2011 MLB Discussion Thread

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[quote name='dmaul1114']Sox lose, Rays win and are tied in the Wild card now.
[/QUOTE]

The only solace at this point is that it's almost over and then I can forget about these bums until spring training.
 
This wild card race has been amazing. Don't think I've seen a season this interesting down to the final day in a long ass time.
 
[quote name='Jodou']This wild card race has been amazing. [/QUOTE]

Not sure that's the word I'd use. :wall:

As of this moment, the Red Sox still control their own destiny (So now do the Rays of course). As much as I hate resorting to banal sports cliches, it's put up or shut up time.
 
^ couldn't have happened to a nicer group of fans. I love it.

I'd rather have them get in though being a Yankee fan, they blow. They have absolutely no one to get them a good starting effort aside Lester, and even he seems off.
 
[quote name='DestroVega']^ couldn't have happened to a nicer group of fans. I love it.
[/QUOTE]

The irony is that every time someone generalizes about a team's entire fanbase like this, it's they themselves who look like the jackass. That's cosmic balance for you.
 
if the Red Sox do collapse. This will beat out the mets in 2007 and 2008. Whoever said San Fran was a fluke champion...better watch the Sox because pitching gets you to the post season. The Red Sox have proven that by having none.

I just wonder what they will do with the albatross John lackey next year. He has been the Mike Pelfry of the Red Sox.
 
[quote name='integralsmatic']
I just wonder what they will do with the albatross John lackey next year. He has been the Mike Pelfry of the Red Sox.[/QUOTE]

Pelfrey doesn't have that albatross of a contract though.

Frankly, there's really nothing they can do about Lackey. Lackey was the very worst starting pitcher in MLB this year, and has a massive contract for several more years. No one's taking on that deal, and I don't think even the Red Sox can just jettison him.

The best you can hope is that he can bounce back and replicate his still-crappy but not otherwordly bad 2010 season.

I have much more hope about Carl Crawford bouncing back. He'll likely never be worth that massive deal, but I think he has the track record to come back and be a solid contributor for the Sox going forward. Lackey was already trending down when he signed, it was a terrible signing then and it's even more terrible now.
 
Sox will do the same thing with Lackey that the Yankees will with Burnett, keep writing wasted checks.

I wouldn't mind a swap to see if a change of scenery would help either.
 
[quote name='craven_fiend']Heres a what if scenario for you guys. If the Sox win and Rays lose, do you pitch Lester tomorrow or do you save him for a tie breaker/alds.[/QUOTE]

Exhale.

Okay.

Now that your question is academic, I pitch Lester tomorrow probably. We know that the Rays are going to win since they're going to be facing a AAA team, so the Sox need to do focus on winning the game tomorrow.

I would really like for the Sox to come out and score 8 runs in the first inning tomorrow, but I don't think that's going to happen.
 
[quote name='bvharris']Pelfrey doesn't have that albatross of a contract though.

Frankly, there's really nothing they can do about Lackey. Lackey was the very worst starting pitcher in MLB this year, and has a massive contract for several more years. No one's taking on that deal, and I don't think even the Red Sox can just jettison him.

The best you can hope is that he can bounce back and replicate his still-crappy but not otherwordly bad 2010 season.

I have much more hope about Carl Crawford bouncing back. He'll likely never be worth that massive deal, but I think he has the track record to come back and be a solid contributor for the Sox going forward. Lackey was already trending down when he signed, it was a terrible signing then and it's even more terrible now.[/QUOTE]

Matusz was worse by just about any measure possible.
 
[quote name='Feeding the Abscess']Matusz was worse by just about any measure possible.[/QUOTE]

You're right. I should have limited that to pitchers for teams actually in contention. Though for all I know that might be wrong too.
 
[quote name='bvharris']Exhale.

Okay.

Now that your question is academic, I pitch Lester tomorrow probably. We know that the Rays are going to win since they're going to be facing a AAA team, so the Sox need to do focus on winning the game tomorrow.

I would really like for the Sox to come out and score 8 runs in the first inning tomorrow, but I don't think that's going to happen.[/QUOTE]

That would've been a tough decision to make. I think I pitch by committee and save Lester for a potential tie breaker, while giving him an extra day of rest. None of that matters now, so hopefully they win and the AAA Yankees find some way to win, to avoid the tie breaker. If the Sox were to some how make the post season, via the tie breaker, they would have to start game 1 without Lester or Beckett being ready until the 3rd/4th games.
 
The ball is in Lester's court because the Yanks are throwing the game tonight and David Price is on the mound. Cards are pitching Carp tonight and thePhils do not look like they will be resting anyone. So should be interesting tonight.

Im so sad right now. Reyes' potential last game as Met. Man next season will suck.
 
Can't say the Yankees had a AAA lineup, the only regular who didn't play was Jeter.

Tonight should be a pretty easy one for Tampa though, probably gonna be Hughes for like 2 innings then empty the bullpen. I expect the regulars to rest also.

But Sox fans can't get upset, last Friday the Yankees even gave the Sox the choice to play that night or wait so they wouldn't possibly waste Lester for 3 innings then a rain delay, and the Sox choose the Sunday Douple-Dip, the second game of which basically extended any chance they had of playoffs.
 
Just saw the Yankees lineup, pretty much all the regulars. I expect them to get pulled early but still, gotta respect Girardi for not tossing out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup tonight.
 
If it's possible to be objective, just a question: If you were Girardi, would you go with scrubs? How much would you really put into this game?

I would go full on scrubs. Even a tiny chance of an injury is too high.
 
[quote name='speedracer']If it's possible to be objective, just a question: If you were Girardi, would you go with scrubs? How much would you really put into this game?

I would go full on scrubs. Even a tiny chance of an injury is too high.[/QUOTE]

If I were Girardi, I would be playing all scrubs. They don't owe anything to the "integrity of the game", his first concern should be his own ballclub, not keeping the Rays from getting a gimme win. They clinched the division a week ago, they should rest anyone they want.

That said, I'm certainly glad he's not.
 
[quote name='tcrash247']But the Phils are pitching Joe Blanton, so it's anyone's game.[/QUOTE]

Announcers said last night that the plan was for him to start and pitch 2 or 3 innings, and then Hammels come in and get 2 or 3 innings work as well.
 
[quote name='bvharris']If I were Girardi, I would be playing all scrubs. They don't owe anything to the "integrity of the game", his first concern should be his own ballclub, not keeping the Rays from getting a gimme win. They clinched the division a week ago, they should rest anyone they want.

That said, I'm certainly glad he's not.[/QUOTE]

It's a tough call. At the same time, if the lineup goes completely cold in the ALDS, the media will be ostracizing him for sitting players too long. It's fine to give them a couple days rest (which he has), but they need to be ready for playoff level pitching come next week. There's no need to be foolish and play guys in extra inning marathon games, but considering one pitch can blow out an elbow, if an injury is meant to happen, it's going to happen. You can't be so scared of guys getting hurt that you let them get rusty. This is where the "luck" part of winning the World Series comes in.
 
Wow.. The Rays are going to come back and win this game, aren't they?

Just scored 6 times in the 8th to make it 7-6 Yankees.. Now the question is will Girardi use Mo (please???)

Meanwhile, this Red Sox game will probably finish up at about 5AM.
 
Wonder how badly the Angels regret trading Napoli for Vernon Wells. Nap's not only one of the very best hitting catchers in baseball, but trading Napoli opened up the DH slot for Bobby Abreu, whose $9 million option vested due to reaching a playing time benchmark, and Wells has the worst contract in baseball.

In short, the Angels traded a cheap, juggernaut offensive catcher for $32 million of substandard OF/DH production in 2012. Oh, and arguably the best prospect in baseball, Mike Trout, has nowhere to play next season.
 
[quote name='Feeding the Abscess']Wonder how badly the Angels regret trading Napoli for Vernon Wells. Nap's not only one of the very best hitting catchers in baseball, but trading Napoli opened up the DH slot for Bobby Abreu, whose $9 million option vested due to reaching a playing time benchmark, and Wells has the worst contract in baseball.

In short, the Angels traded a cheap, juggernaut offensive catcher for $32 million of substandard OF/DH production in 2012. Oh, and arguably the best prospect in baseball, Mike Trout, has nowhere to play next season.[/QUOTE]

Every year that "big bat" remains elusive for the Angels during the off season, and they make boneheaded moves like Vernon Wells and Gary Matthews Jr. to do something to appease the people who want "big bats," sucking up playing time and money. The Angels have a pretty expensive pay roll, they're just not paying the right people.

The situation with Napoli is weird because Mike Scioscia has a fucking hard on for Jeff Mathis, who in Scioscia's opinion is a better defensive player than Napoli for whatever that's worth (my guess - not much. Naps defense is fine). I don't think Mathis' D makes up for his lack of offense.

The Angels are usually super confident in their farm system, and I think the hope is Hank Conger lives up with his potential to eventually take the starting job behind the plate. Napoli would no doubt be the best catcher for right now thanks to his offensive production, but the Angels almost look too far ahead at times. Conger might very well never pan out.

Oh, and the Angels are so fucking lucky Weaver values loyalty over money, especially considering who Weaver's agent is.
 
[quote name='tcrash247']The Phillies lose 8 in a row then sweep the Braves to crush their playoff dreams, funny shit.[/QUOTE]

You know what else is funny shit? When the cards whoop the Phils. I'll be cheering for the Cards (or anybody really) to beat the Phils. I hate the Yankees as well, but if it comes to that...
 
Holy fuck. I am a baseball fan, not a fan of any of these teams, and I am LOVING this. Papelbon blows the save and the Orioles win.
 
drunk-santa.jpg
 
[quote name='JStryke']You know what else is funny shit? When the cards whoop the Phils. I'll be cheering for the Cards (or anybody really) to beat the Phils. I hate the Yankees as well, but if it comes to that...[/QUOTE]

If anyone is going to beat the Phillies, it has to be the Cardinals.

I don't see the Brewers or Diamondbacks beating them. Especially not in a 7 game series.

Longoria homers. Rays and Rangers rematch.
 
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