MLB 2024: Baseball is for Everyone (subject to local blackout restrictions)

[Timby]

Seems like everyone is getting Tommy John these days. Are arms getting more overtaxed now or pitchers/doctors/managers/owners/whoever jumping to it faster for other reasons?

I feel like this gets asked every year, and there's no real clear answer.

Some pundits are saying the pitch clock is the reason, and while I hate the clock and still insist it was a solution in search of a problem because the umpires refused to enforce the rule that says batters have to keep one foot in the box at all times, I don't see any real correlation and in any event there's not enough data to form a significant sample that suggests the clock means pitchers are throwing harder because of the clock.

My working hypothesis is that there has been a significant uptick over the past decade or so in both disguising deliveries and a focus on spin rate, and since pitching is itself already an unnatural motion for the arm, working on spinning the ball that much more increases stress upon the ligaments that much more.

 

[Aragorn]

Two more pitchers go down.

Yankees reliever Jonathan Loaisiga has a torn UCL. Season-ending surgery won't be Tommy John, but still needs a 10-12 month recovery time.

And burying the lead, Braves ace Spencer Strider has UCL damage. Will be evaluated further. Could need Tommy John, which would be his second.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I hate to say it but I'm not at all surprised that Strider tore his UCL considering how he's been pitching. Really sucks for the Braves...and both of my fantasy teams.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Stephen Strasburg officially retires at 35. Talk about being snakebitten and/or pushing an arm far past it's limits.

He was god level when healthy, but wasn't healthy nearly enough.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Mets have a great TV team but they are spending WAY too much damn time discussing the vending machine food Steve Gelbs is eating.

I mean, you're in fucking Cincinnati! You should be eating SKYLINE CHILI ! Best ballpark food ever! Not this crap!

 

[Timby]

Stephen Strasburg officially retires at 35. Talk about being snakebitten and/or pushing an arm far past it's limits.

He was god level when healthy, but wasn't healthy nearly enough.

He's been unofficially retired for ages, he's just been in a dispute with the Nationals because ownership was trying to stiff him on the money he's owed. Sounds like they finally agreed to fork it out in exchange for him agreeing to some limited deferred payments.

You should be eating SKYLINE CHILI !

No, thank you. One, cinnamon has no place in chili; to borrow a parlance from my fiancee, what the damn hell. Two, I've had Skyline chili precisely once, and my GI tract wasn't right for three days. Sweet mercy.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

July 9, 2014. My first game at GABP.

Approaches counter, buys a hot dog, returns to seat to consume it.

1.5 minutes later, returns to counter:

"I'd like three more, please."

Edit:

to borrow a parlance from my fiancee, what the damn hell.

Firstly, congratulations. Secondly, I have the exact same attitude towards Dodger Dogs.

It was all burned up and shriveled! Tasted like it'd been cooked with a blowtorch! No thankee.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I only hope genuine ballpark Skyline chili is better than the canned stuff. That was more like a disgusting version of Sloppy Joe (and I like Sloppy Joes).

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I only hope genuine ballpark Skyline chili is better than the canned stuff.

We used to sell it at my store. It tasted pretty much the same to me.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

We used to sell it at my store. It tasted pretty much the same to me.

Oh well, not much chance I ever get to the Great American Ballpark anyway. I'll stick with Hormel with some extra chili powder for at home chili dogs.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Gary Cohen: Steve, what's for dessert?

Steve Gelbs: (meekly holds up large tank of Tums)

 

[BillJ]

I love Cincinnati chili, but I grew up here.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just wish it was still for sale here. (Even though it was only in canned form.) If it was, I might still have an oven.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I just wish it was still for sale here. (Even though it was only in canned form.) If it was, I might still have an oven.

I wonder if it's actually the same stuff they have at Wal-Mart for $4 a can?

 

[Aragorn]

Red Sox will be honoring the 2004 World Series team and Tim Wakefield today. Curt Schilling is choosing not to attend, says he regrets blabbing about Wakefield's cancer. Derek Lowe is glad Schilling isn't attending.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Correction: Everyone is glad he isn't attending.

 

[BillJ]

Red Sox will be honoring the 2004 World Series team and Tim Wakefield today. Curt Schilling is choosing not to attend, says he regrets blabbing about Wakefield's cancer. Derek Lowe is glad Schilling isn't attending.

It is a shame that Schilling went down that path, he was a warrior in that series.

 

[cardinal biggles]

It is a shame that Schilling went down that path, he was a warrior in that series.

Maybe, but he's also been a major league asshole, even back during his playing days.

 

[Timby]

Red Sox will be honoring the 2004 World Series team and Tim Wakefield today. Curt Schilling is choosing not to attend, says he regrets blabbing about Wakefield's cancer. Derek Lowe is glad Schilling isn't attending.

I'll believe Curt Schilling is capable of actual regret right around the same time that the Pirates win three consecutive World Series.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I love Cincinnati chili, but I grew up here.

Have you also had Goldstar? Is there an appreciable difference?