Its always a bad day to drive in the DR if you're a baseball player apparently. But also, drunk driving is out of control down there.
I hope this is not true, if it is, a horrible, untimely death just became an even more horrible story: Report: Yordano Ventura was robbed and left to die after car accident in the D.R.
Meh. This seems completely unnecessary. Its like they're collecting DHs once again. Yankees sign Chris Carter: http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb...on-deal/ar-AAmIbZ1?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp
NO, NO, NO, NO! "MLB will test a rule change in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Arizona League this summer that will automatically place a runner on second base at the start of extra innings."
What I don't get is this is an attempt to speed up games, so why not put a runner on 1st and 2nd to avoid the inevitable non-intentional/intentional walk that's going to occur to the first batter as he attempts to lay down a bunt? That's going to slow everything down. Besides that, it's just fucking stupid.
It is a pants on head retarded idea. Especially when you consider the fact that it supposedly trying to speed up the game and is only targeting 11+ inning games. I think there was something like 99 games that went 11+ innings last year (out of 2430 regular season games played last year (well 2429 due to cleveland and detroit not making up that game) So roughly 4% of games. If they are going to go full retard might as well have a home run derby to decide games. Or flip a coin.
I also do not think it is a very good idea. However, I think they are trying to save a team's bullpen more than speed up the game. Once a game goes into extra innings a bullpen can get chewed up pretty quickly and can affect how games for maybe up to two weeks are managed. A person paying a good price per seat, kind of wants to see everyone available. Still a stupid idea.
Except, now, with no outs and a runner on, they'll start the inning with a different pitcher that make the bunter pop up. Then, use a pitcher that can induce a ground ball. Then, use a pitcher that can get a strike out. How many times do you see a pitcher come back out late in a game, give up a double, and IMMEDIATELY the manager comes and gets him to start the specialist train? They're essentially guaranteeing that now. Exactly. The two rule changes I wish they'd do: - double size first base, with half in foul territory - eliminate the catcher-standing intentional walk, but 4 balls in a row with first base open, the batter is awarded second base
Steve Sax and Rivera were experts at hitting intentional walk pitches. Intentional walks sometimes piss us off, but I personally view them as fair strategy.
I do, too. I don't want to get rid of intentional walks. However, I think it would add a new wrinkle to the strategy to have to consider an intentional walk that puts the batter at second. Most of the time, it's a power hitter who can't run all that well - or maybe a guy hitting 8 in front of the pitcher in NL. So, the power hitter is slow and not guaranteed to score on a hit. And, now managers might put their speedster at #8. It would infuse some interest back in the game, an impact late inning pitching strategy, too.