2025 MLB Thread

[Déjà Bru]

After the Yankees hit nine home runs in today's game, the news started spreading about how some of them were using "torpedo-shaped" bats. The backlash is probably going to be spreading like wildfire. We are talking about it in the Yankees thread only because LansdowneSt decided to post the story there.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

After the Yankees hit nine home runs in today's game, the news started spreading about how some of them were using "torpedo-shaped" bats. The backlash is probably going to be spreading like wildfire. We are talking about it in the Yankees thread only because LansdowneSt decided to post the story there.

All the league has to do is come out and say they are legal. That has been the murky part of all of this. I haven’t found any definitive article that said they are league approved. I expect the league to put something out rather quickly though. According to every article I have read the bats still fall within the specs of the rule. I think of it almost like how a pro golfer has specially designed clubs to fit their style of swing and contact. I don’t know if I’m being too extreme here but I can envision a scenario where this takes the league by storm. Teams will rush to analyze barrel data and have these bats made for their guys as quick as possible. Bat companies may get real busy really soon.

[ForeverRoyalKC]

All I know is that if the World Series is the Yankees and Dodgers again, I'm going to feel like an idiot for having any interest in the MLB season considering the World Series was already set five games into the &$%#@*& season!

[low]

What an absolutely horrible start to the year. lol.

Pitching, pitching, pitching...

[Déjà Bru]

According to this article, "a league spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic over the weekend that the new bats don’t stray outside of the rules." So now, there is going to be a rush of players to adopt the new style.

Which is likely to lead to the same situation as when MLB changed the characteristics of the ball: a spike in home runs to the point of embarrassment. Then a mandate will come down, adding the shape of the bat to weight and length limits.

MLB always seems to be in a reactive mode when it would be better to be proactive.

[Déjà Bru]

That's an interesting article in The Athletic for a number of other reasons:

- The guy who invented the torpedo bat is an MIT physicist who works in baseball(?)

- The bats have been around for a while, "lingering in the background for a few years." It is only just now that the news has gone viral.

- Other clubs already have them: Cubs, Twins, Jays, Rays.

- It may be more of a mental thing with some players. “I feel like it gives you the feeling like you have more to work with,” [Jazz Chisolm] said. “You probably don’t have more to work with, but it feels like it. It gives you that extra confidence in your head to go out there and hit anything.”

[Westheim]

I swear, every year I somehow manage to walk into the Brewers home opener where in the third inning principal owner Mark Attanasio assures everybody that it will get better soon, and at least one Brewers game later in the season with the stands full of students on a "field trip" and Bill Schroeder lamenting that his field trips never went further than the bread factory.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

According to this article, "a league spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic over the weekend that the new bats don’t stray outside of the rules." So now, there is going to be a rush of players to adopt the new style.

Which is likely to lead to the same situation as when MLB changed the characteristics of the ball: a spike in home runs to the point of embarrassment. Then a mandate will come down, adding the shape of the bat to weight and length limits.

MLB always seems to be in a reactive mode when it would be better to be proactive.

As long as it is w/in the rules I don't know why there is a problem. Why are things supposed to stay stagnant? Guys are always, & are obligated to look for an edge.

[low]

Originally Posted by Westheim

I swear, every year I somehow manage to walk into the Brewers home opener where in the third inning principal owner Mark Attanasio assures everybody that it will get better soon, and at least one Brewers game later in the season with the stands full of students on a "field trip" and Bill Schroeder lamenting that his field trips never went further than the bread factory.

Very much related. This is my favorite Attanasio photo that circulates the social medias.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by low

Very much related. This is my favorite Attanasio photo that circulates the social medias.

C'mon, let the man live. His net worth is barely one Juan Soto.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

According to this article, "a league spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic over the weekend that the new bats don’t stray outside of the rules." So now, there is going to be a rush of players to adopt the new style.

Which is likely to lead to the same situation as when MLB changed the characteristics of the ball: a spike in home runs to the point of embarrassment. Then a mandate will come down, adding the shape of the bat to weight and length limits.

MLB always seems to be in a reactive mode when it would be better to be proactive.

I mean, it *could* lead to a dip in K rate without a rise in HR rate. We’ll see!

[Cobra Mgr]

Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games

You would think — wouldn't you? — that players would be squeaky clean. I mean, squeaky clean.

I commiserated with LD84 in his thread but I will dump on Profar in this one. This suspension is for nearly half a regular season. It is one game more than half of the remaining Braves games. Plus, I read that "By rule, he is now ineligible to participate in the 2025 postseason, a significant consequence given that the Braves have very realistic playoff aspirations and also figure to contend for the National League East title."

If I am Profar's teammate, after the start that the team has had and considering they are still waiting for Acuña Jr. to return, I am doing this to Profar:

That includes Acuña Jr. himself who will now be under even more pressure to hurry his return to play. If he comes back too soon . . .

[Déjà Bru]

In other news, there is this:

Dodgers' Freddie Freeman aggravates surgically repaired ankle in shower 'mishap,' considered day to day

This reads just like one of those items in the OOTPB hints.txt (actually, one of the XML) file:

Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that the injury was the result of a "mishap" while stepping into the shower and that Freeman is day to day.

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

In other news, there is this:

Dodgers' Freddie Freeman aggravates surgically repaired ankle in shower 'mishap,' considered day to day

Come on, Freddie! I don't care how much trouble you and (Google™s) Chelsea may be having! You paid for the damn house! You don't need to go into the shower to jerk off!

Just stand at the sink and, er, handle your business. That way you have the counter to brace yourself against if you go weak in the knees…

(Yes, my brain really does go there instantly. Sorry, all.)

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

It may be more of a mental thing with some players. “I feel like it gives you the feeling like you have more to work with,” [Jazz Chisolm] said. “You probably don’t have more to work with, but it feels like it. It gives you that extra confidence in your head to go out there and hit anything.”

Speaking of places my mind goes…does that read like a Hims testimonial, or what?

It's not the size of the "bat", Jazz, it's how you s(ch)wing it.

[kq76]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

As long as it is w/in the rules I don't know why there is a problem. Why are things supposed to stay stagnant? Guys are always, & are obligated to look for an edge.

Yeah, I don't see what the big deal is. It's not like the barrels are thicker than they were allowed to be in the past. They just redistributed the mass, but they're still not over the allowed thickness. The Yankees could just be hot right now or it could just be psychological for these few guys and as soon as each of them gets into slump, which they surely will at some point, then they'll likely lose any psychological edge that they might have with them right now.

They look weird (they look like elongated bowling pins to me), but whatever. I wonder if the weight distribution feels at all weird. I would think it would and that would throw me off. Let's keep in mind these bats have been around for a little while. It's only recently that the media has really picked up on them. If they were really that good, the whole league would have been using them by now, but even most of the Yankees have said, no thanks, I like the old better.

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I mean, it *could* lead to a dip in K rate without a rise in HR rate. We’ll see!

Ooo. I like that!

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games

Like the Mets' Francisco Lindor now has more new kids (1) than hits (0-11) this year, the Barves have more half-season suspensions (1) than wins (0-5) on the new season

Yesterday on the KC-Brewers game they mentioned how you can't replace suspended players on the roster, but I assume that's not valid in this case, right? They were talking about a Brewers reliever that was still banhammered for that particular game for throwing fists in a game last year.

[Hrycaj]

I wrote on 3/30 that bat companies may soon be very busy. Last night at 7 pm 3 bat companies began selling torpedo bats to the public. it’s marketing genius. I still play baseball at a level nobody cares about but you can bet that the league will be flooded with these bats come May when the season starts.

[Boomcoach]

Elly de la Cruz screwed up his chance at a cycle last night by hitting a second home run. Another example of why "hitting for the cycle" is more an amusing side note than an actual achievement. It generally means "had a good day, including a triple".