108 | 427 | 592 | 23 | 267 | 17 | 7 | 31 | 29 | 310 | 63 | .303 | .431 | .499 | .930 | *4/H |
| 2 | Tony Perez | 135 | 4395 | 1970 | 1976 | 28-34 | 1037 | 3909 | 548 | 1112 | 204 | 30 | 180 | 712 | 428 | 65 | 793 | 18 | 0 | 40 | 89 | 31 | 17 | .284 | .354 | .490 | .845 | *35/H |
| 3 | Johnny Bench | 133 | 4454 | 1970 | 1976 | 22-28 | 1043 | 3878 | 600 | 1030 | 194 | 15 | 214 | 751 | 512 | 86 | 645 | 9 | 2 | 51 | 106 | 46 | 16 | .266 | .349 | .489 | .837 | *2/9375H8 |
| 4 | Pete Rose | 131 | 5216 | 1970 | 1976 | 29-35 | 1120 | 4585 | 780 | 1435 | 265 | 49 | 59 | 405 | 560 | 64 | 360 | 40 | 6 | 18 | 76 | 56 | 36 | .313 | .391 | .431 | .822 | 795/H8 |
Dodgers 1949-1956
| Rk | Player | PA | From | To | Age | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | GDP | SB | CS | Pos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke Snider | 147 | 5233 | 1949 | 1956 | 22-29 | 1193 | 4566 | 875 | 1411 | 254 | 52 | 271 | 885 | 600 | 45 | 719 | 13 | 38 | 16 | 104 | 83 | 37 | .309 | .390 | .565 | .955 | *8/H |
| 2 | Jackie Robinson | 137 | 4455 | 1949 | 1956 | 30-37 | 1084 | 3713 | 714 | 1173 | 204 | 41 | 113 | 601 | 609 | 7 | 218 | 56 | 68 | 9 | 101 | 146 | 30 | .316 | .419 | .484 | .903 | *457/H369 |
| 3 | Gil Hodges | 130 | 5172 | 1949 | 1956 | 25-32 | 1218 | 4442 | 765 | 1251 | 199 | 31 | 259 | 874 | 644 | 13 | 676 | 19 | 37 | 31 | 98 | 36 | 22 | .282 | .373 | .515 | .888 | *3/79H82 |
| 4 | Roy Campanella | 129 | 4115 | 1949 | 1956 | 27-34 | 1029 | 3596 | 564 | 1009 | 158 | 15 | 220 | 749 | 463 | 24 | 406 | 25 | 19 | 12 | 129 | 21 | 15 | .281 | .365 | .516 | .882 | *2/H |
| 5 | Carl Furillo | 115 | 4741 | 1949 | 1956 | 27-34 | 1158 | 4333 | 626 | 1309 | 222 | 31 | 147 | 728 | 335 | 20 | 286 | 36 | 26 | 11 | 140 | 29 | 22 | .302 | .356 | .469 | .826 | *9/H78 |
| 6 | Pee Wee Reese | 102 | 5332 | 1949 | 1956 | 30-37 | 1172 | 4526 | 807 | 1254 | 194 | 45 | 85 | 504 | 680 | 2 | 489 | 18 | 94 | 15 | 118 | 144 | 41 | .277 | .373 | .396 | .769 | *6/5H |