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I'm OK with sign stealing in the traditional sense, it's just another way of trying to win the game. And I agree about going back to basics, but I guess I don't think "back to basics" includes cameras and other technology. If a baserunner can figure out the catcher's signs, or if players/coaches in the dugout can see a pitcher's tells, then I'm all for them trying to relay that info to the batter with their own signs. But I don't like people in the dugout/clubhouse using video, cameras, etc. to accomplish that.

Interesting article re: the Yankees on The Athletic: As Yankees fight release of MLB letter, Randy Levine to argue for team in court As the Yankees continue to fight a court-ordered release of “the Yankees Letter,” they’re taking an uncommon step: The team’s president, Randy Levine, plans to argue the case himself. “I’ve argued cases in the court of appeals before,” Levine said Monday. “I enjoy the experience, and I’m really looking forward to presenting our case. It should be a really interesting argument.” In June, Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York said the Yankees and Major League Baseball must make public a 2017 letter sent by Commissioner Rob Manfred to the Yankees that detailed the findings of a league investigation into the team. During discovery, the letter grabbed the attention of plaintiffs who had brought a lawsuit against MLB, the Astros and the Red Sox following the sign-stealing scandals. The plaintiffs alleged that, although the Yankees are not a party to the case, the letter contained proof that the Yankees had engaged in a more serious sign-stealing scheme than what the league announced in 2017, thereby proving Manfred’s duplicity. ... If the team's president is involved, there must be some damning evidence in this letter that suggests the Yanks were also stealing signs like the Astros and Red Sox. In 2017 they beat the Twins in the Wild Card game, and then the Clevelands in the ALDS before losing to the Astros in the ALCS. If the WC and ALDS wins were aided by sign stealing schemes then those other teams are going to be a little bit pissed off (assuming that the Twins and Clevelands were not also stealing signs... for all we know every team in the league was doing it in one way or another!)

It would be great timing for the Yankees if some of their big names start getting healthy now and they go on a run in the postseason. It wouldn't shock me... but it's not what I want to see! Maybe this will finally be the year for this Dodgers team that has consistently been one of the best teams in the MLB for a few years now? I'm not really cheering for them, but they have enough players that I like that I wouldn't mind if they take the World Series. Once the Jays are out of the picture, I will be jumping on the San Diego bandwagon (I hope I didn't just put a hex on them)

It's comforting to know that some things are still normal in 2020

It feels like everyday for the past week I've seen a new notification from the MLB app about teams clinching the Postseason. The Rays have clinched, the A's, the Twins, the Dads, the Yankees... meanwhile the Blue Jays just kept lose lose losing The finally won a game yesterday - phew - and are still looking fairly safe for a Wild Card spot. But they really can't afford another big losing streak

They lost both games of the double-header yesterday How will they lose tonight?

Now we're losing 7-0 to the Phils. Uuuuggghhhhhhh

That 16 run lead was unblowable Their hitters still had time to pile on some more runs if they really needed to.

The Yankees really kicked the shit out of the Jays this week The scores were 20-6, 13-2, and 10-7. Lots of homeruns were hit against Jays pitching. Last night the Yanks hit 5 homers in a single inning! Ugh.

Another day, another blowout

Yeah, this is definitely the summer of the bullpen. What I'd like to see when it comes to position players pitching, is the team on the other side of the blowout also putting a position player out on the mound. When the Yanks were were up like 19-3 last night and they pulled their starter, why even bother with a reliever from the bullpen? Especially if the guys in the 'pen need a bit of rest. Just put a backup infielder on the mound for a couple innings. The game was over.

The Jays are down 20-3 in the bottom of the 8th and we've got a position player pitching

Steve Cohen to buy the Mets Congrats Mets fans, the franchise might finally turn around once the Wilpons are out of the picture. Still one more hurdle to get over before it's actually final, but if there was any real concern about the other owners not approving of the sale then I doubt things would progressed this far.

Fingers and toes crossed! They're definitely not a favourite to win it, so I assume those bets would pay out pretty well if they do win it.

Yep. From an ESPN article: MLB is implementing an expanded 16-team playoff format for the 2020 postseason. The top two teams in each division, plus the two remaining teams with the best records in each league, will make up the eight-team fields in the American and National Leagues. The division winners will be the top three seeds in each league, with the second-place teams slotted as seeds four through six, and the remaining two qualifiers seeded Nos. 7 and 8. The first-round matchups will follow a 1-vs.-8, 2-vs.-7 format and will be best-of-three series, giving things a March Madness feel. Even if the Jays drop behind the Yanks in the AL East standings, they're in a good position to be one of the 7/8 seeds - unless they really fall apart down the stretch. I like Toronto's chances in a best-of-3 series. They don't have the starting pitching depth for a longer series, but they do have Ryu and a bunch of very solid arms in the bullpen. And the ability to score runs. I can see them stealing a first round series from a better team. If the next round goes to best-of-7, then it's a different story. In any case, it's all very exciting and I'll be happy even with a first round exit as long as the games are competitive. 2015 was supposed to be their time, stupid Royals The 2020 Jays team is very young. Lots of potential, but also quite a few holes that need to be plugged. If the young core keeps developing and they add some more complementary pieces to the team, then I think they could really be competitive in another year or two. This year expectations are lower and just making it into the postseason is a victory.

The Jays (26-20) are in second place a half-game ahead of the Yankees (26-21) in the division standings. Tomorrow they start a three game series @ NYY and then they have a four game series in Buffalo next week These are big games for both teams. Let's go Blue Jays!

Maybe the balls are juiced. There has been a lot of speculation about the balls over the last two seasons. Some of the opposite field homeruns you see these days don't look like they're hit well enough to be homers, it's weird. The ball just kinda gets flung over the fence.

The Blue Jays lost 18-1 tonight

29 runs is nuts, but I think the 19-0 shutout is perhaps more impressive. The Tigers only had 2 hits the whole game

I'll cheer for the Dads The Jays made some moves at the deadline that might make them a bit more competitive. They are in on the Wild Card race. All the teams behind them are bad so their position seems fairly safe if they keep playing well. They probably won't get far in the postseason, but I'll be excited anyways!

I wonder if they'll play games today. Apparently the Jays/BoSox had just taken the field yesterday when news started going around about the NBA strike. Other MLB games were walked out on, but the Jays game went ahead. They won, though it's hard to say how focused the players were on the game with all the stuff going on. Also the Jays traded for Taijuan Walker today. If the season keeps going then they'll definitely need the pitching help. Sounds like the cost to acquire him wasn't very high either.

So many bullpen days this summer I'm still excited that baseball is back, but I have to admit that I haven't _really_ enjoyed what I've watched. Not as much as I used to. It feels like the games have gotten even slower if that's possible. The pace of play rule changes don't appear to be working. Pitchers seem to be throwing fewer fastballs - lots of breaking stuff and other slop - and so many at bats go long, full counts, etc. I guess with all the homeruns these days, pitchers are not willing to give in and throw fastballs as much because the hitters will make them pay. They lean more on their breaking pitches. It really is a three true outcome game now. And with so many pitching changes every game, it feels like nobody - pitcher, hitter, or us fans watching at home - can get into the rhythm of the game. I dunno, maybe they need to deaden the balls a bit. I think they're juiced

The Jays have won 5 games in 4 days I didn't get to watch a second of any of the games Caught a bit on the radio though. Also did I read the box scores wrong or are teams only playing 7 inning games for double-headers?

I actually watched the Jays lose twice yesterday

I wonder if they will try to finish the season with fewer teams if COVID issues persist with e.g. The Marlins. Can't help but feel like it's all going to fall apart soon though.