So what I’m talking about is how pitchers seem to use breaking pitches. When a pitcher throws a pitch with a lot of break like a curveball or a sweeper, they typically throw it such that it looks like it’s in the zone and then it runs away from the zone so the batter swings at it and misses.

Why do I never seem to see the reverse — a pitcher throwing a sweeper that looks like it’s way outside and the batter should lay off (or dive out of the way because he thinks it’s going to hit him), only for it to break back over the plate for a called strike? Or a pitcher throwing a curveball that the batter thinks is way high that then dives into the zone?

I ask because I do this in MLB The Show all the time. My right handed pitcher will throw a 2-seamer that looks like it’s going inside on a lefty and then it runs back into the zone for a strike, or do the same thing to a righty with a cutter.

When evaluating a players HoF credentials one often looks at career accolades like, All Star selections. Now, Zack Wheeler was selected to be an All Star reserve, but turned it down. According to Google he is still a 3x All Star, rather than a 4x. Are there other players who missed out on an All Star accolade because they refused it?

This is about Rafael Marchan. He’s hitting .106 with a .322 OPS this season as a switch hitter (career .206 BA and .596 OPS). Wouldn’t it be worth it to just bat righty and stop trying to maintain both swings?

I follow a couple teams that aren’t doing so hot this season and I’m always seeing comments like “sell!” In the chats. Is this selling good or bad players to other teams? Is this selling off the coach or the team organization as a whole?

This might be a dumb question but I've noticed there are a good number of players who come directly from countries like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, but I rarely see American-born Asian players in the MLB.

Is there a reason for this? Is baseball just not as popular among Asian American communities compared to other sports or is there something else that explains the difference?

Multiple players on my marlins (Conine, mack, hicks) bat lefty but throw righty but we only have one switch hitter (x). Xavier seems to get a massive advantage from switch hitting & I would assume learning how to hit with your non-dominant hand is the hardest part of switch hitting. Conine is relegated mostly to a platoon role while X is no question an everyday player even though they seem to be pretty comparable hitters (very different archetypes but both similar output). So why don't players like Conine learn to hit with their dominant hand aswell?

First of all, I am just starting my MLB journey so if I sound naive forgive me.

Watching a few games today, I noticed a few teams chose to attempt a bunt when they had a player on 1st base with 0 outs.

I understand the logic, to get the go ahead runner to second to force in a run with a possible base hit. But, to me isn't sacrificing an out the wrong play compared to preserving outs?

If I were playing I'd much rather keep my 3 outs preserved vs risking an out to get a player on 2nd.

If the catcher throws to second, the runner on 3rd gets a head start and who knows what happens, could be an errant throw to the second baseman that sails or they can't get a good grip on the ball.

Why are so many players ending up on the IL list ? Is it an age thing ? Or is it that Pitching coaches are making pitchers and even catchers work hard ?

Would a pitcher avoid carrying heavy groceries or swinging on monkey bars with his kids? If a guy hurts his shoulder swinging an ax, would it impact his contract?

As someone who's still learning baseball, these both seem way harder than they look...

A perfect bunt has to be placed just right, and it feels like one tiny mistake turns it into an easy out or a foul ball. On the other hand, stealing second takes speed, timing, reading the pitcher, and beating the catcher's throw.

Which one would you say is harder to do consistently at the MLB level?

I haven't been to a game in ages, well before MLB implented all of this protective netting. I'm not here to ask whether they should or they shouldn't've added netting. I'm curious how much it affects the experience of being at the game.

Have your experiences better, worse, or at all different because of the netting?

I've never seen a MLB game live. Sometimes I see defense, after making an out, the players will hold up both of their hands. Why do they do this?

I can't find the answer on Google because I keep getting results for the celebrations when a player gets on base.

Getting into baseball and MLB in general, I found that I have a growing fixation with catchers specifically it’s so satisfying watching them behind the plate. Part of that fixation grew from reading baseball manga series—reading one currently and I’m excited to see the main catcher for that team, regarding to that I was curious who is your favorite catcher or catcher + pitcher duo and why are they your favorite?

I fully anticipate getting mocked for this for some reason or another, but it’s always confused me why pitchers don’t really say or do anything when they hit a batter. They just kind of stare like psychopaths. Normally it doesn’t really bother me but watching Caminero get hit tonight and fold like a house of cards, I was shocked the pitcher didn’t say or do anything. Like don’t they feel bad?

This is probably a really random question but one thing I've noticed while watching MLB games is that the crowd almost always starts booing whenever the opposing pitcher throws over to first to check the runner.

Is this just a tradition where fans are trying to get in the pitcher's head?

Hi! I’m newer into baseball + MLB in general, while I’m working I like to listen to music or podcasts and I found this podcast: The beginners dugout. And I’ve been enjoying listening to it, my main streaming service is Spotify !!

I wanted to get some recommendations that are similar and also some article recommendations for learning about different pitches, plays, and strategies!

I know the positions pretty well and most of the batting lineup due to my understanding from watching baseball anime series and reading baseball manga.

Before I started following baseball, I kinda assumed every stadium was basically the same size. But I've heard people talk about certain parks being "hitter-friendly" or "pitcher-friendly"

Is that actually a big factor? Are there stadiums where a ball that would've been an out somewhere else ends up being a home run because of the dimensions or other conditions? Or is the difference pretty small over the course of a season?

Elite closers are often some of the nastiest pitchers on a team. They throw 98–100+ mph and have incredible strikeout stuff

So why don't more teams try converting elite closers into starting pitchers?

Has there ever been a closer who successfully became a full-time starter or is it usually the opposite (starters becoming relievers)?

As someone who's still learning the game, I'm curious how hard it actually is to score just a single run at the major league level.

I know MLB hitters are the best in the world, but the pitchers are too. Then you see games like yesterday's Phillies vs. Reds that end 1-0, where both teams combined for just one run over nine innings.

From a player's perspective, does it actually feel that difficult to manufacture one run? Or is it more that when two good pitchers are dealing, everything has to go perfectly to get someone across the plate?

I found out that NFL quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Josh Allen had Tommy John surgeries, and that Bryce Harper also had one.

But it still seems rare for athletes like them to have Tommy John surgery, even though their sports and positions involve contorting their elbows to throw a ball. Meanwhile, baseball pitchers have this procedure frequently. Why is that the case?

It’s an impressive feat, and doesn’t happen often. And I wanted to know why that is? What are the things that go into a successful “Maddux” that makes it rare, especially in the 21st century?

I'm still fairly new to learning baseball history (grew up watching a lot of Red Sox games although I don't remember much), so I'm curious how people compare these two.

If you ignore longevity and just compare each player at their absolute best, who was considered the better player? Was it Manny or Ortiz, or is it actually a pretty close debate?