10/15/25
October 13, 2025
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I love the game of baseball, but the way it is being played in the major leagues is rapidly turning me off. The sole strategy has become "the certain outcome" of a strikeout or a long ball. Most pitching has become a succession of 4-seam fastball mixed with sliders and sinkers. The ability to upset timing in order to induce weak contact is nearly gone. Rather than trying to put balls into play where fielders cannot make a play, batters will wait for the mistake, and if it doesn't come, the strikeout is often the result. Getting a ball into play with runners in scoring position is being replaced by searching for the long ball. While watching the ball disappear into the stands is exciting, too often the sequence becomes a lead off double being followed by 2 strikeouts and an easy fly ball.
posted by Howard_T at 04:05 PM on October 14, 2025
too often the sequence becomes a lead off double being followed by 2 strikeouts and an easy fly ball
Welcome to Cincinnati! Would you like a 3- 4- or 5-way?
posted by tahoemoj at 06:14 PM on October 14, 2025
Welcome to Cincinnati! Would you like a 3- 4- or 5-way?
Welcome to Boston. I'll trade you straight up for a lobster roll and a side of cole slaw.
posted by Howard_T at 07:52 PM on October 14, 2025
Mariners score 10 despite Blue Jays pitchers striking out 14.