[NotAJerry]

And now we've got an umpire not giving the out at 2nd on the typical "in the area" play on a double play. Unbelievable. Every one of these clueless buffoons that does this kind of garbage just to be noticed should be fired on the spot.

[jbock13]

I don't know what you mean... you mean when the players slide outside the baseline to break up a double play? Yeah that doesn't get called enough. But it's not always easy to see.

[adam42381]

And now we've got an umpire not giving the out at 2nd on the typical "in the area" play on a double play. Unbelievable. Every one of these clueless buffoons that does this kind of garbage just to be noticed should be fired on the spot.

Did the fielder touch the bag? If not, it isn't an out and I think it's the right call regardless of whether it's usually given to the fielder or not.

[NotAJerry]

And now we've got an umpire not giving the out at 2nd on the typical "in the area" play on a double play. Unbelievable. Every one of these clueless buffoons that does this kind of garbage just to be noticed should be fired on the spot.

Did the fielder touch the bag? If not, it isn't an out and I think it's the right call regardless of whether it's usually given to the fielder or not.

He started on the bag, jumped to avoid the slide, and was either still on the bag when he caught the ball or within millimeters of the bag when the ball hit his glove. Just another random umpire who decided to make a call that goes against how the entire sport handles the situation and it may have been technically the wrong call as well.

[jbock13]

If you're not on the bag, it's not an out on a force play. No matter what unless you tag them.

[adam42381]

If you're not on the bag, it's not an out on a force play. No matter what unless you tag them.

This.

[flamehunter]

And now we've got an umpire not giving the out at 2nd on the typical "in the area" play on a double play. Unbelievable. Every one of these clueless buffoons that does this kind of garbage just to be noticed should be fired on the spot.

Yeah, I'm sure his thoughts were "If I call this safe, everyone will know who I am in the morning! I'm going for it!"

[NotAJerry]

Another 2 HR performance, so far, has Bam Bam at 17 as a teenager. The top 5 in MLB HR as a teenager:

Tony Conigliaro 24
Mel Ott 19
Bryce Harper 17
Ken Griffey Jr. 16
Phil Cavarretta 14

Harper is already a plus fielder with a UZR of 10.1 in CF and a phenomenal arm, he's walking at a 9.3% rate, and he's swiped 13 bases while still being 19. This kid is going to be scary once he reaches his peak.

[jbock13]

(...and the countdown begins until NAJ posts about how the Cubs are picking on poor little Bryce Harper)

[adam42381]

(...and the countdown begins until NAJ posts about how the Cubs are picking on poor little Bryce Harper)

What happened?

[jbock13]

(...and the countdown begins until NAJ posts about how the Cubs are picking on poor little Bryce Harper)

What happened?

The benches cleared twice after the Cubs pitcher threw behind Bryce Harper.

[NotAJerry]

What happened?

The inning before, with a 7-2 lead, Werth swung at a 3-0 fastball. Jamie Quirk, Cubs bench coach, started yelling at Werth while the Cubs catcher was supposedly going to get a new mitt. Bo Porter, Nats 3rd base coach, walked right to the top step of the dugout and basically challenged Quirk. Bullpens clear, nothing really happens, Werth flies out to end the inning.

First pitch of the next inning, Cubs reliever tries to hit Harper but must have thought he was the strike zone and missed. Harper takes a step towards the mound, everybody runs out again, and it all calms down until some Cubs reliever who just got called up decides to run over to Nats reliever Sean Burnett and shove him. A small, but entertaining, scuffle breaks out complete with an umpire getting knocked down and 3 total players getting ejected (the Cub who started it and 1 player from each team in the scuffle.

Just a bad team getting frustrated at getting routed again. The Nats response was to Adam Laroche hitting HR #29 on the season to extend the lead to 9-2 and they continued stealing bases, swinging at any pitch they wanted, and just playing ball the rest of the way. All of it gets avoided if Jamie Quirk isn't running his mouth at a batter for swinging at a 3-0 fastball down the middle.

[NotAJerry]

Bryce Harper gets tossed for slamming his helmet down on a play where he was thrown out at 1st base (and said nothing to the umpire at all, he was mad at himself) but when the Jason Heyward does the same thing, and screams at the umpire, nothing happens. Either it's an ejection or it's not. MLB umpires are nearly useless these days.

[jbock13]

We know... major league baseball umpires are clearly conspiring against Bryce Harper...

[NotAJerry]

49 extra base hits for Bryce Harper (22 2B, 8 3B, 19 HR). That's the most in MLB history for a teenager.

[NotAJerry]

For the first time in 79 years, there will be playoff baseball in Washington, D.C. Nats become the 5th team in MLB history to improve their win total by at least 10 games for 3 consecutive seasons (2 of those teams did so with the first year being a strike shortened year).

[jbock13]

Don't look now, but Joe West is trending on twitter...

[adam42381]

Again with the cryptic posts? How about giving a little info? A link perhaps?

[jbock13]

Sorry, don't know how to do all that.

[adam42381]

Haha

[adam42381]

Seriously though, what happened?

[jbock13]

Seriously though, what happened?

Well, I tuned into to Cincy after all saw his name appear. One of the calls though after I saw it, Kendley Jansen threw a quick pitch and the Reds batter fouled it off. After the pitch, West pointed to Jansen and ruled the ball that had been fouled off, a ball. It wasn't a foul tip, he hit it over the screen. Mattingly came out to argue but of course he got nowhere. So, essentially, West ruled that a ball that had hit the bat and fouled off, was a ball.

But I don't know what happened before that.

[jbock13]

Homer Bailey no hitter through 7.

edit: Homer Bailey gets the no hitter.

[flamehunter]

What a way for the bucs to guarantee their 20th straight non-winning season. Congrats to Homer. (Great name for a pitcher!)

[Sly Fox]

Uh-how-how-how-how.

I remember the first time I saw Homer pitch nearly throwing a no-no in a playoff game his freshman year of HS. It is cool seeing him fulfill his potential over a decade later.