The Baseball Book Club discussion

It’s Opening Day. Every team is 0-0, every team has a chance to win the World Series. Let’s go!

Playing Go Cubs Go on endless loop. I am not working today. I have MLB.tv purchased and ready to go. Mendel is home on break. We are anxiously awaiting first pitch at 2:20. Everyone is indeed 0-0 but I think Cubs are fooling a lot of pundits this year. Let’s get this thing started.

Happy Opening Day!!

Piggybacking off the conversation from yesterday, since I forgot to add my own before the thread closed:
Satchel Paige, Jim Thome, Shohei Ohtani

I love that Ashley.
Here’s mine as a reminder. 3 nice Jewish men to come to my Seder: Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, Moe Berg
2 heroes to invite any other time: Jackie, Roberto, and their spouses.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Opening Day!!

Piggybacking off the conversation from yesterday, since I forgot to add my own before the thread closed:
Satchel Paige, Jim Thome, Shohei Ohtani"
You just want to date Shohei, don't you Marie?

Harold wrote: "You just want to date Shohei, don't you Marie?"

LOL nice try, Harold! Nah I just don't follow other teams nearly as much as I follow Cleveland, and I would love to hear him talk about his approach to the game (various interviews notwithstanding). Plus, he's the best current player so I have a nice mix with him, Satch and Jimmy.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Harold wrote: "You just want to date Shohei, don't you Marie?"

LOL nice try, Harold! Nah I just don't follow other teams nearly as much as I follow Cleveland, and I would love to hear him talk abo..."
I was being facetious. He would be fun, but i'd need an interpreter.

Watching Sox and Orioles open at Fenway. My heart is thumping. Corey Kluber is not looking too sharp. Of course, it is a cold day in Boston. Hoping I can re-engage this season. I miss the sanctuary baseball offers me.

Twins left the bases loaded in the 1st - a problem from last season. Hope THAT isn't carrying over. But the two big guns (Correa and Buxton) are hitting 1.000 right now - nowhere to go but down! :)

That is one way to look at it I suppose. Admittedly they can’t go up.

Well Cubs win 4-0 and Swanson goes 3-4 and all the new acquisitions made contributions in this game. I know it’s just game one but looking good and I am glad I chose not to go to work. Headed to the game on Monday night and I haven’t been this happy about our game in awhile.

Phillies had a 5-0 lead after three innings against deGrom in Texas. They knocked him around. Unfortunately, it is now 11-6 favor Texas.

Same for our newest pitcher, Pablo Lopez. Only 5 1/3 innings (no surprise there for the first start) but he looked good. And another newcomer, Donovan Salerno, drove in the second run. I’ll take it for an opening day win.

Brina wrote: "Well Cubs win 4-0 and Swanson goes 3-4 and all the new acquisitions made contributions in this game. I know it’s just game one but looking good and I am glad I chose not to go to work. Headed to th..."

I’m going to an early season game as well. Twins are in NY April 14-16 and I’m going to the Saturday game

This is a sad story. You may remember Daniel Bard left baseball because he had the yips and anxiety in 2013. He made a triumphant recovery and return in 2020. Last year he was one of the best relievers in the game. When I watched Bard in the World Baseball classic against Venezuela, he reverted to the old bard and blew up the game by wildness. I wondered then whether it would have a lasting effect. The answer is apparently yes. he went on the IL for mental anxiety. https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articl...

Cleveland lost to Seattle 3-0 in the wee hours of the morning. Karinchak with the first pitch clock violation (as we Cleveland fans all knew he would be). Castillo was dialed in and Brash utterly filthy. Back at it tonight.

From Sarah Langs at MLB.com:

Shohei Ohtani's outing was the 26th since at least 1901 with 10+ strikeouts and no runs allowed on Opening Day

It's the first time that pitcher's team lost the game

They need offense. MLB would love the Angels in playoffs but it’s the same old story- Trout and Ohtani have no team around them. It’s little wonder to me that Dodgers were quiet in off-season - they are going after Ohtani and for you know it Trout too.

Brina wrote: "They need offense. MLB would love the Angels in playoffs but it’s the same old story- Trout and Ohtani have no team around them. It’s little wonder to me that Dodgers were quiet in off-season - the..."

Ohtani for sure, but i doubt they could afford both, especially since they would need to trade quite a few players to get Trout.

Brina wrote: "They need offense. MLB would love the Angels in playoffs but it’s the same old story- Trout and Ohtani have no team around them. It’s little wonder to me that Dodgers were quiet in off-season - the..."

Makes me wonder if either of them have requested a trade - it's clear they won't get anywhere with LAA, and it's a shame because they're probably the two best players in the game.

Trout has always said he likes Anaheim. But I'm sure he wants to win, so maybe he would accept a trade to Los Angelis. As much as H e likes the Eagles you would think he would like to play in the same outfield as Bryce Harper

I’ve heard dodgers so he wouldn’t have to leave his house and Phillies if it worked out but didn’t he sign that “lifetime” contract. Who besides Dodgers (and Mets blech) could afford that. It’s a shame that these guys are on lousy teams. For their sake I hope they don’t get a chance to break Mr Cub’s dubious record.

Frankly, if the Angels ever had a decent pitcher or two other than Ohtani, they could at least be WC contenders. Everyone talks like they are so far away from contention - they really aren't, they always have a decent team talent wise but they always seem to make some bad decisions (10 years for Pujols, anyone?) We talk about them like they are the Pirates or the Rays before 2008, but really, I believe they just need a competent FO.

The typical early season overreaction - read in the Star Tribune today that some are ALREADY comparing Lopez to Johan Santana after one start. Geez, can we at least let him get a few more starts before this kind of talk?

I always say the Angels are where free agents go to rot. The front office has made lousy decisions one after another and it’s a shame because they have a decent team. No I doubt they anticipated Rendon getting hurt all the time. They have some guys with promise and others from trade with Phillies. Yet somehow they have no other pitching. I agree- it’s not that hard to make wildcard but not with a rotation of 1 and hold your breath.

Lance wrote: "Frankly, if the Angels ever had a decent pitcher or two other than Ohtani, they could at least be WC contenders. Everyone talks like they are so far away from contention - they really aren't, they ..."

They aren't as good as the Pirates. The Angels became a team in 1961. They have been in the playoffs 10 times with one WS championship. Since 1961, the Pirates have been in the playoffs twelve times with one WS championship. So, they really are a bad franchise IMO. The Rays began in 1995 as a franchise. They have made the playoffs eight times with no WS ring. To me, they are a ,more successful franchise than the Angels too.

My thought wasn't about the franchise histories as a whole - was thinking of the recent times, mainly with Trout and Ohtani. I am not pretending they are title contenders - but they also have more talent than the two examples I used of cellar dwellers.

Indeed, the Rays of the last 10-14 years are a model franchise of how to make the most of less - but before 2008 was awful.

Lance wrote: "My thought wasn't about the franchise histories as a whole - was thinking of the recent times, mainly with Trout and Ohtani. I am not pretending they are title contenders - but they also have more ..."
They signed the wrong guys, and didn't get enough starting pitching all these years that they had Trout and Shohei.

My newsletter from the Religious News Service contained an article that suggests we are looking at what might be possibly be a Golden Age for Jewish Major Leaguers. Thought some might to look at it, and I daresay I might be the only one in this group who gets this articular newsletter.

https://religionnews.com/2023/03/30/t...

Anthony Rendon's frustration boils over in incident with a fan.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/...

Harold wrote: "Anthony Rendon's frustration boils over in incident with a fan.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/......"

I saw this and I don't blame him in the least. Fans need to rein themselves in.

Guardians took game 2 from Seattle, 9-4, and did so with their refreshing brand of small ball and excellent baserunning. It was a tough outing for Hunter Gaddis, filling in for the injured Triston McKenzie, but he battled and the bullpen locked it down.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Guardians took game 2 from Seattle, 9-4, and did so with their refreshing brand of small ball and excellent baserunning. It was a tough outing for Hunter Gaddis, filling in for the injured Triston ..."

I saw parts of the game. Kwan was spectacular. he should get an extension.

I was bad - saw no baseball yesterday. Between the women’s final four and my pro team playing an important game against the Lakers, it was a basketball night. Will have the Twins on today, and it should end just in time for the men’s final four.

So I’m logged in now. Go Hawks. I am so excited for tomorrow. I’ll have to get my errands in early.

That was a crazy game by Clark. And while respect Dawn Staley as both a player and coach, didn’t like her presser afterward.

Oh, and as for the baseball…another 2-0 Twins win. Thursday, Lopez was dominant. Saturday, Gray pitched himself into trouble with walks, but always found a way out of the jam without giving up a run. And the bullpen has been great both days, starting at closer - Duran and J. Lopez each getting a save. Although I fully expect Duran to have that job full time soon.

Um you realize that I didn’t watch. It was on Friday night so for me that’s taboo. I used to go to all the women’s games as an undergrad. I tutored some team members and wanted to watch them. It helped that I was always like the sport anyway. Dilemma today they’re on at same time as cubs and I already missed the cubs yesterday being offline. I’ll probably just watch the second half if it’s anything like the men’s game with gazillion stoppages.

I did - but since you said Go Hawks, I figured you had somehow knew the outcome. I watched the condensed game - like what I do for West coast Twins and Timberwolves games as there’s no way I am up until 12;30-1 AM

This is why unlike many fellow Twins fans, I am not upset at all with Buxton as the DH. Not to mention the CF defense is in good hands with Michael A.Taylor, a player I was very glad to see the Twins pick up.

https://www.mlb.com/news/byron-buxton...

Ten walks and the Jays can't score even run one. Sheesh. Only run scored is on a wild pitch, Ah well, such is life and baseball.

Lance wrote: "This is why unlike many fellow Twins fans, I am not upset at all with Buxton as the DH. Not to mention the CF defense is in good hands with Michael A.Taylor, a player I was very glad to see the Twi..."

This seems like a wise choice, considering the injuries Buxton has dealt with the past few years.

Cleveland is at least splitting the series with Seattle after last night, but I'd love to see them take this afternoon game today :)

Ashley Marie wrote: "Cleveland is at least splitting the series with Seattle after last night, but I'd love to see them take this afternoon game today :)"

I'm watching the game. Love Kwan and giminez. It's a good game.

Yes, it’s the Royals but very happy to come away with a sweep to start the season. Now on to Miami - hopefully Arraez won’t feel the need to get hits against his former team.

Going tomorrow. Excited to see cubs new dp combo. They’re the only two who have started out hot so hopefully the pitching holds up. They are playing the Reds after all.

John Sterling has got to retire! On my short drive to my bowling league last night, I caught his post game wrap up. Yankees won the game 6-0. In his recap, “For the Giants 1 run on 3 hits…” No, NO runs. And for the pitching: “…the loser was Ross Stripling, his record is now One oh and one.” 1-0-1? When were ties allowed? Is this really for a hockey goalie? Please, John, do us a favor and retire already.

With any of these old timers sadly they passed on while still employed. My husband the Yankees fan doesn’t know any better and enjoys his home run calls. Next time cubs have an off day I’ll listen more closely to give my critique.

Harold wrote: "I'm watching the game. Love Kwan and giminez. It's a good game."

I'm still adjusting to the automatic-runner-on-2nd in extra-innings rule, and it makes me nervous every time. But happily it worked for Cleveland yesterday! Three of four vs this excellent Seattle lineup is a great way to kick off the season.

And rookie pitcher Tim Herrin goes into the record books: https://www.mlb.com/news/tim-herrin-s...

yes Herron struck out 4 in 1.1/3rd innings.