MLB 2018

[ronmac]

Man, look at those Orioles, sitting a whopping 26 games out of first place barely 1/3 into the season. Could they hit 50 games out?

[moecurlythanu]

^ How many umpires does the League have to employ to get results like that?

[Scott Bails]

^ How many umpires does the League have to employ to get results like that?

Just a couple CB Bucknors, actually.

[progeezer]

In a potential preview of this years Gong Show World Series, The Reds outlast the Royals tonight in 10 innings!!!!

Fixed it for ya!

[Lou]

Fixed it for ya!

Do not mock the mighty Redlegs sir! (That is my job) After all, we are only a mere 16 games back at this point. AND, some of the starting pitchers are now making
it past the third inning. This juggernaut is riding a two game win streak and could very well end the season above .400 !

[polmico]

Going to Seattle this weekend and am going to check out the Sunday game (against BoSox) at Safeco. Any recommendations for attending a game at Safeco? How many gummy bears should I eat ahead of time . . .

[polmico]

If you're looking for a fun baseball book for the summer and you love the history of uniforms as much as I do (my favorite part of visiting the HOF a few years ago was looking at all the unis on display), check out Winning Ugly by Todd Ransom. It is well-researched, full of gorgeous pictures of uniforms from the past and delightful in its on-the-sleeve fanboyism.

https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Ugly-.../dp/1683582284

Reading through the book, I am utterly convinced that the buttonless, athletic-style, soccer-style, technicolor jerseys of the '70s and early '80s are my favorites (with a few notable exceptions--looking at you all-red Indians and bizarro collared White Sox tops). I love the mix-and-match A's unis, the "tequila sunrise" Astros and even the brown and mustard Padres. The players looked good in them, they look good on fans and they were fun. Purists be damned. If today's unis (D-backs excepting . . . ) are indicative of a return to tradition, then tradition is boring. Of course, the '90s uniforms were awful (sleeveless tops? What the fuck, Angels?) and were probably as striking a break from tradition as those '70s uniforms I love, so what do I know.

[Scott Bails]

That sounds like a cool, fun book. I love that stuff, too.

My current fave uniform is the Rays' baby blues:

[Gruno]

How many gummy bears should I eat ahead of time . . .

What's that in reference to? Do they have a gummy bear shortage there?

[NogbadTheBad]

Going to Seattle this weekend and am going to check out the Sunday game (against BoSox) at Safeco. Any recommendations for attending a game at Safeco? How many gummy bears should I eat ahead of time . . .

I saw a game there a year ago, lovely ballpark, excellent selection of beers. I was about 15 rows back on the first base line.

[polmico]

What's that in reference to? Do they have a gummy bear shortage there?

Man, I hope not. They got them the legal THCs up in Seattle.

[Gruno]

Man, I hope not. They got them the legal THCs up in Seattle.

Ahhhh... the tainted bears... I get it now... nice!

[progeezer]

Ahhhh... the tainted bears... I get it now... nice!

Tainted for some, wonderfully infused for others.

[Lou]

Confucius says it is better to have tainted bears, than to have bears' taints!

[Lou]

Corey Kluber has faced 168 consecutive batters without issuing a walk!!

[polmico]

That sounds like a cool, fun book. I love that stuff, too.

My current fave uniform is the Rays' baby blues:

Yes. Those are indeed nice. I imagine that all ten people who attend Rays games must love them as much as you and I.

Imagine how much the fine folks of Montreal would love that color--er, colour--scheme.

[polmico]

Corey Kluber has faced 168 consecutive batters without issuing a walk!!

So who's better right now?

Kluber, Verlander or Scherzer? I'd have to dig into the numbers, but Verlander seems like the safe bet, right?

[Lou]

So who's better right now?

Kluber, Verlander or Scherzer? I'd have to dig into the numbers, but Verlander seems like the safe bet, right?

The three have stats so comparable, it would be impossible to say. All three are exceptional!

[DocProgger]

Reading through the book, I am utterly convinced that the buttonless, athletic-style, soccer-style, technicolor jerseys of the '70s and early '80s are my favorites (with a few notable exceptions--looking at you all-red Indians and bizarro collared White Sox tops). I love the mix-and-match A's unis, the "tequila sunrise" Astros and even the brown and mustard Padres. The players looked good in them, they look good on fans and they were fun. Purists be damned. If today's unis (D-backs excepting . . . ) are indicative of a return to tradition, then tradition is boring. Of course, the '90s uniforms were awful (sleeveless tops? What the fuck, Angels?) and were probably as striking a break from tradition as those '70s uniforms I love, so what do I know.

I have to agree with what I think is the theme of that book (saw the author interviewed on MLB)--most of those 70s unis were hideous.
First, that was the dawn of the all polyester no button skin tight look. They were like the leisure suits of baseball history. Horrendous.(especially for the many pot bellied beer gut guys, esp pitchers, who couldn't hide that in those tight unis)

I didn't mind the various A's unis, but the following were some of the worst in bball history:

--the ugly brown and mustard combos of the Padres.

--the garish cheesy look of the Astros. Orange, terrible graphics.

--whatever the heck the Expos were wearing back then

--the nadir of the decade was that 79 WS, with the all neon orange Orioles vs the all neon Yellow of the Pirates. Any of those all one color unis were a major fail. You watch the highlights of that Series now and just cringe.

I like the traditional button more loose fitting cotton jerseys (cotton breathes!), and the return to tradition and the classic styles. There are certain uniform traditions you don't mess with--the Yankee pinstripes, the Cards Birds on the Bat, the Detroit "D", the Dodgers script etc. Plus most teams now do a variety of alternative unis to keep things from being boring and all the same. I just think the combo of those 70s all polyester with the disco era color schemes gone wild is too reminiscent of ugly brown and orange leisure suits, bell bottoms, platform shoes and cheesy porn staches.

[ronmac]

Remember this uniform?

[moecurlythanu]

I agree with polmico and disagree with everything the Doc posted above. Those 70s unis were the best, especially some of the ones singled out for approbation.

Different strokes.

[DocProgger]

Remember this uniform?

Yep, I was on several coed softball teams that wore those.....

[polmico]

Yep, I was on several coed softball teams that wore those.....

Yes. Those are horrible. I think, having only read a fraction of the book (and having seen the interview with BK on MLB Now), that Radom is endeared to those 70s unis. He talks fondly of his childhood experiences in ballparks in the 70s. Personally, I just think they look good and have no nostalgia involved.

[DocProgger]

Yes. Those are horrible. I think, having only read a fraction of the book (and having seen the interview with BK on MLB Now), that Radom is endeared to those 70s unis. He talks fondly of his childhood experiences in ballparks in the 70s. Personally, I just think they look good and have no nostalgia involved.

I haven't seen the book yet, and I thought he was kind of poking fun at the 70s era in particular when I saw the interview, but if not, what is he referring to with the title of the book?

btw, if you want to see a collection of some stylish old uniforms, if you ever pass through Kansas City, a visit to the Negro League HOF and Museum is well worth it.

[Frankh]

So who's better right now?

Kluber, Verlander or Scherzer? I'd have to dig into the numbers, but Verlander seems like the safe bet, right?

Scherzer's numbers are approaching all-time levels. He has been one year after another for at least a half dozen years of sheer excellence.

Plus he has that intimidation factor. Not that the others don't, or aren't. But look at Max. He's a horse. He's becoming a warhorse, is already. Probably Cooperstown bound on numbers already compiled.

And would you want to bring lumber up to the plate against him?

There are just certain guys I have always been relieved I'm not having to try to hit.

Bob Gibson. Weren't we all.

Saw Jack Morris from good field level first base side seats in his hayday against the A's in Oakland, 1984, the Tigers glory year. Spent the entire day thinking how glad I was not to be in the batter's box.

Max is like a jacked Jack.

A great one.