MLB 2025

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Well, a lot of things change from year to year.

One component of the game that hasn't changed very much over history is the bat itself

Yanks just drove in a 20 run game (9 HR), and scored 36 over their opening series (3rd most in MLB history)

We are now at an offensive turning point in the history of the game

My prediction is that the majority of hitters on all teams will be using these "new" shaped bats in the next 30 days

They call them Torpedo bats. Putting more wood in the sweet spot.

^^^Putting more wood in the sweet spot.

That was always my goal 

This Yankees fan is looking forward to being at the ballpark 5-6 times this year .... and then there's post -season.

just wait till Trump hears MLB bats are made from Canadian maple...

America's (First) Game

So should we exclude torpedo bat users from the Hall of Fame or put an * next to their records?

Great article on how the bat came to be.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44477141/mlb-2025-torpedo-bowling-pi...

 

 

Don Drysdale would have drilled the first person using one of those.

True that, Dave....

There is nothing illegal about the new bats. They are the same weight, composition, and length as the old bats. They just move the weight away from the end and toward the middle. That makes the batter bat speed faster - up to 3 mph and with more weight behind where you make contact it makes the ball go further. 

Now it will be interesting to see if they roll back all the rule changes they put in place to create more offense. 

Thanks for the article. Curious; I reviewed a little postseason footage of Giancarlo's at bats but couldn't find any where he was using the torpedo bat (or couldn't tell). He was using black Marucci bats mostly. They do make a torpedo bat but if G was using one I think the black color might mask the shape vs the natural wood color which may accentuate the shape a little. Maybe a zoner with a big HD tv can find us a good frame or two for confirmation.

https://maruccisports.com/wood-bats/torpedo-pro-model/?srsltid=AfmBOopwd...

I'm sort of flabbergasted this flew under the radar.

Since I started this thread; I've definitely seen Rays and Cubs batters using them as well.

Pitchers will be throwing fits about these bats soon enough, I think.

Awesome to see Dustin May back on the mound after a 2 year absence from baseball.

He's had multiple pitching related surgeries and also a near death incident from choking on food during his recovery 

He opened his first 2025 game throwing five innings and earning six strikeouts toward the dodgers 3-1 win over the braves

Both only eligible for the veterans committee, but it looks like both will be in by I think 2028.  I get it. Now ......

whats the Vegas line  for  induction...

It's dead in this place

i guess zoners only care about MLB if the giants are having a winning season...

"It's dead in this place"

MLB is dead to me, and I loved baseball since I was a kid.

All the stupid rule changes, the constant noise and video in the parks destroying the "pastoral" quality of an afternoon in the sun, the obsessive striving to "speed up the game."

The obscene amount of money involved (as with most entertainment pastimes anymore).

The Designated Hitter is an abomination.

The debacle with the A's was the last straw.

Fuck You Major League Baseball!

 

Too many players and games. I lost interest, but when I heard the Red Sox have beaten the Spankmees eight straight, I smiled. 

But I don't care much about it all. As Roarshock mentioned "The obscene amount of money involved." Tickets, beers, parking, can't afford to take a family. And the salaries!?! Asinine. 

The other day I was searching for a rehab place for a friend and the woman referred me to three places, and two didn't do what I needed. 

When I spoke to someone else, I said "Ya know, if this woman was a major leaguer and went one for three on average, she'd have a million dollar salary. But that's not a good average for making referrals." 

But my Mickey Mantle ornament will still be the first thing on my Christmas tree this year. 

 

And I'm about over the college footbal hype already. Last three weeks, the locals sports were taken up with Utah and BYU preseason stories. Just shut up and let them play the games. 

I've stopped watching and haven't even been to an A's game in Sacramento. Not because of the rules I actually like most of the rule changes. My interest in sports has just gone way down. Part of the reason is having to pay about $80 a month to watch on TV. I'll turn it on again for the NFL season and watch the MLB playoffs but not much more than that. The only team I really follow anymore are the Sacramento Kings but that doesn't even translate into watching the rest of the NBA. 

I was more interested in the Giants before I heard some years ago about the owners' political contributions to people I fear and loathe.

My sports interest is just tennis these days.

Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame this summer

when I thought the man couldn't possibly have had a more perfect career; he again levels up with a very humbling speech

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAsHtxuSoA&pp=ygUaaWNoaXJvIGhhbGwgb2YgZmF...

I still love baseball. I still record and watch every Giants game. In the 2nd inning of today's game. 

Have my bitches and gripes, but still a fan. I also do fantasy every yr.  Sometimes even daily contests on fan duel and yahoo. 

I watch/follow no other professional sports.  I am enjoying the LLWS. Recording the championship game today and will watch it tonight. 

Despite the newest changes the game is still the game.

There have been rule changes and other modifications made to the game of baseball for over a hundred years. The key is to learn to adjust to the changes so the beauty of the game is still visible. Unfortunately, in so many things we tend to lock in to whatever we first fell in love with and then expect/demand that things stay exactly that way, otherwise it's no good anymore.

That's one of the great things about sports in general and professional sports in particular; no matter how much the suits, money or modern ideas mess with it, when the actual game starts the brilliance and artistry of the players and the beauty of the game itself remain.

For me personally, with the exception of the new extra inning rule that is completely ridiculous (which the league itself admits by eliminating it from the post-season) the newest set of rule changes have made no noticeable difference or have actually improved the quality of the viewing experience. The extra inning rule is the worst rule change ever, taking over #1 from the designated hitter rule, which has been in effect for over 50 years. It's an abomination but is easy to avoid; I simply stop watching when a game goes to extras.

As with all things, it's easy to complain, it's easy to say it's not like it used to be, but baseball is still baseball. The beauty of a perfectly thrown curveball, an expertly turned double-play, the full field action and glory of a line shot into the gap with runners on base flying around the bases as the outfielder fields the ball and throws a seed to the cutoff man, then there's a play at the plate and everyone holds their breath as the umpire makes the call..... SAAAAFE!!!! That hasn't changed in over a hundred years.

The beauty is still there. Maybe we have to work a little harder to see it, maybe we have to make a compromise or two, but the beauty is still there.

You just have to be willing to look for it.

GIANTS IN ' 26!!!!!!!!

"The extra inning rule is the worst rule change ever, taking over #1 from the designated hitter rule"

This. 

 

>>>MLB is dead to me, and I loved baseball since I was a kid.

Agreed.  They really messed it up. 

I lost a lot of respect when the astros didn't really get shit for their cheating. 

"these included a $5 million fine (the maximum allowed), forfeiture of their first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021, and suspensions for General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager A.J. Hinch. While the investigation found players were involved, they were granted immunity in exchange for cooperation and no player penalties were issued. "

I'm sure they'd do it again for another ring.  

 

The A's bs was really bad and still is.   Not sure it could have been handled more poorly.  

 

fuck the astros

Without a salary cap, it's daunting to be a fan of a small market team.  While rooting for the underdog can be fun, it's tough to watch the major market teams spending lavishly, and watching the homegrown talent leave for greener pastures. MLB is not a level playing field. With the players union's intransigence about a cap, we are looking at a lockout/strike when the CBA expires after next season.

So for now, I try to enjoy the games while we have them.  My team, the Orioles, screwed up any realistic post season hopes with a disastrous first two months of the season, but have played better than every team in the AL than Toronto since June 1.  Locally, I get exposed to a lot of Mariners action, and they have some interesting pieces.

The games may move too fast, the in-house music may be overbearing, the cost of concessions, parking, and good seats may be exorbitant, and the Little League runner on 2nd extra-inning abomination that is a remnant of the COVID years needs to be ended, but it's still Baseball, and I'll always follow it.

Just watched the 30 for 30 on the 86 Mets this morning! What a great time to be a baseball/Met fan.

It was nice to watch them win the world series again...

Jerry was in a coma so no fall tour, the Mets filled the void for a bit!

With all the streaming, all sorts of different games come on at different times.

Usually put them on and half pay attention.

But if a game comes on in the car it stays on. Something about baseball on the radio.......

Back when Mike Krukow was on the radio, he went to this whole bit about stealing a base:

"If you can get that bag you have do whatever it takes to get that bag."

He went on and on and you knew he was talking about scoring a bag of weed.

I listened to so many baseball games over the years on radio. Either on road trips, at the park, or hanging around the house. Comforting sounds of the ballpark and the crack of the bat.

We have had some great broadcasters in the SF Bay Area. Kruk and Kuip are great. If the game gets slow, Jon Miller may fill the time with some history of ancient Rome. Of course, we had to endure Lindsey Nelson and Joe Angel, but that is kind of where the Giants were in those years. My favorite broadcast team of all time was Bill King and Lon Simmons for the A's. Monty Moore was a pre and post drug high. Ray Fosse was baseball's most far out color man this side of Joe Garagiola.

 

San Francisco Giants radio broadcasters.

Russ Hodges: 1958–1971

Lon Simmons: 1958–1973, 1976–1978, 1997–2002

Bill King: 1958–1962

Bill Thompson: 1965–1973

Bill Rigney: 1969

Al Michaels: 1974–1976

Art Eckman: 1974–1975

Joe Angel: 1977–1978, 2002–2003

Lindsey Nelson: 1979–1981

Hank Greenwald: 1979–1986, 1989–1996

Dennis Higgins 2000

David Glass: 1981–1985

Phil Stone: 1986

Ron Fairly: 1987–1992

Wayne Hagin: 1987–1988

Duane Kuiper: 1992, 1996–present

Joe Morgan: 1992

Ted Robinson: 1993–2001

Barry Tompkins: 1993

Mike Krukow: 1994–2003, 2006–present

Jon Miller: 1997–present

Dave Flemming: (2003 substitute only) 2004–present

Greg Papa: 2004–2009

Joe Ritzo: 2021–present

F. P. Santangelo 2022–present

Oakland A's broadcasters.

Shooty Babitt 2014; 2023*

Roxy Bernstein 2014–present

Steve Bitker 2001–2011

Dallas Braden 2017–present

George Bryson 1963–1964

Chris Caray 2024–present

Harry Caray 1970

Herb Carneal 1954

Jenny Cavnar 2024–present

Betty Caywood 1964

Eric Chavez 2015**

Vince Cotroneo 2006–2024 (radio)

Johnny Doskow 2023–present

Ed Edwards 1957–1958

Bob Elson 1971

Lynn Faris 1966–1967

Curt Flood 1978

Ray Fosse 1986–2021

Bud Foster 1978

Hank Greenwald 2004–2005

Bill Grigsby 1958–1961

Wayne Hagin 1981–1984

Claude Haring c. 1940–1954

Merle Harmon 1955–1961

Scott Hatteberg 2012–2013***

Al Helfer 1968–1969

Reggie Jackson 1991–1992

Harmon Killebrew 1981–1982

Bill King 1981–2005

Ken Korach 1996–present

Bob Kozberg 1978

Glen Kuiper 2004–2023

Jon Miller 1974

Monte Moore 1962–1980, 1985–1992

Greg Papa 1990–2003

Jim Peterson 1978

Jim Piersall 1972

Hal Ramey 1979

Larry Ray 1955–1956

Bruce Rice 1962

Bill Rigney 1974, 1983–1984, 1991–1992

Bip Roberts 2023

Ted Robinson 1980, 1985–1987

Tim Roye 2004–2006

Red Rush 1965, 1971, 1979–1980

By Saam 1938–1954

John Shrader 1988–1989

Lon Simmons 1981–1995

Dick Stockton 1993–1995

Chuck Thompson 1946–1948

Dom Valentino 1980

Wayne Walker 1976–1980, 1985

Bob Waller 1975–1977

Ken Wilson 1996–1998

Jim Woods 1972–1973