sports 2022 MLB Season ⚾

[JGibson]

  

This is the thread for the happenings of the 2022 MLB season, from the Cooperstown Ballot on to the World Series. The Atlanta Braves are your World Series Champions.  David Ortiz was the only one to get inducted into the Cooperstown via the BBWAA ballot.

 

The 2021 season went back to the normal 162-game season, and teams played at reduced capacity to start the season and gradually increased it to full capacity over the course of the season. The Toronto Blue Jays were permitted to play at their home park in Toronto after a season and a half of playing their home games in the USA due to the US/Canada Border closed to nonessential travel. 

 

This past season saw the return of the All-Star Game and its associated events. The initial location was going to be held at Atlanta's park, but due to the furor of Georgia's voter-suppression bill SB202, the game and the associated festivities got moved to Denver.

 

The 2021 season was the final season of pitchers hitting in NL games as a default rule. 

 

The MLB entered 2022 under a lockout. How long will it last before it gets resolved is the question? It was resolved in March, delaying the season a week. 

 

 

 

Key questions:
- Will there be a 162-game schedule like normal? Or will it be shortened or even played at all?
- Will there be a Spring Training?

- Will the lockout be resolved in time for Spring Training or even the start of the regular season? 

- If a CBA can be reached, will we see playoff expansion and/or universal DH?

 

 

 

USEFUL WEBSITES
Official Website of Major League Baseball [English]

Official Website of Major League Baseball [Spanish]
MLB Trade Rumors
FanGraphs (analysis + historical data)
Baseball-Reference (historical data)
Cot's Baseball Contracts (contract data)
Baseball Prospectus (analysis)
ESPN
Beyond The Box Score (analysis)

Roster Resource, via FanGraphs (transactions)

Depth Charts, via MLB

 

 

2021 Standings

American League   AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road (1) Tampa Bay Rays 100 62 0.617 — 52–29 48–33 (4) Boston Red Sox 92 70 0.568 8 49–32 43–38 (5) New York Yankees 92 70 0.568 8 46–35 46–35 Toronto Blue Jays 91 71 0.562 9 47–33 44–38 Baltimore Orioles 52 110 0.321 48 27–54 25–56   AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road (3) Chicago White Sox 93 69 0.574 — 53–28 40–41 Cleveland Indians 80 82 0.494 13 40–41 40–41 Detroit Tigers 77 85 0.475 16 42–39 35–46 Kansas City Royals 74 88 0.457 19 39–42 35–46 Minnesota Twins 73 89 0.451 20 38–43 35–46   AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road (2) Houston Astros 95 67 0.586 — 51–30 44–37 Seattle Mariners 90 72 0.556 5 46–35 44–37 Oakland Athletics 86 76 0.531 9 43–38 43–38 Los Angeles Angels 77 85 0.475 18 40–42 37–43 Texas Rangers 60 102 0.370 35 36–45 24–57

National League   NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road (3) Atlanta Braves 88 73 0.547 — 42–38 46–35 Philadelphia Phillies 82 80 0.506 6½ 47–34 35–46 New York Mets 77 85 0.475 11½ 47–34 30–51 Miami Marlins 67 95 0.414 21½ 42–39 25–56 Washington Nationals 65 97 0.401 23½ 35–46 30–51   NL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road (2) Milwaukee Brewers 95 67 0.586 — 45–36 50–31 (5) St. Louis Cardinals 90 72 0.556 5 45–36 45–36 Cincinnati Reds 83 79 0.512 12 44–37 39–42 Chicago Cubs 71 91 0.438 24 39–42 32–49 Pittsburgh Pirates 61 101 0.377 34 37–44 24–57   NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road (1) San Francisco Giants 107 55 0.660 — 54–27 53–28 (4) Los Angeles Dodgers 106 56 0.654 1 58–23 48–33 San Diego Padres 79 83 0.488 28 45–36 34–47 Colorado Rockies 74 87 0.460 32½ 48–33 26–54 Arizona Diamondbacks 52 110 0.321 55 32–49 20–61

 

 

 

2021 Postseason

Bracket

	Wild Card Games (ALWC, NLWC)					Division Series (ALDS, NLDS)					League Championship Series (ALCS, NLCS)					World Series
						1	Tampa Bay	1
	4	Boston	1			4	Boston	3
											4	Boston	2
	5	NY Yankees	0			American League
											2	Houston	4
						2	Houston	3
						3	Chicago White Sox	1
																AL2	Houston	2
																NL3	Atlanta	4
						1	San Francisco	2
	4	LA Dodgers	1			4	LA Dodgers	3
											4	LA Dodgers	2
	5	St. Louis	0			National League
											3	Atlanta	4
						2	Milwaukee	1
						3	Atlanta	3

 

 

2021 All-Star Game:
Team                            1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9     R    H    E
American League    0    1    1    0    2    1    0    0    0        5    9    1
National League        0    0    0    0    1    1    0    0    0    2    8    1
 

 

2021 MLB Draft (1st Round):

First round

Pick	Player	Team	Position	School
1	Henry Davis	Pittsburgh Pirates	Catcher	Louisville
2	Jack Leiter	Texas Rangers	Pitcher	Vanderbilt
3	Jackson Jobe	Detroit Tigers	Pitcher	Heritage Hall School (OK)
4	Marcelo Mayer	Boston Red Sox	Shortstop	Eastlake High School (CA)
5	Colton Cowser	Baltimore Orioles	Outfielder	Sam Houston State
6	Jordan Lawlar	Arizona Diamondbacks	Shortstop	Jesuit Dallas (TX)
7	Frank Mozzicato	Kansas City Royals	Pitcher	East Catholic High School (CT)
8	Benny Montgomery	Colorado Rockies	Outfielder	Red Land High School (PA)
9	Sam Bachman	Los Angeles Angels	Pitcher	Miami (OH)
10	Kumar Rocker*	New York Mets	Pitcher	Vanderbilt
11	Brady House	Washington Nationals	Shortstop	Winder-Barrow High School (GA)
12	Harry Ford	Seattle Mariners	Catcher	North Cobb High School (GA)
13	Andrew Painter	Philadelphia Phillies	Pitcher	Calvary Christian Academy (FL)
14	Will Bednar	San Francisco Giants	Pitcher	Mississippi State
15	Sal Frelick	Milwaukee Brewers	Outfielder	Boston College
16	Kahlil Watson	Miami Marlins	Shortstop	Wake Forest High School (NC)
17	Matt McLain	Cincinnati Reds	Shortstop	UCLA
18	Michael McGreevy	St. Louis Cardinals	Pitcher	UC Santa Barbara
19	Gunnar Hoglund	Toronto Blue Jays	Pitcher	Ole Miss
20	Trey Sweeney	New York Yankees	Shortstop	Eastern Illinois
21	Jordan Wicks	Chicago Cubs	Pitcher	Kansas State
22	Colson Montgomery	Chicago White Sox	Shortstop	Southridge High School (IN)
23	Gavin Williams	Cleveland Indians	Pitcher	East Carolina
24	Ryan Cusick	Atlanta Braves	Pitcher	Wake Forest
25	Max Muncy	Oakland Athletics	Shortstop	Thousand Oaks High School (CA)
26	Chase Petty	Minnesota Twins	Pitcher	Mainland Regional High School (NJ)
27	Jackson Merrill	San Diego Padres	Shortstop	Severna Park High School (MD)
28	Carson Williams	Tampa Bay Rays	Shortstop	Torrey Pines High School (CA)
29	Maddux Bruns	Los Angeles Dodgers	Pitcher	UMS-Wright Preparatory School (AL)

Compensatory round

Pick	Player	Team	Position	School
30	Jay Allen	Cincinnati Reds[Compensation 1]	Outfielder	John Carroll Catholic High School (FL)

Competitive Balance Round A

Pick	Player	Team	Position	School
31	Joe Mack	Miami Marlins	Catcher	Williamsville East High School (NY)
32	Ty Madden	Detroit Tigers	Pitcher	Texas
33	Tyler Black	Milwaukee Brewers	Second baseman	Wright State
34	Cooper Kinney	Tampa Bay Rays	Second baseman	Baylor School (TN)
35	Matheu Nelson	Cincinnati Reds	Catcher	Florida State
36	Noah Miller	Minnesota Twins	Shortstop	Ozaukee High School (WI)

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Thread:

 

 

 

[Lee!!]

[JGibson]

In last night’s San Francisco Giants game against the San Diego Padres, Alyssa Nakken became the first woman in MLB history to appear as an on-field coach, taking the first base coach position due to the ejection of usual first base coach Antoan Robinson.

[JGibson]

Miguel Cabrera is the latest addition to the 3,000 career hits club. 

[JGibson]

MLB rosters cut down from 28 to 26, and the maximum pitchers limit is now at 14.

[JGibson]

Angels LHP Reid Detmers threw a no-hitter against the Rays in a 12-0 win for his team.

Astros RHP Justin Verlander took his no-no bid into the 8th against the Twins in a 5-0 win for his team.

[JGibson]

Cardinals FINALLY called up 2B Nolan Gorman, meaning that Tommy Edman moves to SS. Gorman could DH occasionally as well.

[JGibson]

MLB Standings (as of 05.30.2022)

 

American League   AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Yankees 33 15 0.688 — 17–7 16–8 Tampa Bay Rays 28 20 0.583 5 17–11 11–9 Toronto Blue Jays 27 20 0.574 5½ 14–8 13–12 Boston Red Sox 23 26 0.469 10½ 12–13 11–13 Baltimore Orioles 21 29 0.420 13 12–11 9–18   AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road Minnesota Twins 29 20 0.592 — 17–11 12–9 Chicago White Sox 23 23 0.500 4½ 11–13 12–10 Cleveland Guardians 20 24 0.455 6½ 9–8 11–16 Detroit Tigers 18 29 0.383 10 12–14 6–15 Kansas City Royals 16 31 0.340 12 8–15 8–16   AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road Houston Astros 31 18 0.633 — 14–6 17–12 Los Angeles Angels 27 22 0.551 4 15–13 12–9 Texas Rangers 23 24 0.489 7 11–12 12–12 Seattle Mariners 20 28 0.417 10½ 12–10 8–18 Oakland Athletics 20 31 0.392 12 7–18 13–13

National League   NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Mets 33 17 0.660 — 17–8 16–9 Atlanta Braves 23 26 0.469 9½ 14–14 9–12 Philadelphia Phillies 21 28 0.429 11½ 11–14 10–14 Miami Marlins 19 27 0.413 12 10–12 9–15 Washington Nationals 18 32 0.360 15 9–18 9–14   NL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road Milwaukee Brewers 32 18 0.640 — 14–6 18–12 St. Louis Cardinals 27 21 0.562 4 14–11 13–10 Pittsburgh Pirates 20 27 0.426 10½ 11–14 9–13 Chicago Cubs 19 29 0.396 12 7–17 12–12 Cincinnati Reds 16 31 0.340 14½ 9–12 7–19   NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road Los Angeles Dodgers 33 15 0.688 — 15–6 18–9 San Diego Padres 30 18 0.625 3 13–10 17–8 San Francisco Giants 26 21 0.553 6½ 13–11 13–10 Arizona Diamondbacks 24 26 0.480 10 13–15 11–11 Colorado Rockies 22 26 0.458 11 15–11 7–15

 

 

 

 

[JGibson]

Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas came within a strike of a no-hitter against the Pirates last night in the 2nd game of the day-night twin bill. Cardinals CF Harrison Bader almost came up with a game-ending and no-no-saving catch, only for it to barely miss him and bounce over the fence. 

[JGibson]

The Astros threw a combined no-no against the Yankees last Saturday. 

[JGibson]

The 2022 MLB Home Run Derby field is set:
#1 Kyle Schwarber, OF/DH, PHI v. #8 Albert Pujols, DH/1B, STL
#2 Pete Alonso, 1B, NYM [2-time defending champ] v. #7 Ronald Acuña Jr., OF/DH, ATL
#3 Corey Seager, SS, TEX v. #6 Julio Rodríguez, OF, SEA
#4 Juan Soto, OF, WSH v. #5 José Ramírez, 3B, CLE

 

 

 

[JGibson]

Juan Soto is your 2022 Home Run Derby champion, defeating Julio Rodríguez. 

Pete Alonso's 3-peat bid got stopped by Rodríguez, as Alonso got eliminated in the 2nd round. 

Albert Pujols went to the 2nd round before Soto eliminated him. 

 

 

 

 

[JGibson]

Starting with this edition of the MLB All Star Game, any game tied after 9 will have a home run derby to break the deadlock.

 

 

MLB.com:

 

 

Quote

 

Beginning with Tuesday night’s All-Star Game presented by MasterCard and continuing at least through the life of the current collective bargaining agreement, any All-Star Game tied after nine innings will be settled not with extra innings but with an All-Star Tiebreaker decided by dingers.

 

Here's how it would work:

The managers of the American League and National League squads will each select three players (and one alternate, in the event of an injury) on his roster who have agreed to participate, as well as three coaches to throw batting practice. Each player will get three swings, and the team with the highest combined homer total after those three rounds will be declared the winner of the game.

 

If this comes to pass, the players for each side on Tuesday would be:

AL: Ty France, Julio Rodríguez, Kyle Tucker
NL: Pete Alonso, Ronald Acuña Jr., Kyle Schwarber

Play will briefly be paused to allow the grounds crew to reconfigure the field. Each player who participates will get three swings to hit as many home runs as possible. Each player can take an unlimited number of pitches without it counting against their swing total.

 

 

[JGibson]

MLB Standings (Division Format), as of 07.20.2022:

American League   AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Yankees 64 28 0.696 — 37–12 27–16 Tampa Bay Rays 51 41 0.554 13 31–18 20–23 Toronto Blue Jays 50 43 0.538 14½ 30–19 20–24 Boston Red Sox 48 45 0.516 16½ 23–20 25–25 Baltimore Orioles 46 46 0.500 18 25–17 21–29   AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road Minnesota Twins 50 44 0.532 — 27–22 23–22 Cleveland Guardians 46 44 0.511 2 25–19 21–25 Chicago White Sox 46 46 0.500 3 19–25 27–21 Detroit Tigers 37 55 0.402 12 23–24 14–31 Kansas City Royals 36 56 0.391 13 19–27 17–29   AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road Houston Astros 59 32 0.648 — 28–14 31–18 Seattle Mariners 51 42 0.548 9 24–20 27–22 Texas Rangers 41 49 0.456 17½ 21–26 20–23 Los Angeles Angels 39 53 0.424 20½ 22–27 17–26 Oakland Athletics 32 61 0.344 28 11–31 21–30

National League   NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Mets 58 35 0.624 — 28–15 30–20 Atlanta Braves 56 38 0.596 2½ 31–20 25–18 Philadelphia Phillies 49 43 0.533 8½ 24–21 25–22 Miami Marlins 43 48 0.473 14 22–22 21–26 Washington Nationals 31 63 0.330 27½ 15–36 16–27   NL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road Milwaukee Brewers 50 43 0.538 — 21–19 29–24 St. Louis Cardinals 50 44 0.532 ½ 29–20 21–24 Pittsburgh Pirates 39 54 0.419 11 20–23 19–31 Chicago Cubs 35 57 0.380 14½ 18–32 17–25 Cincinnati Reds 34 57 0.374 15 18–28 16–29   NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road Los Angeles Dodgers 60 30 0.667 — 30–13 30–17 San Diego Padres 52 42 0.553 10 25–21 27–21 San Francisco Giants 48 43 0.527 12½ 26–22 22–21 Colorado Rockies 43 50 0.462 18½ 28–23 15–27 Arizona Diamondbacks 40 52 0.435 21 22–26 18–26

 

MLB Standings (Wild Card Format), as of 07.20.2022:

American League

AL Division Leaders
E-NY Yankees
W-Houston
C-Minnesota

 

AL Wild Card Teams	W	L	PCT	WCGB	L10	STRK	RS	RA	DIFF	X-W/L	HOME	AWAY	>.500	Next Game
Tampa Bay	51	41	.554	+1.5	6-4	W1	388	359	+29	49-43	31-18	20-23	35-29	Jul 22 @ KC
Seattle	51	42	.548	+1.0	10-0	W14	385	349	+36	51-42	24-20	27-22	27-30	Jul 22 vs HOU
Toronto	50	43	.538	-	5-5	W3	428	404	+24	49-44	30-19	20-24	32-35	Jul 22 @ BOS
Boston	48	45	.516	2.0	3-7	L2	430	412	+18	48-45	23-20	25-25	30-36	Jul 22 vs TOR
Cleveland	46	44	.511	2.5	6-4	W3	391	386	+5	46-44	25-19	21-25	22-25	Jul 22 @ CWS
Baltimore	46	46	.500	3.5	8-2	L1	386	393	-7	45-47	25-17	21-29	28-35	Jul 22 vs NYY
Chi White Sox	46	46	.500	3.5	7-3	W1	406	420	-14	45-47	19-25	27-21	28-32	Jul 22 vs CLE
Texas	41	49	.456	7.5	4-6	L4	406	407	-1	45-45	21-26	20-23	22-34	Jul 21 @ MIA
LA Angels	39	53	.424	10.5	2-8	L3	363	393	-30	43-49	22-27	17-26	24-42	Jul 22 @ ATL
Detroit	37	55	.402	12.5	2-8	L4	288	400	-112	33-59	23-24	14-31	24-39	Jul 21 @ OAK
Kansas City	36	56	.391	13.5	5-5	L3	359	469	-110	35-57	19-27	17-29	21-41	Jul 22 vs TB
Oakland	32	61	.344	18.0	4-6	W1	306	424	-118	33-60	11-31	21-30	20-45	Jul 21 vs DET

 

 

 

National League

 

NL Division Leaders
W-LA Dodgers
E-NY Mets
C-Milwaukee

 

NL Wild Card Teams	W	L	PCT	WCGB	L10	STRK	RS	RA	DIFF	X-W/L	HOME	AWAY	>.500	Next Game
Atlanta	56	38	.596	+6.0	7-3	L1	446	374	+72	55-39	31-20	25-18	22-21	Jul 22 vs LAA
San Diego	52	42	.553	+2.0	4-6	L1	408	377	+31	50-44	25-21	27-21	22-26	Jul 22 @ NYM
Philadelphia	49	43	.533	-	6-4	W3	431	369	+62	52-40	24-21	25-22	25-29	Jul 22 vs CHC
St. Louis	50	44	.532	-	6-4	W2	431	366	+65	54-40	29-20	21-24	23-31	Jul 22 @ CIN
San Francisco	48	43	.527	0.5	7-3	W3	437	386	+51	51-40	26-22	22-21	23-24	Jul 21 @ LAD
Miami	43	48	.473	5.5	4-6	L3	371	383	-12	44-47	22-22	21-26	23-35	Jul 21 vs TEX
Colorado	43	50	.462	6.5	7-3	L1	427	489	-62	41-52	28-23	15-27	19-30	Jul 22 @ MIL
Arizona	40	52	.435	9.0	3-7	W1	383	436	-53	41-51	22-26	18-26	18-32	Jul 22 vs WSH
Pittsburgh	39	54	.419	10.5	5-5	W1	340	474	-134	33-60	20-23	19-31	15-32	Jul 22 vs MIA
Chi Cubs	35	57	.380	14.0	1-9	W1	386	472	-86	38-54	18-32	17-25	21-40	Jul 22 @ PHI
Cincinnati	34	57	.374	14.5	6-4	L2	390	497	-107	36-55	18-28	16-29	21-40	Jul 22 vs STL
Washington	31	63	.330	19.0	1-9	W1	364	513	-149	33-61	15-36	16-27	15-38	Jul 22 @ ARI

 

 

 

 

 

[JGibson]

Longtime Dodgers announcer Vin Scully died last night.

 

 

[JGibson]

Major trades of the 2022 Trade Deadline:

- Nationals trade RF Juan Soto and 1B/DH Josh Bell to the Padres for DH/1B Luke Voit, LHP McKenzie Gore, SS/2B C.J. Abrams, and prospects.

- Royals trade 2B/OF Whit Merrifield to the Blue Jays.

- Cardinals trade CF Harrison Bader to the Yankees for LHP Jordan Montgomery.

- Padres trade 1B Eric Hosmer to the Red Sox for LHP Jay Groome

- Yankees trade LF/RF Joey Gallo to the Dodgers for RHP Clayton Beeter

- Pirates trade LHP José Quintana and RHP Chris Stratton to the Cardinals for RHP Johan Oviedo.

- Red Sox trade C/1B Christian Vázquez to the Astros.

- A's trade RHP Frankie Montas and RHP Lou Trivino to the Yankees.

- Brewers trade LHP Josh Hader to the Padres for LHP Taylor Rogers and RHP Dinelson Lamet, and prospects.

- Mariners acquire RHP Luis Castillo from the Reds.

 

[JGibson]

Padres SS Fernando Tatís Jr. handed an 80-game suspension for Clostebol. a PED banned by MLB. He will miss the remainder of this season and part of the next season. Due to the suspension. Tatís Jr. would also be ineligible for the 2022 postseason. 

 

MLB.com: 

 

Quote

 

WASHINGTON -- The Padres have played their entire season without Fernando Tatis Jr., eagerly awaiting the return of their superstar shortstop. They will now need to wait until sometime in 2023. 

Tatis has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the league announced Friday. The suspension is without pay and effective immediately, meaning Tatis will miss the remainder of this season and the first 33 games of the 2023 season. Any games the Padres play in the 2022 postseason will count toward the suspension, which would reduce the number of games he'll have to sit out next year. 

 

 

 

[JGibson]

Don't look now, but Albert Pujols is closing in on 700 career HRs. He has 693 career HRs.

[JGibson]

The possibility that minor leaguers playing in affiliated baseball (MiLB) could become unionized with the MLBPA is closer to reality that we think, as efforts to sign union authorization cards are underway. 

 

ESPN:

Quote

 

The Major League Baseball Players Association took an initial step toward unionizing the minor leagues Sunday night, sending out authorization cards that will allow minor league players to vote for an election that could make them MLBPA members, union executive director Tony Clark told ESPN on Sunday night.

The potential unionization of more than 5,000 minor leaguers is the latest action in a yearslong effort by players who won a $185 million settlement from the league in an unpaid wages class-action lawsuit and have received housing from teams and increased pay in recent years. Minor league players, whose compensation and benefits are not collectively bargained, continue to argue for higher salaries, which for a vast majority range from around $5,000 to $14,000 annually. Furthermore, the Senate Judiciary Committee has suggested it will call a hearing to explore MLB's antitrust exemption and its treatment of minor leaguers.

Advocates for Minor Leaguers, the group that has spent recent years organizing minor league players, is now working with the MLBPA, which collectively bargains with MLB on behalf of the 1,200 players on major league rosters.

[...]

In order for the MLBPA to represent minor leaguers in collective bargaining, 30% of players need to sign union authorization cards, which would prompt an election. If a majority of those who vote in an election choose for union representation, the National Labor Relations Board will require MLB to recognize the union. The league and MLBPA then would collectively bargain for minor leaguers, an outcome that even five years ago would've registered as farfetched.

 

 

[JGibson]

Happy MLB Roster Expansion Day, in which the active roster expands to 28 and a 14-man pitcher limit.

28-man is too low, maybe 30 or 32 would be better.

[JGibson]

Effective next season, MLB will have several big rule changes that you need to be aware of:
- A pitch clock (15 seconds with bases empty, 20 with runner(s) on)
- 30 seconds between batters.
- pitchers are limited to two disengagements off the rubber per plate appearance (resets if runner(s) advance).
- Runner(s) advance one base on third pickoff attempt in the plate appearance if the pickoff attempt is unsuccessful. 
- The shift and four-outfielder alignments are banned, but the five-man infield alignment is still allowed under certain circumstances.
- Size of the bases will increase from 15" (in.) to 18". 

 

Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com:

A pitch timer, limits on defensive shifts and bigger bases are coming to Major League Baseball in 2023.

Following recent experiments in the Minor Leagues, the recently formed Joint Competition Committee voted Friday in favor of three rule changes aimed at improving pace of play, action and safety at the MLB level.

The pitch timer, defensive shift limits and bigger bases were the only three rules proposed by MLB to the Joint Competition Committee -- a voting body consisting of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire, that was created as part of the 2022-26 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Though the automatic ball-strike system (AKA “robot umps”) -- and, alternatively, an ABS challenge system -- has been experimented with in select Minor Leagues this season, a formal rule change proposal related to the ABS has not been made to the committee and is not expected for the 2023 season.

 

 

[JGibson]

The Adam Wainwright-Yadier Molina battery duo made their 325th start together, breaking the all-time MLB record previously held by Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan (324).

[JGibson]

Two nations will qualify for the 2023 World Baseball Classic for their first WBC appearances: Great Britain and Czech Republic. 

[JGibson]

Seeing Albert Pujols hit 700 career HRs is an awesome sight. Glad he came back to STL.

 

 

[JGibson]

Aaron Judge of the Yankees tied the AL record for most homers in a single season with 61.