Well we’ve got our 5th no-hitter of the still young season (I count Mad-Bum’s even if MLB doesn’t). Wade Miley of the Reds has blanked the Cleveland Baseball Team 3-0. He gave up one walk, struck out 8. Only once in baseball history has there been 4 no-no’s before the end of May until now—1917,…… Continue reading Official No-Hitter #4

Where does Albert Pujols stand among first basemen in baseball history? Let’s look at a couple measures. WAR: Lou Gehrig, 114.1Albert Pujols, 99.4Cap Anson, 94.4Jimmie Foxx, 93.1Roger Connor, 84.3Jeff Bagwell, 79.9Dan Brouthers, 79.8Frank Thomas, 73.8Jim Thome, 73.1Rafael Palmeiro, 71.9 (Miguel Cabrera #13) JAWS: Lou GehrigAlbert PujolsJimmie FoxxCap AnsonRoger ConnorJeff Bagwell Dan BrouthersJohnny MizeFrank ThomasJim Thome…… Continue reading All-Time First Basemen

Okay, this is not a surprise in that Pujols has been a replacement level player the past few years, and he’s in the final year of his contract, which makes it no longer cost prohibitive to cut him. This is a huge surprise in that this would have been the correct baseball thing to do…… Continue reading Angels DFA Albert Pujols

I’ve previously profiled experimental rules being used in the Pioneer and Atlantic Leagues. However, there is a different experimental rule at each level of the affiliated minor leagues too, which started their season yesterday. Here they are: AAA—The bases are 18 inches across instead of 15. The idea is to reduce injury and make circling…… Continue reading More Experimental Rules

John Means was near perfect for the Orioles against the Mariners today. So close, in fact, that he faced only the minimum 27 batters. His line was 9-0-0-0-12…as in 9 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 12 K’s. So, why was this not a perfect game? In the third inning, he struck out Sam…… Continue reading Another No-No

The Blue Jays have announced their home games, starting in June, will again be played at Sahlen Field, where they played last year. Up til now this year, home games were at their spring training stadium in Dunedin, FL. It gets hot and rainy there staring in June, so they were motivated to not have…… Continue reading Blue Jays Headed Back to Buffalo

Remember when the Dodgers started the year with seven viable starting pitchers? Well, they’re down to four. Tony Gonsolin has been on the IL, expected back around the end of the month. David Price, who had been in long relief, is now out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain. The worst news for them,…… Continue reading Dustin May Needs TJS

Max Scherzer was on a mission today. He dispatched the Marlins in 2:37. It was a complete game, 5 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts, 0 walks on 106 pitches. He faced 31 batters, 23 saw a first pitch strike. There was no time to waste as he lifted the Nationals to a .500 record. Immediately…… Continue reading Max Scherzer’s Day

Up until last year, ESPN’s web site had a monthly feature that tracked where Mike Trout was on the all time bWAR list. It profiled each of the players he had passed, showing how exceptional Trout it by reminding the reader of just how good those other players were. I did not see what should…… Continue reading The Greatness of Mike Trout

It was announced today that Roberto Alomar has been terminated from his special advisory position with both MLB after an internal investigation indicated he had committed some sort of sexual misconduct. The precise nature of the misconduct was not revealed. Commissioner Manfred also indicated he has been placed on the permanently ineligible list. As a…… Continue reading Roberto Alomar Banned

Maybe you remember the Pioneer League as an affiliated minor league. It was part of the MLB’s MiLB purge and is now an independent “partner” league, meaning that (like the Atlantic League), MLB can use them as an experimental lab for whatever weird rule change they want to try. The Pioneer League will be using…… Continue reading Goofy New Pioneer League Rule

Shohei Ohtani has been hitting the ball hard. He also entered last night’s game against the Rangers tied for the MLB lead in home runs (7). He did not hit one last night, but did score three times and knock in two more runs. He was also the pitcher of record, notching the win and…… Continue reading Shohei Ohtani =/= Babe Ruth, but…

Let’s cut through the “mutual decision” nonsense. Jeff Bridich is now the former GM of the Rockies because he was fired. My imagination of most mutual decision making conversations go as follows: “You’re gone, Jeff…but it’ll look better if you quit.” “I like it here, why would I quit?” “You can call it a mutual…… Continue reading Rockies, GM “Part Ways”

Regulation games in double-headers are seven innings. So, Madison Bumgarner of the Diamondbacks allowing 0 hits in a seven inning complete game against the Braves is a no-hitter, right? MLB says no. I’m sorry/not sorry to say that’s stupid. If you pitch a complete game and not allow a hit, the only logical thing is…… Continue reading Not a No-Hitter, Stupidly

Last week Shane Bieber became only the second pitcher ever to record 48 strikeouts over the first four starts to a season, tying Nolan Ryan. Yesterday Jacob deGrom became the first to record 50 strikeouts over his first 4 starts. He fanned 15, the third straight game in which he struck out at least 14.…… Continue reading Three True Outcomes Hurting Baseball