The baseball thread

[Rewind]

Some of these changes may eventually be instituted in the Major Leagues:

Minor League Baseball expands pace-of-play rules
The Associated Press, Mar 14 2018

Extra innings throughout the minor leagues will start with a runner at second base, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues president Pat O'Conner announced Wednesday. The runner will be the batter in the order before that inning’s leadoff hitter. In addition, the pitch clock that began at Class AAA and Class AA in 2015 will be lowered from 20 seconds to 15 when there are no runners on base, The timer will remain at 20 seconds with runners on.

New limits on mound visits without pitching changes also will be added. The maximum will be six by managers, coaches or players at Class AAA, eight at Class AA and 10 at full-season Class A. There will not be any limits at short-season Class A or rookie leagues. An additional visit will be added for each extra inning.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/s...e-of-play.html

[Penguin]

The Angels got Shohei Ohtani from Japan and he is a good fastball pitcher. He was also a good hitter when he played in Japan but he is not doing very well with the Angels. He has played in nine games and has just two hits. He also struck out seven times. I think the Angels will probably use him mostly as a pitcher. He was supposed to pitch against the Rockies today but he was not in the game.

[Penguin]

The Angels played the Rockies again yesterday and Ohtani started the game but he gave up seven runs in two innings. The Angels paid a lot of money to get him but I think when the regular season starts he will be in the minor leagues.

[Rewind]

I thought the Chief Wahoo logo would always be popular. Boy, is my face red!

Baseball Hall of Fame will no longer use Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo logo on Hall of Fame plaques

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/03/21/...-fame-plaques/

[Penguin]

Wikipedia has a page about Chief Wahoo. He has been around since 1932 and he used to be yellow, not red. People think Chief Wahoo is offensive to Native Americans but isn't the name Indians just as bad? I wonder if someday the team will change their name. The Redskins too.

[Rewind]

President Trump just signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill passed by Congress earlier today. The bill averts another government shutdown. Buried on page 1,967 is a provision mandating that minor leaguers be paid "a weekly salary equal to the minimum wage." The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, so minor leaguers would earn only $1,160 per month. Is this how we "Make Baseball Great Again"?

Minor leaguers could be paid minimum wage — and no more

http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la...323-story.html

[Penguin]

The Dodgers always start the regular season against the Giants. Madison Bumgarner was supposed to pitch for the Giants on opening day but he was hit by a line drive today and now he has a broken bone in his hand and he will probably be out for at least six weeks. I have not heard who the Dodgers pitcher will be on opening day but I think it will probably be Clayton Kershaw. Go Dodgers!

[Rewind]

Those of us who grew up listening to Vin Scully call Dodgers games are glad to have him back -- even if it's only for a tv commercial.

Vin Scully comes out of retirement for 60 seconds
Los Angeles Times, Mar 28 2018 6:10 AM

The commercial opens with an old man talking on a land line, the cord extending from the telephone on the desk to the man in the chair. The desk and chair are ordinary but the voice is extraordinary. "I think it's a great idea, Commissioner," Vin Scully says to start the commercial. "I mean, it used to be opening day, not opening days." For one minute — technically, one 60-second ad — the best baseball broadcaster in history came out of retirement. Scully, Johnny Bench, David Ortiz and Noah Syndergaard star in an ad celebrating the first time in 50 years that every major league team is opening the season on the same day. That day is today and the Kingsford Charcoal ad pitches fans on taking the day off to celebrate and barbecue.

Scully said he vividly remembers the first opener of his career: 1950, at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. He was 22 and he was nervous. Scully, now 90, plans to watch the Dodgers' 2018 opener at home with his wife Sandi. Scully retired in 2016 after 67 years as the voice of the Dodgers.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la...327-story.html

[Rewind]

Here is the updated schedule for MLB Network Radio, XM Channel 89 and Sirius Channel 209. All times are Eastern.

Weekdays

7–10 am: The Leadoff Spot with Steve Phillips, CJ Nitkowski & Eduardo Perez
10 am-1 pm: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin
1-2 pm: High Heat with Christopher 'Mad Dog' Russo
2-5 pm: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern, Brad Lidge & Cliff Floyd
5–6 pm: Happy Hour with Casey Stern
6–7 pm: MLB Tonight
11 pm–2 am: MLB Roundtrip with Jeff Joyce, Jim Memolo, Steve Sax, Mike Stanton & Jim Bowden

Saturdays

8–10 am: Remember When with Ed Randall & Rico Petrocelli
10 am–1 pm: Loud Outs with Ryan Spilborghs & CJ Nitkowski
4–7 pm: Home Plate with Jeff Joyce & Jim Memolo
11 pm–2 am: MLB Roundtrip with Sam Ryan & Kevin Kennedy

Sundays

8-10 am: Minors & Majors with Grant Paulson
10 am-1 pm: Front Office with Jim Duquette & Jim Bowden
4-7 pm: Home Plate with Steve Sax & Jim Memolo
7-8 pm: Behind The Numbers: Baseball SABR Style with Vince Gennaro, President of SABR
11 pm-1 am: MLB Roundtrip with Perfect Game with Daron Sutton

[Rewind]

Vin Scully broadcast Dodgers games for 67 years. That feat pales in comparison to this one -- and Scully didn't have to keep walking up and down concrete steps!

Pirates usher Phil Coyne, 99, retires after working home games since 1936
The Associated Press, Apr 6 2018 5:21 Pm

The oldest usher in the major leagues is calling it a career after 81 years on the job. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that 99-year-old Phil Coyne, who has been working home games for the organization since 1936, will not return this season. Coyne worked thousands of games for the Pirates through the decades, following along as the franchise moved from Forbes Field to Three Rivers Stadium to PNC Park. His only sabbatical came when he served in the Armed Forces in World War II. In 2017, the team gave him a number 99 jersey with his name on the back and the Pittsburgh City Council designated August 29 as "Phil Coyne Day." The Pirates plan to throw a party for Coyne and his family and friends on April 27 to celebrate his 100th birthday.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2...res-81-seasons