2011 MLB Discussion Thread

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WOW, what a finale. I thought for sure that missed routine catch was going to be poignant for Detroit in that they were letting the game 'slip' away.
 
[quote name='goodbyetonight']Tigers are gonna win in 4. Verlander will kill the Yanks lineup and Burnett just sucks. Le sigh.[/QUOTE]

I feel like you might as well flip a coin. Verlander could be off and walk a lot of guys. Or CC could throw a bunch of meatballs. I suppose there's a chance both guys are sharp and the lineups have to just grind and battle. But it seems like one guy being off happens far more often. On Friday I thought CC looked better than Verlander, but it could be a completely different story tomorrow (especially since the Tigers will be at home now). This is why I would have rather matched up Burnett against Verlander. If Verlander is on his game, it doesn't matter how many runs the Yanks give up.

Everybody likes to just match up aces and have these big duels, but in terms of strategy, it seems foolish. Burnett can pitch like an ace on any given day when he's not out of his mind. If Verlander has an off night, I could easily see AJ beating him. Then, the Yanks would have CC and Nova behind him. The Tigers would be shitting their pants. At worst, Verlander kills AJ, and you've got CC and Nova to respond with against weaker Detroit pitching. But with a 1-1 split, now the entire series hinges on CC beating Verlander or Burnett not melting down. Piss poor strategy.
 
[quote name='n8rockerasu']I feel like you might as well flip a coin. Verlander could be off and walk a lot of guys. Or CC could throw a bunch of meatballs. I suppose there's a chance both guys are sharp and the lineups have to just grind and battle. But it seems like one guy being off happens far more often. On Friday I thought CC looked better than Verlander, but it could be a completely different story tomorrow (especially since the Tigers will be at home now). This is why I would have rather matched up Burnett against Verlander. If Verlander is on his game, it doesn't matter how many runs the Yanks give up.

Everybody likes to just match up aces and have these big duels, but in terms of strategy, it seems foolish. Burnett can pitch like an ace on any given day when he's not out of his mind. If Verlander has an off night, I could easily see AJ beating him. Then, the Yanks would have CC and Nova behind him. The Tigers would be shitting their pants. At worst, Verlander kills AJ, and you've got CC and Nova to respond with against weaker Detroit pitching. But with a 1-1 split, now the entire series hinges on CC beating Verlander or Burnett not melting down. Piss poor strategy.[/QUOTE]

I JUST had that discussion with a friend of mine. They should just throw AJ out there tomorrow and see what happens. They never would do that though.
 
[quote name='n8rockerasu']I feel like you might as well flip a coin. Verlander could be off and walk a lot of guys. Or CC could throw a bunch of meatballs. I suppose there's a chance both guys are sharp and the lineups have to just grind and battle. But it seems like one guy being off happens far more often. On Friday I thought CC looked better than Verlander, but it could be a completely different story tomorrow (especially since the Tigers will be at home now). This is why I would have rather matched up Burnett against Verlander. If Verlander is on his game, it doesn't matter how many runs the Yanks give up.

Everybody likes to just match up aces and have these big duels, but in terms of strategy, it seems foolish. Burnett can pitch like an ace on any given day when he's not out of his mind. If Verlander has an off night, I could easily see AJ beating him. Then, the Yanks would have CC and Nova behind him. The Tigers would be shitting their pants. At worst, Verlander kills AJ, and you've got CC and Nova to respond with against weaker Detroit pitching. But with a 1-1 split, now the entire series hinges on CC beating Verlander or Burnett not melting down. Piss poor strategy.[/QUOTE]

This isn't typical three days rest, but they did go through their complete warm-up routines and throw an inning (or 2 in CC's case). Sabathia has experience (albeit limited) of successfully pitching on short rest. Verlander has never pitched on short rest in his life. I think the ballpark is a big factor as well. Having a little league right-field (I kid, I kid) gave Yankee lefties a weapon against Verlander.

I just wrote all that and came to the same conclusion as you, a bloody coin flip.
 
Rangers bullpen is making me nervous. They were pretty solid down the stretch, but any time they seem to be put in a tenuous position they seem to be pitching terribly.
 
Annnnnd that's why you don't match up your best pitcher against their best pitcher. CC wasn't bad, but Verlander was better. The weight of that outcome just feels like two games. And with the game being in Detroit, it was a horrible decision. The fact that the entire season rests on AJ Burnett now is almost comical. Glad I didn't waste my time watching this game.

I would say fire Girardi, but I don't think any manager would have the balls to pitch AJ against Verlander. Pro sports can be so by the book sometimes. Same thing with the NFL and the fact that you "can't" be a QB unless you're a certain height. Wasted Doug Flutie's entire career because of stupid "can't think outside the box" conservative bullshit.

Lose a battle to win the war. No? Well, enjoy getting massacred then.

FACT: I am a better manager than Joe Girardi.
 
Eh...the starting match-up was a wash. Neither pitcher was that good. It all comes down to Soriano throwing the ball over the plate to a guy who couldn't have pulled his fastball on the inside half if you told him his fucking life depended on it. But that's what you get when overpay for a mediocre closer to be your set-up guy...
 
[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']Eh...the starting match-up was a wash. Neither pitcher was that good. It all comes down to Soriano throwing the ball over the plate to a guy who couldn't have pulled his fastball on the inside half if you told him his fucking life depended on it. But that's what you get when overpay for a mediocre closer to be your set-up guy...[/QUOTE]

Verlander went 8 innings and had 11 K's though. CC clearly didn't have his best stuff, but he kept the team in the game. My thought is just that if his start hadn't been against Verlander, the team may have scored more and Joe wouldn't have been so tight with the bullpen, having Soriano throw 1.2 innings. Who knows. Just feels like once again, the Yanks had control of the series, and they gave it away by making poor decisions.
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']Rangers bullpen is making me nervous. They were pretty solid down the stretch, but any time they seem to be put in a tenuous position they seem to be pitching terribly.[/QUOTE]

I'm going to chalk Adams' performance yesterday up to his cutter just not being there. He'll be solid next time he is out there. If anything, the game showed us that Mike Gonzalez can ball up and get that one out he is needed for.
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']Rangers bullpen is making me nervous. They were pretty solid down the stretch, but any time they seem to be put in a tenuous position they seem to be pitching terribly.[/QUOTE]
Feliz's adrenaline was high and he was getting the ball up a lot. They pulled it off though and made for a really tense game to watch. I'd have to say they're by far the most fun to watch in this post season.
 
[quote name='DestroVega']annnnnnnnnnnd the Yankees' season comes down to AJ Burnett. WONDERFUL[/QUOTE]

I've already accepted that it's over. Doesn't make me any less depressed though.
 
Detroit and Mil looking like last years Giants could shock anyone. lol tampa bay rangers look like 2 teams that whoever wins would get owned anyway whether it be alcs or world series.
 
Beltre and Napoli played out of their minds this series. Hopefully someone in the heart of the lineup will step up and take the pressure off them in the next round.
 
What a nailbiting win for the Phils. The most unlikely hero in Ben Francisco wins the game for us and the Cardinals had men on base every inning. Phew, I was sweating the entire time.
 
AJ Burnett saves the day! Why does anybody ever bother trying to predict what is going to happen in a baseball game? This shit is hilarious.
 
[quote name='pitfallharry219']I'm shocked to see Beltre playing this well considering he's already got a deal for next year.[/QUOTE]

Beltre hit .265 with 8 HR in 111 in 2009, a contract year. He also had a sick year this season, which was not a contract year. He also hit 25+ HR and ~.270 for three straight seasons in one of the three worst parks in MLB for RHB.

Dude is unfairly maligned, and the criticisms don't even make sense.
 
[quote name='n8rockerasu']AJ Burnett saves the day! Why does anybody ever bother trying to predict what is going to happen in a baseball game? This shit is hilarious.[/QUOTE]

Cannot make this shit up. Although Grandy saved his ass big time with that catch in the first. And then that second one...holy shit. - http://twitpic.com/6vbu2n
 
[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']You are joking, right?[/QUOTE]

No, the "only performs in a contract year" nonsense is silly. He didn't hit well in 2009, a contract year. Performed excellently this season, and it wasn't a contract year. Also was excellent in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Was solid in 1999 and 2000. He's one of the very best defensive 3B in the history of baseball; his range is absolutely ridiculous.
 
[quote name='Feeding the Abscess']No, the "only performs in a contract year" nonsense is silly. He didn't hit well in 2009, a contract year. Performed excellently this season, and it wasn't a contract year. Also was excellent in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Was solid in 1999 and 2000. He's one of the very best defensive 3B in the history of baseball; his range is absolutely ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

I can't take your argument seriously until you run off to Baseball-Reference and quickly look up some bullshit sabermetrics.
 
[quote name='goodbyetonight']Cannot make this shit up. Although Grandy saved his ass big time with that catch in the first. And then that second one...holy shit. - http://twitpic.com/6vbu2n[/QUOTE]
I caught the tail end of that one when they started playing highlight reels. Just amazing defense and once again the offense exploded late in the game.
 
[quote name='goodbyetonight']Cannot make this shit up. Although Grandy saved his ass big time with that catch in the first. And then that second one...holy shit. - http://twitpic.com/6vbu2n[/QUOTE]

Just an incredible play. He read it perfectly off the bat, took the perfect angle to the ball, and timed his dive perfectly after running near full speed. You really can't play better D than that.:applause:
 
[quote name='pitfallharry219']I can't take your argument seriously until you run off to Baseball-Reference and quickly look up some bullshit sabermetrics.[/QUOTE]

Ask speed or Seattle fans who got to see him play every day, they'll say the same thing about his D.
 
[quote name='tcrash247']What a nailbiting win for the Phils. The most unlikely hero in Ben Francisco wins the game for us and the Cardinals had men on base every inning. Phew, I was sweating the entire time.[/QUOTE]I guess it's more sweating time now that it's back to Philly for Game 5?
 
[quote name='shrike4242']I guess it's more sweating time now that it's back to Philly for Game 5?[/QUOTE]

Here's hoping by the weekend the the Tigers, Rangers, Diamondbacks, and Cardinals are in the LCS's.
 
[quote name='craven_fiend']Here's hoping by the weekend the the Tigers, Rangers, Diamondbacks, and Cardinals are in the LCS's.[/QUOTE]I certainly would rather play the Diamondbacks than the Brewers in the NLCS.

[quote name='tcrash247']Yes :([/QUOTE]Just convince Halladay to do what he did in Game 1 and you'll have nothing to worry about.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']I certainly would rather play the Diamondbacks than the Brewers in the NLCS.[/QUOTE]
I won't hold that against you.

Series is tied 2-2, easy to win games when you are hitting grand slams every game. I really wish the D-backs won homefield advantage, they are a different team at home... same as the Brewers.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']I'm not sure who you replace him with, but Ryan Howard's been awful the last 3 games.[/QUOTE]

I'd replace him with John Mayberry Jr.

I'm somewhat optimistic about game 5, Halladay starting and then Cliff Lee possibly pitching in relief.
 
[quote name='Feeding the Abscess']Ask speed or Seattle fans who got to see him play every day, they'll say the same thing about his D.[/QUOTE]
As a Dodgers fan, I don't have anything nice to say about that motherfucker. We just cut Casey Blake.

Except that he plays incredible defense. He was the first 3B I've ever seen that I thought played good defense. You always think it about SS and CF, but not 3B.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']I'm not sure who you replace him with, but Ryan Howard's been awful the last 3 games.[/QUOTE]

I hope you're not a Phillies fan, because that extension the Phillies gave him is going to make Vernon Wells' contract look like a bargain.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']I'm not sure who you replace him with, but Ryan Howard's been awful the last 3 games.[/QUOTE]

Sadly, that's Ryan Howard most of the year. He gets a home run every other week with guys on base but does jack shit the rest of the time. It's hard to sit him because you never know when that home run will come. I do like John Mayberry Jr. a lot, but you kinda have to keep Howard in the lineup. He could be Beltre in this next game and hit 3 dingers, of course he could also strikeout 4 times which is much more likely.
 
I love Cano, but he's gotta stop trying to hit home runs with every swing. A single would have been just fine there. Just move the line forward. Really curious how many innings Hughes is gonna pitch after pulling Nova after he appeared to settle down (I thought getting out of the jam in the 2nd was big).

EDIT - Wow, nevermind. You give up a hit, you're out! lol. I guess I understand it, but what happens when one of your guys is just pure shit from the very first pitch? He's not even getting much of a look to see who's got good stuff tonight.
 
Good job Rob Thompson not sending A-Rod home on the basehit to center. That worked out really well. Should have let him just railroad Avila into the next county.
 
Wow, the way Girardi is handling this pitching staff is either the most brilliant or most asinine thing I've ever seen. No pitcher has thrown more than 37 pitches (that number belonging to Sabathia). If the Yankees somehow pull off this comeback, Girardi would have preserved the entire staff for Game 1 of the ALCS (even Verlander threw a 55 pitch side session today...so Sabathia's work is probably right on par with that). Of course, for it to even matter, they've gotta start coming through with runners on.
 
Wow...this is just the Tigers' night. In the 1st inning, Don Kelly golfs a sinking curveball over the short porch. In the bottom of the 1st, Jeter rips one down the line that Cabrera somehow snags. Now in the 8th, Jeter mashes one to right that just dies at the wall. The Yanks have blown a lot of chances with runners on base, but this kind of stuff just stands out.
 
Yankees going out in the first round takes a tiny bit of the sting out of the Braves choke job! Hope the Phillies follow suit tomorrow.
 
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