MLB - 2009 Regular Season Thread!!

[Asmodean]

Anybody watch San Diego at Mets yesterday?

Help out a baseball n00b here

In the top of the 6th, Eckstein was at bat for SD. It was 3 and 2, with a runner at 3rd. Suddenly the umpire called the runner in, and he walked in to score SD's 6th run of the evening. Why was he allowed to do that? The commentary on ESPN was very insider like at that moment, so I didn't quite get what happened.

Anybody help me out?

Asmodean

[SlowwHand]

Clearly the umpire was on the take. Graft. Payola.

[-Jrabbit]

As I understand it, the pitcher balked. This (a balk) is a procedural flaw by the pitcher, and the runner is automatically advanced one base as penalty.

I didn't see the replay, so can't comment on whether a balk did, in fact, occur.

[SlowwHand]

OR, it could be as Jrabbit says.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The reliever (Feliciano?) was in his pitching motion (he got into the set position) when he flinched up. Small, but noticable... such a shame .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balk

[Arrian]

Matsuzaka to the DL with "arm fatigue."

Nady apparently blew out his elbow last night. MRI shows a tear. They're being officially cagey about it, but nobody really doubts that Nady's done for the year. Damn. Man, I love that Swisher trade even more than I already did.

[EPW]

thank god a took Nady out of my line up this week.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Dice-K was sucking pretty hard, it had to be an injury.

Wonder how much BoSox fans are blaming the WBC?

[SlowwHand]

Kinsler's cycle has interest from Baseball Hall of Fame


10:02 AM CDT on Friday, April 17, 2009

From staff reports


Ian Kinsler's record-setting night has caught the attention of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Hall asked the Rangers on Thursday for one of Kinsler's game-used items from his 6-for-6 performance Wednesday, when he became the fourth Rangers player to hit for the cycle.

The Rangers and the HOF will determine the appropriate item in the next few days, and it will be put on display in an exhibit called "Today's Game" in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Other notable facts about Kinsler's night:

•According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Ian Kinsler became the first player in modern baseball history to go 6-for-6 and hit for the cycle in a nine-inning game. The last player to do so was Bill Weaver in 1890 for Louisville of the American Association, which at the time was considered a major league.

•The last cycle at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington had been Sept. 1, 2008, by Seattle's Adrian Beltre.

•Kinsler's six hits tied an American League record for a nine-inning game. The major league record is seven by Rennie Stennett in 1975.

•Kinsler's four extra-base hits tied a team record.

[Arrian]

Dice-K was sucking pretty hard, it had to be an injury.

Wonder how much BoSox fans are blaming the WBC?

The ones I know are definitely blaming the WBC.

-Arrian

[Stuie]

So we're ten games in and the Phillies are 4-6. Same start five out of the last six seasons.

Glad their consistent.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Sheffield's 500th

And helped win the games for the Mets .

And last night, Minnesota's Jason Kubel caps off hitting for the cycle (what, is everyone doing it now?) with a grand slam!

[OzzyKP]

Sheff

Too bad he didn't hit it in Detroit (last season though).

[Imran Siddiqui]

Cleveland 20
NY Yankees 4

This is just fun

[-Jrabbit]

A 14-run second inning -- biggest ever against the Bronx boys.

Mr. Wang, your flight is now boarding...