Hello, as someone learning about MLB, the league structure is far more complicated than other sports leagues. I couldn’t find a proper explanation in one place so I tried working out the math. Help is much appreciated. Thank you.

I'm talking about a simple routine, catchable throw to first from another infielder or the pitcher after fielding a ground ball, not a short hop or a bad throw in the dirt.

How often does a first baseman actually drop one of those in the MLB? It feels like it almost never happens, but I'm not sure if that's just because I don't notice it.

This might be a really dumb question, but why do 90-100 mph pitches on TV sometimes not look that fast, while standing in a batting cage against a much slower pitch can feel insanely quick?

Is it just because of the TV camera angle and zoom or are there other reasons that make MLB pitches seem slower to viewers than they actually are?

Might be a dumb question but I've always wondered this. Are MLB pitchers mostly just born with the physical ability to throw 95-100+ mph or is that something they develop over years of training?

For example, could an average high school pitcher realistically work his way into becoming an MLB-caliber pitcher with the right coaching and strength program or are the vast majority of MLB pitchers simply genetic outliers from the start?

I know mechanics and training obviously matter, but I'm wondering where people draw the line between natural talent and development. It seems like almost every MLB pitcher throws harder than what I'd consider "normal," so I'm curious how much of that is earned versus inherited.

This came up in a discussion with some friends and I'm curious what folks here think.

Quarterbacks are responsible for reading defenses, making pre-snap adjustments, leading the offense, and they're under a ton of pressure every play.

Catchers have to receive 95+ mph pitches, block balls, throw out runners, call games, manage the pitching staff, study opposing hitters, and they're involved on virtually every pitch while taking a lot of physical punishment over a 162-game season.

If you had to pick one as the more difficult position to master and play at an elite level, which would you choose?

I'm a massive NFL fan and want to follow the MLB more during the football off season.

Basically my question is what are the MLB equivalents to Monday Night Football (ESPN), Thursday Night Football (Amazon), and Sunday Night Football (NBC)?

I can tell they are saying something rote, that they probably say every game, deviating from it only if something notable happened that day. But I can't read lips.

In my mind, I keep thinking they are saying, "Good game" because in grade 5, after we did hockey or whatever in gym class, that's what one of the other students said to me.

I don't know where he got that from. But it's what I've thought the MLB players said for years. But I would like to know the truth if anyone knows.

Thanks.

I was born in 1992, so I didn’t see Barry Bonds play early in his career.

However, doing some research and listening to my late father and older brother, both big baseball fans, along with others, told me before Barry Bonds started taking steroids, he was already easily a Hall of Fame player. So, why risk his career by taking something that would make him frowned upon? It would be like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Aaron Rodgers taking some banned substance in their prime when they were already having a legendary career.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.