2017 MLB Season Thread

My fear, as a Dodgers fan, is that they hit a lull going into the playoffs.

The Cubs and Nationals shored up what their biggest weaknesses seem to be, as well. It is going to be a tough road to the WS, regardless.

Glad Jeter and company will be the new ownership of the Marlins and not Jeb,
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article166767852.html

Cards coming in hot

If heakthy Stanton will tie or pass Maris.. book it..

And yesterday was a historic night in Philly:
Dominic Smith with his 1st career hit
Amed Rosario with his first GW homer.

The Mets new Wright and Reyes combo. The hype is real! :)

Nobody is better than Stanton at the plate currently. Its not even debatable. Hes on barry bonds mode right now.

Just a few weeks ago, it looked pretty clear that the Rockies and Diamondbacks were going to be the two NL wildcards, and that the second NL central team had little chance of making it in. But both the teams in the West have faded a bit, and the Cubs are now only a few games back, with the Cards 1.5 back of them.

Also, I think that the Brewers, just 2.0 games back tonight, are about to die off. They just lost the first game of a nine game West Coast road trip, while the Cubs and Cards face much easier schedules the rest of this month. It wouldn't surprise me if MIL was 8 games back on September 1.

Dodgers acquire Curtis Granderson. Seems like an odd asset for L.A. on the surface, but if you look at Curtis's numbers against The Nationals pitching staff, it makes more sense, for playoff purposes.

The Cubs finished 17-12 in August, and are 30-15 since the AS break, finally playing the way that they should have been all year long. If they can duplicate that 17-12 record in September (which they very much should be able to do, given their opponents), they can get to 90 wins, which should be enough to win the NL Central in a down year.

With the Nationals and Dodgers basically already in the postseason, and the Cardinals having waived the white flag, we're down to the Cubs, Brewers, Rockies and Diamondbacks fighting for three spots. At the break, the Cubs were so far behind the teams in the West, that it looked like their only hope would be to win the division (which is still most likely), but they've now pulled ahead of Colorado, and are only 2.5 back of Arizona, so should the Brewers suddenly get crazy hot, one of the West teams could still miss out.

"Samphin wrote:

Dodgers acquire Curtis Granderson. Seems like an odd asset for L.A. on the surface, but if you look at Curtis's numbers against The Nationals pitching staff, it makes more sense, for playoff purposes.

Grandy makes me want the Dodgers to win. There's not a better person in the league that I know of. And as streaky as he is, he came up with some really big hits for NYM.

Its the first Sunday in September, which along with the fact that it should be the start of the NFL season, means that its also a good time to look at Magic Numbers in MLB!

National League:

The Dodgers number to win the west is now 13 (vs ARZ). Their number to make the playoffs is only 6, and the number to secure the #1 seed in the NL is 18 (vs WAS).

The Nationals number to win the East is now 13 (vs MIA). Their number to make the playoffs is the same, as the WC contenders are all in the other divisions, and their number to secure the #2 seed is 21 (vs CHC).

The Cubs number to win the Central is now 23 (vs MIL). Their number to make the playoffs is the same, however they are now 3 games ahead of COL in the WC standings, if necessary.

The Diamondbacks number to make the playoffs is now 20 (vs MIL), and their number to earn the first WC spot and host the game is 22 (vs COL).

The Rockies number to make the playoffs is now 26 (vs MIL).

The Giants and Phillies have been officially eliminated from winning their division titles.

The Dodgers and Nationals play each other three more times. The Cubs do not play any of the other top four teams in the NL the rest of the way. The Dodgers play 7 games vs COL and 3 vs ARZ. COL and ARZ play each other four more times.

American League:

Houston's number to win the West is now 15 (vs ANA). Their number to make the playoffs is the same, and their number to secure the #1 seed is 25 (vs CLE).

Cleveland's number to win the Central is now 20 (vs MIN). Their number to make the playoffs is 18 (vs ANA), and their number to secure the #2 seed is 25 (vs BOS).

Boston's number to win the East is 23 (vs NYY). Their number to make the playoffs is 20 (vs ANA).

The Yankees number to make the playoffs is 25 (vs ANA), and to secure the #1 WC spot is 27 (vs MIN).

The Twins number to make the playoffs is 26 (vs ANA).

The White Sox have been eliminated from winning the Central.

Houston faces the Angles six more times, and their only remaining games against the other top four teams in the AL are the final four games of the season vs BOS. CLE plays 3 more games vs MIN. They are finished with HOU, BOS and NYY. BOS and NYY play their final regular season game today. NYY and MIN play three more games.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/09/06/heyman-red-sox-forfeit-victories-vs-yankees-for-cheating/

The Yankees are rebuilding.

"finyank13 wrote:

The Yankees are rebuilding.

I tell myself that every time they blow a golden opportunity. 2017 Yankees are getting killed by their inconsistent play. Some days they look great, most they look average at best. Bullpen has been terrible for the Yankees this year, in big moments. Good news is, next season we should be much better.

If the Cubs were able to play the Mets more often, they might lead the majors in offense!

12 games to get six homeruns... and Stanton is starting to heat up again for a clutch push at Maris.

"Vertical Limit wrote:

12 games to get six homeruns... and Stanton is starting to heat up again for a clutch push at Maris.

It would be great if he were someday able to knock Bonds out of the top spot.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

It would be great if he were someday able to knock Bonds out of the top spot.

In my opinion, Judge will get 70 before Stanton does... once judge figures out the high pitches hes going to be unpitchable.

Stanton always starts the season slow.. if he cant get off to a fast start hes not going to get 70.

But next season, if health permits you can bank on them both to get over 60.

I don't think anyone is breaking 70 anytime soon. It took one of the greatest hitters of all time on performance enhancing drugs to do that. I just want Stanton to get to 60, and if he can get hot again and break 62, that would be amazing. I think most would consider that the real record.

"sports24/7 wrote:

I don't think anyone is breaking 70 anytime soon. It took one of the greatest hitters of all time on performance enhancing drugs to do that. I just want Stanton to get to 60, and if he can get hot again and break 62, that would be amazing. I think most would consider that the real record.

Who's to say Stanton isn't on any PEDs? Or Maris back in 1961 for that matter. It's a slippery slope to take one record at face value while ignoring another. Sucks that all records are basically 'tainted' but it is what it is unfortunately.

"Ray Finkle wrote:

Who's to say Stanton isn't on any PEDs? Or Maris back in 1961 for that matter. It's a slippery slope to take one record at face value while ignoring another. Sucks that all records are basically 'tainted' but it is what it is unfortunately.

An excellent point. And I wish there was better, comprehensive testing of every player. But at least he's not a total jerk like Bonds.

"Ray Finkle wrote:

Who's to say Stanton isn't on any PEDs? Or Maris back in 1961 for that matter. It's a slippery slope to take one record at face value while ignoring another. Sucks that all records are basically 'tainted' but it is what it is unfortunately.

There's never even been a whisper of Stanton or Maris being involved with PEDs, Stanton doing so in an age when these guys are as under the microscope as you can be with this stuff. On the other hand, there is evidence of Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa doing so. If you don't want as asterisk by your name, don't get involved with this stuff. It's really that simple. If something comes out on those guys, then their records are tainted as well.

I don't see how it's a slippery slope if someone has been proven to be a cheater. Also, the record will be the record. But people's perception of it is a different story. If Stanton breaks 62, many will perceive it as the true record.

"sports24/7 wrote:

There's never even been a whisper of Stanton or Maris being involved with PEDs, Stanton doing so in an age when these guys are as under the microscope as you can be with this stuff. On the other hand, there is evidence of Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa doing so. If you don't want as asterisk by your name, don't get involved with this stuff. It's really that simple. If something comes out on those guys, then their records are tainted as well.

I don't see how it's a slippery slope if someone has been proven to be a cheater. Also, the record will be the record. But people's perception of it is a different story. If Stanton breaks 62, many will perceive it as the true record.

I support this message. Barroid, Sosa and McGwire are all cheaters. Their records will never be valid to me. Why would I recognize someone who cheated to break a record as the record holder? Thats like a teacher catching the student chsating and still giving him the A. Its idiotic.

"sports24/7 wrote:

There's never even been a whisper of Stanton or Maris being involved with PEDs, Stanton doing so in an age when these guys are as under the microscope as you can be with this stuff. On the other hand, there is evidence of Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa doing so. If you don't want as asterisk by your name, don't get involved with this stuff. It's really that simple. If something comes out on those guys, then their records are tainted as well.

I don't see how it's a slippery slope if someone has been proven to be a cheater. Also, the record will be the record. But people's perception of it is a different story. If Stanton breaks 62, many will perceive it as the true record.

It's absolutely a slippery slope.

What would you say if I were to tell you that Player A played 13 seasons, in 12 of them never hit more than 38 home runs, in 10 of those seasons never hit more than 28 home runs, yet in one of those seasons hit 61 home runs. Would you be suspicious? If that happened today that player would be hammered in the media and there would be a PED witch hunt. No one blinks an eye with Maris though.

Remember when Maris played greenies weren't against the rules, now they are. Much like when Bonds played steroids weren't against the rules either. Hank Aaron admitted to taking greenies, which again are now illegal and tested for in the MLB, so maybe he shouldn't be viewed as the 'real' Home Run King since people want to disqualify Bonds. See it's a slippery slope.

If you want to believe that just because there aren't any whispers or evidence that means players are clean, that's fine but you'd be wrong. Do you honestly think that these players are all 100% clean because there's testing in place and they are under the microscope? Do you think the only players that get caught are the only ones using them? Just look at Arod, he never failed a MLB PED test since they started testing in 2005. The only reason why he got busted is because he was part of the Biogenesis scandal, not for any test he failed done by the MLB. There are absolutely guys out there using and not getting caught. That's why we should take these records with a grain of salt. That's why I don't get all worked up over these records and can just sit back and enjoy the game for what it is.

"Boik14 wrote:

I support this message. Barroid, Sosa and McGwire are all cheaters. Their records will never be valid to me. Why would I recognize someone who cheated to break a record as the record holder? Thats like a teacher catching the student chsating and still giving him the A. Its idiotic.

So who's the real home run recorder holder? If it's not Bonds, it can't be Aaron either. I guess Babe Ruth?

Regarding your analogy about the teacher and students: What if cheating wasn't against the rules in January, so students cheated and got away with it. Now as of May 1st cheating is against the rules so if the students cheated they get in trouble. Should that teacher go back and punish all the students that cheated before May 1st?

See what I'm getting at with this slippery slope stuff? It's not just black and white here.