2024 Regular Season- First Half

[Brina]

Cubs win and no nerves left.

[Brina]

From Mendel- contract White Sox and A’s to one team and move them to Nashville. Add an expansion team to Vegas. Then you need 2 more and my votes are for Portland and Montreal. And let’s see if Manfred can pull this off and get the all star game to Wrigley.

[Lance]

Brina wrote: "Cubs win and no nerves left."

Weatched the last two innings on the bus...must have been happy when that safe call at first was overturned

[Brina]

I think relieved was more like it. Last year the Cubs had an early series at LA and lost all three close. To win today was big. The central looks a lot tougher than previously thought but the safest way to the playoffs is still probably winning the division.

[Lance]

I think you're right. Milwaukee is vulnerable, Pittsburgh will come back to earth. Cincy is good but flawed and I can't figure out your rivals. I would not be surprised if any of the 5 teams wins tgat division.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Brina wrote: "Cubs win and no nerves left."

Kudos to Cubs for the win! See that Cubs are at San Diego starting Mon. Kinda glad the series isn't on MLB TV APP for free games!

[Brina]

It means staying up late on work nights but oh well. Just getting through the next 2 with a split would be great. I wish the west coast trips were during summer vacation but you can’t have everything.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Gone most of day. Rght now Padres @ Giants. Bottom of 9th: tied at 2.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Well that was fast. Giants win. Oh well tomorrow is another day!

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Now watching free game. Phillies @ Nationals. Bottom 3rd: Phillies 3 Nats 0. Mostly Philliy fans in stands!Dinner time soon so just watching a few innings.

[Ashley Marie]

Cmon Phillies! For Harold!

[Harold]

Ashley Marie wrote: "Cmon Phillies! For Harold!"

Thanks Ashley Marie. We need some extra help.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Still watching Phillies; my guys decided on Panda Express take out. Nola looks strong. And have always liked Brandon Marsh since he was an Angel. Not sure if he has a nickname but Mike & I call him the caveman! Have seen off season pics of Marsh with short hair. He's actually a very attractive young man :)

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

For some reason forgot Matt Strahm is a Phiily. Another ex-Padre!

[C. John]

Not a bad score, unless you are a Yankees fan. Now if they only keep it up.

[C. John]

Brina, in regards your comment earlier about MLB stepping into tyhe A's situation I suspect that MLB is so happy that things are finally getting settled that they are willing to let things play themselves out. If they got involved it would probably get more complicated and take even longer to get sorted out.

[Harold]

Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Still watching Phillies; my guys decided on Panda Express take out. Nola looks strong. And have always liked Brandon Marsh since he was an Angel. Not sure if he has a nickname but Mike & I call him..."
I don't know of any nick name, but he made a great catch last night in LF. He only washes his hair once a month. Here are a couple of pictures of him pre-caveman. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/n...

[C. John]

Panda Express?
Below is a link for the latest Pub Quiz from the mirror. In case you are wondering what the heck a British police box is doing in space it is actually a TARDIS with a wonky chameleon circuit so it is locked in that shape.

[Ashley Marie]

Massive blow for Cleveland: Shane Bieber out for the season for Tommy John surgery.

[Harold]

Ashley Marie wrote: "Massive blow for Cleveland: Shane Bieber out for the season for Tommy John surgery."
Oh no, and he was pitching so well. He may not be ready until 2026.

[Lance]

Ashley Marie wrote: "Massive blow for Cleveland: Shane Bieber out for the season for Tommy John surgery."

Just turned on the game and found this out. What a shame - never like to see that

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

C. John wrote: "Panda Express?
Below is a link for the latest Pub Quiz from the mirror. In case you are wondering what the heck a British police box is doing in space it is actually a TARDIS with a wonky chameleon..."

Panda Express is fast food Chinese; in my opinion too salty!

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Harold wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Still watching Phillies; my guys decided on Panda Express take out. Nola looks strong. And have always liked Brandon Marsh since he was an Angel. Not sure if he has a nick..."

Harold; Great article. Thanks!

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Ashley Marie wrote: "Massive blow for Cleveland: Shane Bieber out for the season for Tommy John surgery."

Oh wow! What terrible news!

[C. John]

Ashley Marie wrote: "Massive blow for Cleveland: Shane Bieber out for the season for Tommy John surgery."

I saw that this morning while lying bed trying to wake up. Meant to post it but forgot by the time I had had breakfast. And of course that is Bieber the baseball player, not Bieber the singer. I am afraid those two are going to be forever linked in my mind.

[C. John]

I forgot the quiz link in my post above. Here itt is.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/play/quizzes...

[Harold]

Spencer Strider needs an MRI for his elbow. X-rays showed damage

[Harold]

Amend my comment. The MRI showed damage. More tests will be done.

[C. John]

New York Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga is out for the rest of the year apparently.
https://nypost.com/2024/04/06/sports/...

[Brina]

I get back online last night to see all these pitchers out with season ending injuries. Mendel and I both believe that the pitch clock has something to do with it. Yes, the games got short enough to appeal to the casual fan but at what expense? Between that and teams with a bye being bounced early from the playoffs, MLB has a big mess on their plates and Manfred only has a few years to fix things.

[Ashley Marie]

Harold wrote: "Amend my comment. The MRI showed damage. More tests will be done."

Ouch, this isn't any good either

[Harold]

C. John wrote: "New York Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga is out for the rest of the year apparently.
https://nypost.com/2024/04/06/sports/......"
It seems like this year there are even more injuries than last year-certainly this early.

[Harold]

Brina wrote: "I get back online last night to see all these pitchers out with season ending injuries. Mendel and I both believe that the pitch clock has something to do with it. Yes, the games got short enough t..."

I think that is true. Pitchers have less time to recover from maximum exertion on each pitch. Maximum exertion with less recovery time= injuries.

[Brina]

The committee voted over the off season to decrease the pitch clock times. The four players on the committee voted against it.

[Harold]

Brina wrote: "The committee voted over the off season to decrease the pitch clock times. The four players on the committee voted against it."

MLB issued a statement rebutting the claims by players that the pitch clock is the major culprit. Dr. James Andrews apparently agrees with MLB that increased velocity and spin rates are the real culprits, especially when high school kids try to impress. https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-response...

[Brina]

Also kids specialize in sports young. Of course mlb is going to rebut the players; however they are the ones who have to pitch with the clock. It is probably a combination of both.

[Lance]

Harold wrote: "Brina wrote: "The committee voted over the off season to decrease the pitch clock times. The four players on the committee voted against it."

MLB issued a statement rebutting the claims by players..."

That’s what I have been saying all along - when even breaking balls are now often in the mid-90’s it’s going to put even more stress on the arm. Sorry, it’s NOT the pitch clock. There’s no pitch clock in high school baseball so what’t the reason they have so many pitching injuries?

[Ashley Marie]

Harold wrote: "Brina wrote: "The committee voted over the off season to decrease the pitch clock times. The four players on the committee voted against it."

MLB issued a statement rebutting the claims by players..."

I've also seen arguments in favor of bringing back sticky stuff - I know in Bieber's case he stopped using it when it was banned a few years ago and has now dealt with multiple injuries in the time since.

[Lance]

Well, Ashley, you win the series - postponed today’s game to Aug 9.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Watching free game bottom 4th Cubs 5 Dodgers 0. Raining; hope can get enough innings for game to count!

[Brina]

It’s a mess I think goal is to get through top 5.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Brina wrote: "It’s a mess I think goal is to get through top 5

Rain delay. tarp out.
Cubs will have lovely weather tomorrow in San Diego :)

[Brina]

It’s rained the entire home stand. I’m not looking forward to those 10 pm start times but at least there shouldn’t be any weather related issues.

[C. John]

Another reason Votto didn't make the roster. He has a right ankel injury, which has kept him at Dundedin. It is expected he will be promoted to Buffalo fairly soon.

[Lance]

I saw that previously- he’s supposed be in an extended spring training before he goes to Buffalo. I think he will be a call up should one be needed due to injury

[Lance]

Brina wrote: "It’s rained the entire home stand. I’m not looking forward to those 10 pm start times but at least there shouldn’t be any weather related issues."

When I watched the last two innings of Friday’s game while stuck in Stadium traffic, the weather looked fine.

[C. John]

Lance wrote: "I saw that previously- he’s supposed be in an extended spring training before he goes to Buffalo. I think he will be a call up should one be needed due to injury"

He may also get the call if Vogelbach doesn't perform that well. It would be nice to see him get a few games in with the Jays.

[Harold]

Ronel Blanco of the Astros has gone five innings of no hit ball, after throwing a no hitter his last start. Yikes

[C. John]

Jerry Grotesque has passed away.

[Brina]

I have to say it: my favorite phrase during season is “a day without day baseball is a day without sunshine”. Today there is no baseball and there is no sunshine. Who would have thought this would ever happen.