2011 MLB Season Game Thread: March-April

[Chewford]

Better than game in Boston where Carl Pavano had an ERA of infinity.

[FishFF]

Berkman putting on a hitting clinic

[MiamiHomer]

Has to be steroids.

[Bobbob1313]

Has to be steroids.

unsustainable BABIP and unsustainable HR/FB. He's getting lucky right now.

[MiamiHomer]

Hitting homeruns is lucky? Serious question since I'm totally familiar with how to understand the relation with these numbers. Wouldn't the high LD% be a good sign that he isn't getting lucky but rather just hitting really well?

[MiamiHomer]

Derek Lowe arrested for DUI.

[Bobbob1313]

Hitting homeruns is lucky? Serious question since I'm totally familiar with how to understand the relation with these numbers. Wouldn't the high LD% be a good sign that he isn't getting lucky but rather just hitting really well?

Hitting home runs is a product of hitting flyballs, but a 27% hr/fb ratio isn't realistic for him. I mean, maybe he does keep it up, but his career rate is ~20% and he hasn't been above 20% in years. Hes at 33% right now. That seems flukey as hell.

He's definitely hitting the ball well right now, but it's impossible for him to keep this up. Maybe "luck" isn't the right word. But it's definitely unsustainable

[Mainge]

Yeah I think hot is more appropriate. It's not luck when you barrel up a ball.

[MiamiHomer]

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves pitcher Derek Lowe was charged with drunken driving, another blow to a team already dealing with allegations that pitching coach Roger McDowell spewed homophobic comments before a game in San Francisco last weekend.

Gordy Wright, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a trooper stopped Lowe's vehicle at about 10 p.m. ET Thursday after it was spotted racing another car down an Atlanta street. The trooper detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage and administered a field sobriety test, which resulted in Lowe's arrest.

The 37-year-old right-hander was charged with DUI, reckless driving and improper lane change, Wright said. Lowe declined to take a breath test before he was released, the spokesman added. The other driver also was stopped, but there were no immediate details on whether he was charged.

The Braves were off Thursday after returning home from a West Coast road trip. They open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

"Obviously we are concerned and disappointed about the events involving Derek Lowe overnight," the team said in a statement. "We are currently gathering information and plan to address this matter later today."

Lowe, who could not be reached immediately for comment, is in the third season of a four-year, $60 million contract with the Braves. He has been the team's starter on Opening Day for the past three years.

This season, Lowe is 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA. He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday.

The Braves already were investigating allegations against McDowell, who was accused of making crude comments, sexual gestures and threatened to knock out a fan's teeth with a bat. The coach could face disciplinary action from the team or Major League Baseball.

"I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco," McDowell said in a statement, his only public comments on the incident. "I apologize to everyone for my actions."

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said McDowell's apology was only a start, and baseball commissioner Bud Selig called the accusations "very troubling." MLB is awaiting the results of the Braves' investigation before determining whether to take action.

McDowell was a star reliever with the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies in the late 1980s and early '90s, playing a key role on New York's 1986 World Series-winning club.

He has been Atlanta's pitching coach since 2005.

Braves' Derek Lowe charged with DUI

[MiamiHomer]

Rockies call up the Amazing one.

[Party]

Rockies call up the Amazing one.

[Bobbob1313]

Jose Bautista is either having the flukiest 7 months in baseball history, or he's super legit and we need to talk about him as maybe the best hitter in the AL.

[Miamarlin21]

Rockies call up the Amazing one.

Best news all day.

[MiamiHomer]

SBerthiaumeESPN Steve Berthiaume
ESPN still verifying official confirmed distance on Prince Fielder HR in Houston. Looks like it could be 500+ feet.

Got to see that.
--------------------
That was crushed

[Bobbob1313]

Just watched it. Seems pretty generous.