The Major League Baseball thread....

[Warthog]

Five in a row right now for the Tribe.

First time in Indians history they have won the first five after the All-Star break.

[VDub26Falcon]

It's hard to believe that some of those 90's teams didn't pull off that feat.

[VDub26Falcon]

The Indians are 3-1 in the month of August so far...they have a chance to win a 4-game series against the Sawx with Josh Tomlin getting ready to make his third career start. Dice-K gets the start for Boston.

Last night, Colin had a status on his facebook stating that two Red Sox pitching prospects were starting last nights game; one was good, one was bad, and guess which one Shapiro traded for? I thought that was hilarious...and it was...but somehow, Masterson outpitched Lester and the Indians got the "W."

I like what Manny Acta is doing with the lineups and the young kids and I sincerely hope he can keep it up...Hopefully Carlos Santana will be ok too!

[h2oville rocket]

Baseball question: When did just about every pitcher in baseball start wearing those weird neck things that look like the light necklaces you get at Cedar Point only without the lights? IMO, the worst sports fashion trend since, well, since whatever the last sports fashion trend was. Has this been going on for awhile?

[BGDrew]

Not sure why people are throwing Masterson under the bus. He's being forced into the majors when he really needed another year or two in the minors to season a bit.

[Warthog]

...Masterson under the bus. He's being forced into the majors when he really needed another year or two in the minors to season a bit.

Really? He's 25 years old and pitched in the majors since 2008. Started 9 games for the Red Sox in 2008, pitched in 36, had an era of 3.16 in 88 innings. Pitched another 129+ innings in the bigs last year between Boston and Cleveland, 42 games, 16 starts. Sure sounds to me like he should be ready to pitch full time at the major league level.

[VDub26Falcon]

Masterson is an abomination who can't go more than 5 innings in 9/10 appearances. Pull the freaking plug on this abortion.

[BGDrew]

...Masterson under the bus. He's being forced into the majors when he really needed another year or two in the minors to season a bit.

Really? He's 25 years old and pitched in the majors since 2008. Started 9 games for the Red Sox in 2008, pitched in 36, had an era of 3.16 in 88 innings. Pitched another 129+ innings in the bigs last year between Boston and Cleveland, 42 games, 16 starts. Sure sounds to me like he should be ready to pitch full time at the major league level.

He just doesn't have the conditioning to go for quality starts each time out. Getting lit up in 5 innings in the majors is doing nothing for him.

[Warthog]

Then they should move him to the bullpen again.

[BGDrew]

http://deadspin.com/5627396/at+bat-musi ... or-a-prank

[TG1996]

The wife and I were in Denver earlier this week and caught a game at Coors Field. What a beautiful park in a beautiful city!

While we usually find ourselves in somewhat awesome situations when we travel (including an appearance on the JumboTron at a Yakult Swallows game in Tokyo), Sunday's game was ridiculous. We saw a starting pitcher go 2-for-3 with an RBI, three triples in a game (the second time we've seen that in maybe 4 MLB games we've attended together, and I think there was one triple in one of the other games), caught - or rather picked up - a foul ball in the upper deck and saw ManRam get booed through a one-pitch at bat before getting ejected in his last game as a Dodger. Oh yeah, and LA left the bases loaded at least three times, losing a 10-5 game.

[Ydfalcon]

Pretty sure the only thing that really matters in the MLB right now is the Reds' 8-game lead in the NL Central.

Just sayin'.

[musicman2343]

Pretty sure the only thing that really matters in the MLB right now is the Reds' 8-game lead in the NL Central.

Just sayin'.

+1,000! And Chapman's 104 mph fastball!

[98_BG_GRAD]

And the lead is now 6 and Chapman did not have a good outing in Denver yesterday. The season ain't over yet, Reds fans!

[musicman2343]

And the lead is now 6 and Chapman did not have a good outing in Denver yesterday. The season ain't over yet, Reds fans!

Everybody has an off day, especially rookies. It only his 4th game and his first time pitching from the stretch - he'll bounce back and be fine next time.
6 games is still ok - the Reds have 2 teams to play who are at the bottom of their respective divisions (Pirates and Diamondbacks) and 2 who are in the middle (Astros and Brewers). The most difficult games will come against the Padres.
The Cardinals on the other hand have a bunch difficult games coming up - Braves, Rockies, and Padres. Statistically the Cubs shouldn't be a problem but St. Louis has had a hard time with them this year.

You're right - it isn't over yet, but I'm still saying the Reds pretty much have won the NL Central barring some crazy losing streak.