MLB Master Thread

[Euclid]

This whole discussion is so weird. The vast majority of Judge's walks have been because he has amazing plate discipline, not because pitchers are pitching around him.

But y'all are really just complaining about the fact that baseball differs from all other major sports in that a batter only has ~4 chances per game to make a difference. As opposed to basketball, hockey, soccer, football where an offensive player has (technically) unlimited opportunity to make an impact on a game. In baseball you can never have "Aaron Judge just took over the game and scored 55 points".

[Yehuda57]

This whole discussion is so weird. The vast majority of Judge's walks have been because he has amazing plate discipline, not because pitchers are pitching around him.

But y'all are really just complaining about the fact that baseball differs than all other major sports in that a batter only has ~4 chances per game to make a difference. As opposed to basketball, hockey, soccer, football where an offensive player has (technically) unlimited opportunity to make an impact on a game. In baseball you can never have "Aaron Judge just took over the game and scored 55 points".

My beef with the IBB predates Judge. It might even be discussed in this thread for all I know. But teams have absolutely been pitching around him of late. Aside from the official IBBs, he was having at-bats with 4 pitch walks nowhere near the strike zone.

[CountValentine]

My beef with the IBB predates Judge. It might even be discussed in this thread for all I know. But teams have absolutely been pitching around him of late. Aside from the official IBBs, he was having at-bats with 4 pitch walks nowhere near the strike zone.

...and how many walks did he have with plenty of hittable pitches?

[Yehuda57]

...and how many walks did he have with plenty of hittable pitches?

Lots. He has a very high OBP and excellent plate discipline. What does that change?

[CountValentine]

Lots. He has a very high OBP and excellent plate discipline. What does that change?

So your beef is he gets an IBB about every 8th or 9th game?

[Yehuda57]

So your beef is he gets an IBB about every 8th or 9th game?

For the millionth time, my beef is not because of Judge! In no other sport can you just avoid the best player on the field at such a low cost

[Dan]

For the millionth time, my beef is not because of Judge! In no other sport can you just avoid the best player on the field at such a low cost

How many yards did it cost to knock out Tua?

[Yehuda57]

How many yards did it cost to knock out Tua?

0, was a clean hit.

I'm kinda surprised to see this from you. I mean, even the biggest of specious arguments will look at this and say you're stretching. Fouling/injuring a player is not in this discussion. Which other sport has a way for you to use the rules to eliminate a star player with such a minimal consequence?

[Dan]

0, was a clean hit.

I'm kinda surprised to see this from you. I mean, even the biggest of specious arguments will look at this and say you're stretching. Fouling/injuring a player is not in this discussion. Which other sport has a way for you to use the rules to eliminate a star player with such a minimal consequence?

Pity he didn't get 2 more walks. Avg is down .001 and could've scored more runs.

"eliminated"

[Dan]

0, was a clean hit.

Sunday's hit was 15 yards.

[Yehuda57]

"eliminated"

What are you even trying to say? At any meaningful at bat, the pitching team can choose not to face any hitter and the penalty is minimal. so because Judge was pitched to during some at-bats means he wasn't avoided, or eliminated, a whole bunch of other times?

Sunday's hit was 15 yards.

And? If the tackle is deemed to be intended to injure, the player can be ejected from the game. Same in baseball. No connection to IBBs. I am thoroughly confused as to why you would even bring it up.

[Dan]

What are you even trying to say? At any meaningful at bat, the pitching team can choose not to face any hitter and the penalty is minimal. so because Judge was pitched to during some at-bats means he wasn't avoided, or eliminated, a whole bunch of other times?

He scored on the walk. It's not a minimal penalty, the point of baseball is to get guys on base and bring them home.
If your next 2 hitters are subpar and can't bring the runner home, that's a team design flaw, not a game flaw.

[Yehuda57]

He scored on the walk. It's not a minimal penalty, the point of baseball is to get guys on base and bring them home.
If your next 2 hitters are subpar and can't bring the runner home, that's a team design flaw, not a game flaw.

I didn't say it's not a penalty, I said the penalty is minimal. The game design is to watch the players play. The IBB prevents us from seeing the very best play as much as they could be. IT's really quite simple. And why do you want it to remain as is, because of some sort of whimsical "fabric of the game" mumbo jumbo? Whats a better game to watch, Judge, Bonds, Trout, whoever actually getting to hit, or watching IKF bring in Judge with a sac fly? What's better to watch, Ohtani, Verlander, Cole, etc trying to get a Judge or Oswaldo Cabrera out?

[CountValentine]

For the millionth time, my beef is not because of Judge! In no other sport can you just avoid the best player on the field at such a low cost

AJ is the worst-case scenario. He has more IBB then some whole teams.
You keep saying it is a low cost, but we will have to disagree on that.

[CountValentine]

Let's change the rule and give them some crazy penalty for IBB. Then they will just throw at the player.

[jj1000]

Then they will just throw at the player.

No they won't, they'd get ejected, possibly suspended.

[CountValentine]

No they won't, they'd get ejected, possibly suspended.

Not every at bat. AJ received 18 IBB. Hitting him once every 10 games is no big deal.

[jj1000]

Not every at bat. AJ received 18 IBB. Hitting him once every 10 games is no big deal.

LMAO

Are you being serious right now? I can't tell.

You think pitchers can hit one batter once every 10 games and nothing will happen to the pitchers that hit him?

[Dan]

LMAO

Are you being serious right now? I can't tell.

You think pitchers can hit one batter once every 10 games and nothing will happen to the pitchers that hit him?

https://fansided.com/2022/05/03/mlb-hit-by-pitch-record/

[Dan]

Let's change the rule and give them some crazy penalty for IBB. Then they will just throw at the player.

Clearly IBB and HBP should be worth at least a touchdown.